nach oben

Erschienen in:

2024 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

8. Efficiency and International Human Rights Law: Some Preliminary Thoughts

verfasst von : Michael K. Addo

Erschienen in: Law and Economics of Justice

Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config

KI-gestützte Suche

Aus

Abstract

This chapter explores the question of whether and if so how different disciplines may be enriched from the theories and practices of other disciplines. In this instance, the paper explores how lessons may be shared between law and economics on the one hand and international human rights law on the other. The paper addresses the question of the suitability and benefits to international human rights law of the law and economics methodology. This is in response to the emerging narrative that attributes considerable adverse human rights impacts to liberal economic methodology. The lesson from this section is to highlight the tension between the “sacredness of the market” and the “sacredness of humani dignity”. From this tension, the paper assesses some of the ways in which economic theory may be employed to enrich international human rights law and vice versa, that is to say, how international human rights principles and lessons may be employed to enrich our understanding and application of economic theory. The chapter then interrogates one of the most recent developments in the international human rights law field, i.e., business and human rights as a reflection of this reconciliation between microeconomic methodology and human rights principles.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Vorheriges Kapitel The Relevance of Law and Economics for Practical Reasoning

Nächstes Kapitel Efficiency as a Regulatory Goal in Healthcare Law

Charter of the United Nations (1945) 1 UNTS XVI.

See, De Schutter (2019).

Prior to the development of international human rights standards, national law, through constitutional provision, legislation and judicial decisions protected human rights. International law reinforced and complemented this.

Human rights now form a central part of the objectives of every international and regional organisation, ranging from the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American States and the African Union.

A variety of mechanisms including judicial, quasi-judicial, independent experts and peer review mechanisms have either emerged or been established to steer the activities of governments and other actors towards achieving the objectives of the organisations of which they are a part.

See Articles 1(3), 55, Chapter XX (Economic and Social Council) of the UN Charter, loc. cit.

See for the IMF (imf.org), the World Bank Group (worldbank.org) and world trade (gatt.org and wto.org).

International human rights law has transformed our understanding of many social and political issues including the conduct of wars, the migration of people, political independence, migration, education, housing, health, artificial intelligence, and more recently, the conduct of business. In the field of economics, see the work of the UN development Program (UNDP) at undp.org; the World Trade Organization (WTO) wto.org, the World Bank Group (worldbank.org) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF.org).

See, Mcguiness (2006), pp. 393–421; Kedzia (2003), pp. 5–34; Broberg/Sano (2018), pp. 664–680; Rose (2016), pp. 405–438. See also, Wahi (2015/6), pp. 331–407; Campbell (2010), pp. 1–14. For a general review of the criticisms of the IMF, see, Economics Help, criticism of the IMF.

See, Cooter and Ulen (1988); Polisky (2018); Calabresi (2017).

Posner (2014), p. 10; Mathis (2009), p. 3.

Bernaz, (2017); Baumann-Pauly and Nolan (2016).

See, Posner (1975), pp. 757–782 that illustrates the application of economic theory to a range of substantive legal issues as well as to legal processes and procedure.

Posner (2014), (1975), p. 760.

Posner (1975), pp. 762–763.

The primary process of reconciling competing claims in international human rights law is to apply permissible limitations. On this, see, Badar (2003), pp. 63–92; Mavi (1997), pp. 107–114.

See Article 6 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (1966). Text at https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-economic-social-and-cultural-rights.

ICESCR, ibid., Article 11.

Ibid.

Ibid., Article 9.

Ibid., Article 11.

Ibid.

See, Posner (1975), pp. 762–763.

Broome (1991), pp. 281–294.

Posner (1973) pp. 399–458; Becker (1971), pp. 306–310; Bork (1985), pp. 21–26.

Posner (1986) pp. 1–54.

Becker (1971); Posner (1989), pp. 1311–1335.

