This book examines the contemporary and contentious question of the critical connections between business and human rights, and the implementation of socially responsible norms in developing countries, with particular reference to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Business enterprises and transnational corporate actors operate in a complex global environment, especially when operating in high risks sectors such as oil and gas, mining, construction, banking, and health care amongst others. Understanding human rights responsibilities, impacts, and socially responsible behaviour for companies is therefore an essential component of corporate risk management in our current world. The release of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, an instrument consisting of 31 principles on this issue, has further underscored the emergence of a rapidly developing set of international law norms on human rights responsibilities of businesses and transnational corporations. It has also shaped the discourse on corporate accountability for human rights. In addition to minimizing litigation, financial and reputational risks, understanding and demonstrating corporate respect for human rights is vital to building a culture of trust and integrity amongst local communities, investors, and shareholders. While Africa has been at the receiving end of deleterious activities of corporate actors, it has failed to address corporate impunity and human rights violations by non-state actors. Questions abound revolving around the underpinnings of a corporate responsibility to respect human rights, that is, how non-western and particularly African conceptions of respect may help develop a beyond do no net harm approach to respect; policy discourses on human rights due diligence, human rights impact assessment; mandating corporate respect for human rights in both domestic and international law. This book examines, clarifies, and unpacks the guiding principles of a rights-based approach to development and social inclusion. It offers an excellent exposition of regulatory capacity, institutional efficacy, and democratic legitimacy of governance institutions that shape development including a comprehensive analysis of how states are shaping business and human rights discourses locally to develop a critical understanding of identified issues by exploring the latest theories through comparative lenses.

This important book provides a comprehensive analysis of good-fit and home-grown approaches for advancing business and human rights norms across Africa. It explores the latest developments in law, regulations, policies, and governance structures across the continent, focusing on key legal innovations in response to human rights impacts of business operations and activities.

One of the most significant debates in international human rights law and in international law generally in the 21st century is about the responsibility of businesses for human rights in their areas of influence. The last decade witnessed significant, arguably monumental, development in global norms pertaining to the human rights obligation of businesses. Of particular significance is the emergence of a distinct business and human rights agenda driven by two normative instruments: the 2008 Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights and the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Business and Human Rights in Africa raises interesting questions about the legitimacy and long-term viability of the business and human rights agenda in Africa, and in developing countries more generally. It explores the key issues for business and human rights in Africa and asks how and to what extent are the UN Guiding Principles changing the law and policy in Africa or the behavior of businesses operating in the continent? The book examines both the international and regional legal and policy initiatives on business and human rights in Africa and how these initiatives are being implemented in selected countries. Focusing in part on the extractive industry it consider the industry standards and best practices as well as the challenges the industry still faces in order to avoid human rights abuses. The book examines and evaluates emerging practices designed to minimize, manage, or mitigate corporate impact on human rights in Africa. It looks at the role of national and regional courts in Africa in ensuring accountability of businesses in Africa as well as considering the possible role for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in realizing accountability.

