Non-state actors and human rights

Eric de Brabandere, putting the emphasis on multinational corporations, examines the debates pertaining to the role and status of non-state actors in the light of international human rights law. He shows that multinational corporations have had no direct human rights obligations under contemporary international law. He nonetheless argues that international lawyers can no longer ignore the increasing role of non-state actors in international society. His chapter first explores the factual and normative dimensions of international corporation responsibility for human rights violations. It then analyses existing mechanisms and new proposals for enhancing the accountability of transnational corporations.