See, Proclamation of Teheran, Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights (Teheran, 1968). U.N. Doc. A/CONF./32/41 (1968) para. 13; Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action proclaimed that “[a]ll human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated”—World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, A/Conf.157/23, 25 June 1993, Part II, para 5. Also, General Assembly resolution establishing the Human Rights Council affirms this principle that “all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing”—GA, Res 60/251: Human Rights Council, 15 March 2006, A/RES/60/251, Preamble; HRC, Res 5/1: Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 18 June 2007, A/HRC/RES/5/1, Preamble.

Whelan, (2010); Zylberman (2017), pp. 389–418; Patersmann (2003), pp. 381–385; Nickel (2008), pp. 984–1001.

See, note 40 below.

Tehran Proclamation, loc. cit. para. 13.

See, EIDE, Asbjorn, The Right To Adequate Food As A Human Right: Final Report, 7 July 1987, E/Cn.4/Sub.2/1987/23; Shue (1996).

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, 999 UNTS 171.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966, 993 UNTS 3.

See, Human Rights Committee, General Comment No 31: Nature of the General Legal Obligation Imposed on States Parties to the Covenant, 26 May 2006, CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.13, para 6. See, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No 3: The Nature of State Parties Obligations (Art. 2, par. 1), 14 December 1990, E/1991/23, para 9.

See, for example, Article 2(2) of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), loc. cit; See Articles 2(1), 4(1), 24 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), loc. cit.

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965, 660 UNTS 195.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979, 1249 UNTS 13.

Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, 1577 UNTS 3.

Rishmawi (2006), p. 16.

See note 12 supra.

See, General Assembly Resolution 3201 (S-VI) – Declaration on the Establishment of a new International Economic Order (1974); Sauvant and Hasenpflug (1977).

United Nations, Draft Code Of Conduct For Transnational Corporations, UN Doc. E/C.10/1983/S/4 (1983); for a discussion, see, Sauvant (1977), pp. 11–87.

See, Oecd, Policy Brief: The Oecd Guidelines On Multinational Enterprises, For a discussion, see, Häag (1984), pp. 71–76.

Ilo, Tripartite Declaration Of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises And Social Policy 1977.

See, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/1999-02-01/kofi-annans-address-world-economic-forum-davos.

Ibid.

See, https://unglobalcompact.org/.

See, https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles.

U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/12/Rev.2 (2003).

In a resolution, the Commission on Human Rights decided that “the Norms, as a draft proposal not requested by the Commission, has no legal standing and that the Sub-Commission should not perform any monitoring function in this regard.” See, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2004/L.73/Rev.2.

See, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf.

Resolution 17/4, Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises (2011). Text at https://www.right-docs.org/doc/a-hrc-res-17-4/.

See, Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), p. 1553–1584.

For a review of the scope of the cost–benefit methodology, see, White (2005), pp. 1–72.

Nussbaum (2000), pp. 1005–1036; Richardson (2000), pp. 971–1003.

Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), p. 1562.

Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), pp. 1562–1563.

See, Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), pp. 1564–1566, in their discussion of the abstract representation of the economic value of life.

See, United Nations, Corporations And Human Rights: A Survey Of The Scope And Patterns Of Alleged Corporate-Related Human Rights Abuse, Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. UN Doc. A/HRC/8/5/Add.2 (2008).

See, Zerk (2014).

Posner (1979), pp. 281–306.

Freeman (2015), pp. 150 et seqq.;. Manuel Couret Branco, Economics Against Human Rights,

Dommen (2022), p. 5.

See, United Nations, Corporations And Human Rights: A Survey Of The Scope And Patterns Of Alleged Corporate-Related Human Rights Abuse, Loc. Cit. Un Doc. A/Hrc/8/5/Add.2 (2008).

Mathis (2009), p. 8.

Mathis (2009), p. 7.

Mathis (2009), p. 8.

Mathis (2009), p. 12.

Ibid.

Greer (1997); Gunn (2011), p. 254; Klein (2021), p. 10.

Ibid.