This book explores the nexus between natural resources ownership and the right to development in Africa. The right to sovereignty over natural resources and the right to development are recognised and protected in an extensive framework of international, regional and domestic instruments. They guarantee people's entitlement to fully and freely utilise their natural resources as a means of subsistence and for economic, social and cultural development. Yet, despite the abundance of natural resources in Africa a majority of the people on the continent remain largely impoverished. This book articulates the central argument that to achieve the right to development in Africa requires appropriate governance of the continent’s natural resources to which the people of Africa are guaranteed sovereign ownership. With case study illustrations from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, chapters explore the normative measures, specific guarantees and community entitlements to natural resources for the realisation of the right to development. The book will be an invaluable guide to scholars and postgraduate students of Natural Resources, Development and African studies as well as policymakers and practitioners in these areas.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Notes on contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1 Judicial remedies: The issue of jurisdiction -- 1.1 Overview -- 1.2 Impact of international human rights law on jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.2.1 Introduction -- 1.2.2 Human rights in private litigation -- 1.2.3 International human rights law and jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.3 Jurisdiction in private international law in Europe and the US -- 1.3.1 Introduction -- 1.3.2 The European approach: the Brussels I Regulation -- 1.3.2.1 Scope of application -- 1.3.2.2 Rules on jurisdiction -- 1.3.2.3 Policy debate regarding the reform of the Brussels I Regulation -- 1.3.3 The US approach to jurisdiction -- 1.3.3.1 Doctrines that may limit access to US courts in transnational cases -- 1.3.3.2 The Alien Tort Statute: presumption against extraterritoriality and personal jurisdiction -- 1.3.3.3 Further doctrines that may limit access to US courts in transnational cases -- 1.3.3.4 Litigating torts in state courts and/or under state law -- 1.3.4 Comparing the EU and US approach to jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.4 Residual jurisdiction in Europe -- 1.4.1 Introduction -- 1.4.2 Forum necessitatis -- 1.4.3 Joining of defendants -- 1.4.4 Pursuing civil remedies through criminal jurisdiction -- 1.5 Conclusions and recommendations -- 2 Judicial remedies: The issue of applicable law -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Legal context -- 2.2.1 Foreign direct liability and beyond -- 2.2.2 Private international law and extraterritoriality -- 2.2.3 Discussion -- 2.3 Applicable law -- 2.3.1 Rome II Regulation: general rule -- 2.3.2 Rome II Regulation: special rule on environmental damage -- 2.3.3 Rome II Regulation: relevant exceptions -- 2.3.3.1 Overriding mandatory provisions -- 2.3.3.2 Rules of safety and conduct.

Model Law on Access to Information for Africa and other regional instruments: Soft law and human rights in Africa Edited by Ololade Shyllon 2018 ISBN: 978-1-920538-87-3 Pages: 255 Print version: Available Electronic version: Free PDF available About the publication The adoption in 2013 of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is an important landmark in the increasing elaboration of human rights-related soft law standards in Africa. Although non-binding, the Model Law significantly influenced the access to information landscape on the continent. Since the adoption of the Model Law, the Commission adopted several General Comments. The AU similarly adopted Model Laws such as the African Union Model Law on Internally Displaced Persons in Addressing Internal Displacement in Africa. This collection of essays inquires into the role and impact of soft law standards within the African human rights system and the AU generally. It assesses the extent to which these standards induced compliance, and identifies factors that contribute to generating such compliance. This book is a collection of papers presented at a conference organised by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, with the financial support of the government of Norway, through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria. Following the conference, the papers were reviewed and reworked. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Contributors Abbreviations and acronyms PART I: THE MODEL LAW AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN AFRICA Introduction Ololade Shyllon The impact of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa Fola Adeleke Implementing a Model Law on Access to Information in Africa: Lessons from the Americas Marianna Belalba and Alan Sears The implementation of the constitutional right of access to information in Africa: Opportunities and challenges Ololade Shyllon PART II: COUNTRY STUDIES The Model Law on Access to Information for Africa and the struggle for the review and passage of the Ghanaian Right to Information Bill of 2013 Ugonna Ukaigwe The impact of the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa on Kenya’s Access to Information framework Anne Nderi The Sudanese Access to Information Act 2015: A step forward? Ali Abdelrahman Ali Compliance through decoration: Access to information in Zimbabwe Nhlanhla Ngwenya PART III: INFLUENCE OF SOFT LAW WITHIN THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM Soft law and legitimacy in the African Union: The case of the Pretoria Principles on Ending Mass Atrocities Pursuant to Article 4(h) of the AU Constitutive Act Busingye Kabumba The incorporation of the thematic resolutions of the African Commission into the domestic laws of African countries Japhet Biegon General Comment 1 of the African Commission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: A source of norms and standard setting on sexual and reproductive health and rights Ebenezer Durojaye The African Union Model Law on Internally Displaced Persons: A critique Romola Adeola Selected bibliography