ABSTRACT
The Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights are very comprehensive, integrating human rights, labour rights, the environment, development, anti-bribery issues and consumer protection. David Weiss-brodt of the UN Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Trans-national Corporations played a key role in the development of the Norms. The Norms represent an important milestone in the field of corporate responsibility, for several reasons. The comprehensive nature of the Norms sets forth a complete agenda for companies, despite their title suggesting that they deal exclusively with human rights. Some companies remain sceptical about the Norms in the sense that there was a lack of corporate involvement in their development. Many companies, however, have been involved in the drafting process. The Norms are directed not only at transnational corporations (TNCs) but also at 'other business enterprises', such as the suppliers, contractors and subcontractors of the TNCs.