See, The Sunday Times v United Kingdom (1979) 2 EHRR 245; Handyside v United Kingdom (1976) 1 EHRR 737.

Mathis (2009), p. 17.

Ibid.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) GA Resolution 2200 (XXI) (1966).

The Human Rights Committee oversees States’ implementation of obligations under the ICCPR (see, Part IV—Articles 28–45). For the Committee on the Discrimination Against Women see Convention on Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW Convention (1979) Part V—Articles 17–22. The Committee Against Torture under the Convention Against Torture (CAT 1984) Part II—Articles 17–24.

See Article 40, ICCPR, lo. cit.

See Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, GA Resolution 2200 (XXI (1966). See, also, International Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). GA Resolution 2106 (1965); Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (979); Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) 1950 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981).

See note 80 supra.

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are non-paid and elected for 3-year mandates that can be reconducted for another three years. As of October 2022, there are 45 thematic and 14 country mandates. See, https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. See, https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-main.

Mathis (2009), p. 17.

Mathis (2009), p. 23. For A Review Of This Concept, See, White (2005), pp. 27–28.

Mathis (2009), p. 23.

Calabresi (1990/1), pp. 1211–1237; Sanders (2013).

White (2005), pp. 1–6; Mathis (2009), p. 36. See Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), pp. 1553–1555.

Mathis (2009), p. 36.

Ackerman and Heizerling (2002), p. 1553–1556.

White (2005), pp. 6 and 27; Mathis (2009), p. 36.

Ibid.

White (2005), pp. 28–29.

Ibid., p. 29.

Ibid., p. 29 and pp. 42–55.

Christian Aid And The Centre For Economic And Social Rights, The Rights-Based Economy And Social Contract: Natural Allies? (2022).

Ibid.

100

On this See Dommen (2022), Loc.Cit.; Centre For Economic And Social Rights And Christian Aid, A Right-Based Economy: Putting People And Planet First (2020).

101

Global Compact, loc. cit.

102

OECD Guidelines on MNEs, loc. cit.

103

ILO Tripartite Declaration, loc. cit.

104

UNGPs, loc. cit.

105

See HRC Resolution 17/4 (2011).

106

Ibid., UN Doc. A/HRC/8/5, loc. cit.

107

Ibid., para. 9.

108

United Nations, Guiding Principles On Business And Human Rights, loc. cit., para. 14.

109

United Nations, Interim Report loc. cit. para. 81.

110

Ibid.

111

Ibid., paras. 74 and 75.

112

Ibid., para. 73.

113

Ibid., paras. 79 and 80.

114

See, UNGPs, loc. cit., Principle 17.

115

Harrison (2013), pp. 107-117; Deva (2012), pp. 101-109.

116

UNGP 17, see, especially accompanying commentary.

117

See, Harrison (2013), p. 111.

118

United Nations, Business And Human Rights: Further Steps Toward The Operationalization Of The “Protect, Respect And Remedy” Framework. Report of the SRSG on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises. UN Doc. A/HRC/14/27 (2010) para. 82.

119

Ibid. [A/HRC/14/27).

120

United Nations, Guiding Principles On Business And Human Rights, loc. cit. para. 15.

121

United Nations, Business And Human Rights: Further Steps, loc. cit., para. 5.

122

See, generally, Posner (2014), Mathis (2009), p. 8.

123

See, Part IV supra.

124

On this see, White (2005), p. 51 et seq. See also, Dommen (2022), pp. 14–24.

Baumann-Pauly D, Nolan J (2016) Business and human rights. From Principles To Practice, Abingdon/New York

Becker G (1971) The economics of discrimination, Chicago

Bernaz N (2017) Business and human rights. history, law and policy. bridging the accountability gap, Abingdon/New York

Branco CM (2008) Economics against human rights, London

Calabresi G (2017) The future of law and economics: essays in reform and recollection, New Haven

Cooter R & Ulen T (1988) Law and economics, New York

Greer S (1977) The exceptions to articles 8–11 of the European convention on human rights. Human Rights Files No. 15

Gunn J (2011) Permissible limitations on the freedom of religion or belief. In Witte J, Green C (eds) Religion and human rights: an introduction, Oxford, pp. 254–268

Klein E (2021) On limits and restrictions of human rights. In David J, Ronen Y, Shaney Y, Weiler JHH (eds) Strengthening human rights protections in Geneva, Israel, The West Bank And Beyond, Cambridge, pp. 10–39

Mathis K (2009) Efficiency instead of justice. Searching for the Philosophical Foundations of the Economic Analysis of Law, DordrechtCrossRef

Polisky AM (2018) An introduction to law and economics, 5 Ed., New York

Posner RA (2014) Economic analysis of law, New York

Rishmawi M (2006) Convention on the rights of the child, article 4: the nature of states parties’ obligations, vol 4. In: Liefaard T, Sloth-Nielsen J (eds) A commentary on the United Nations convention on the rights of the child, Leiden

Sauvant K, Hasenpflug H (1977) The new international economic order: conflict or cooperation between North and South?, New York

De Schutter O (2019) International human rights law, cases, materials, commentary, Cambridge

Shue H (1996) Basic rights: subsistence, affluence and U.S. Foreign Policy, Princeton

Whelan, D. J (2010) indivisibility of human rights: a history, Philadelphia

Ackerman F, Heizerling L (2002) Pricing the priceless: cost-benefit analysis of environmental protection. Univ Pa Law Rev 150:1553–1584CrossRef

Badar M (2003) Basic principles governing limitations on individual rights and freedoms in human rights instruments. Int J Hum Rights 7:63–92CrossRef

Becker ER (1985) The uses of “law and economics” by judges. J Legal Educ 33:306–310

Bork RH (1985) The role of the courts in applying economics. Antitrust Law J 54:21–26

Broberg M, Sano HO (2018) Strengths and weaknesses in a human rights-based approach to international development—an analysis of a rights-based approach to development assistance based on practical experiences. Int J Human Rights 664–680

Broome J (1991) The economic value of life. Economica 52:281–294CrossRef

Calabresi G (1990/91) The pointlessness of Pareto. Yale Law J 100:211–1237

Campbell H (2010) Structural adjustment policies: a feminist critique. Sigma Jourma J Polit Int Stud 27:1–14

Deva S (2012) Guiding principles on business and human rights: implications for companies. Euro Company Law 9:101–109CrossRef

Freeman M (2015) Neoliberal policies and human rights. Dokuz Eylul University Law Review. 17(2):141–164

Häag C (1984) The oecd guidelines on multinational enterprises: a critical analysis. J Bus Ethics 3:71–76CrossRef

Harrison J (2013) Establishing a meaningful human rights due diligence process for corporations: learning from experience of human rights impact assessment. Impact Assess Project Appraisal 31:107–117CrossRef

Kedzia Z (2003) Present day challenges to human rights. Polish Quarterly Int Aff 12:5–34

Mavi V (1997) Limitations of and derogations from human rights in international human rights instruments. Acta Juridica Hungarica 38:107–114

Mcguiness ME (2006) Exploring the limits of international human rights law. Georgia J Int Comparative Law 34:393–421

Nickel J (2008) Rethinking indivisibility: towards a theory of supporting relations between human rights human rights quarterly 30:984–1001

Nussbaum MC (2000) The cost of tragedy: some moral limits of cost-benefit analysis. J Legal Stud 29:1005–1036CrossRef

Patersmann E (2003) On ‘indivisibility’ of human rights. Euro J Int Law 14:381–385CrossRef

Posner RA (1973) An economic approach to legal procedure and judicial administration. J Legal Stud 2:399–458CrossRef

Posner RA (1975) The economic approach to law. Texas Law Rev 53:757–782

Posner RA (1979) Some Uses And Abuses Of Economics In Law. Chicago Law Review 46:281–306CrossRef

Posner RA (1986) Free speech in an economic perspective. Suffolk Univ Law Rev 20:1–54

Posner RA (1989) An economic analysis of sex discrimination laws. Univ Chicago Law Rev 56:1311–1335CrossRef

Richardson H (2000) The stupidity of the cost-benefit standard. J Legal Stud 29:971–1003CrossRef

Rose C (2016) The limitations of a human rights approach to corruption. Int Comparative Law Quarterly 22:405–438CrossRef

Sanders M (2013) The problem with Pareto

Sauvant K (2015) The negotiations of the united nations code of conduct on transnational corporations: experience and lessons learned. J World Investment Trade 16:11–87CrossRef

Wahi N (2005/2006) Human rights accountability of the IMF and the world bank: a critique of existing mechanisms and articulation of a theory of horizontal accountability. Univ California Davis J Int Law Policy 12:331–407

White B (2005) Economic efficiency and the parameters of fairness: a marriage of marketplace morals and the ethic of care. Cornell J Law Public Policy 15:1–72

Zylberman A (2017) The indivisibility of human rights. Law Philos 36:389–418CrossRef

Centre For Economic And Social Rights And Christian Aid (2020) A rights-based economy: putting people and planet first. https://www.Cesr.Org/Rights-Based-Economy-Putting-People-And-Planet-First/. Last access 15 November 2023

Christian Aid And The Centre For Economic And Social Rights (2022), The Rights-Based Economy And the Social Contract: Natural Allies? https://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/policy/rights-based-economy-and-social-contract-natural-allies. Last access 15 November 2023

Dommen C (2022) Human rights economics. An enquiry. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. https://humanrightseconomics.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Human-Rights-Economics-An-Enquiry-2022.pdf. Last access 15 November 2023

Eide A (1987) The right to adequate food as a human right: final report, UN. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/139080. Last access 15 November 2023

ILO, Tripartite Declaration Of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises And Social Policy (First Edition) (1977)

OECD, Policy Brief: The Oecd guidelines on multinational enterprises, At https://Www.Oecd.Org/Investment/Mne/1903291.Pdf. Last access 15 November 2023

United Nations, Business And Human Rights: Further Steps Toward The Operationalization Of The “Protect, Respect And Remedy” Framework. Report Of The Secretary-General On The Issue Of Human Rights And Transnational Corporations And Other Business Enterprises (2010), Un Doc. A/Hrc/14/27

United Nations, Corporations and Human Rights: A Survey of the Scope And Patterns of Alleged Corporate-Related Human Rights Abuse, Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Issue Of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises (2008), Un Doc. A/Hrc/8/5/Add.2

United Nations, Corporations and Human Rights: A Survey of the Scope And Patterns of Alleged Corporate-Related Human Rights Abuse (2008), Loc. Cit. Un Doc. A/Hrc/8/5/Add.2

United Nations, Draft Code Of Conduct For Transnational Corporations, Un Doc. E/C.10/1983/S/4 (1983), Text At https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaty-files/2891/download. Last access 23 November 2023

United Nations, Global Compact, https://Unglobalcompact.Org/What-Is-Gc/Mission/Principles

United Nations, Guiding Principles On Business And Human Rights (2011), https://Www.Ohchr.Org/Sites/Default/Files/Documents/Publications/Guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_En.Pdf. Last access 15 November 2023

Zerk, J., Corporate Liability For Gross Human Rights Violations (2014), https://Www.Ohchr.Org/Sites/Default/Files/Documents/Issues/Business/Domesticlawremedies/Studydomesticelawremedies.Pdf. Last access 15 November 2023

Titel: Efficiency and International Human Rights Law: Some Preliminary Thoughts
verfasst von: Michael K. Addo
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland
Buch: Law and Economics of Justice
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-56821-3

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-56822-0

Copyright-Jahr: 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56822-0_8

Springer Professional

Abstract

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu Ihrer Lizenz zu erhalten.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Premium Partner