Guaranteeing Access to Remedies for Business-Related Human Rights Abuses: Role of NHRIs

Abstract

This paper considers the contribution to remediation of business-related human rights abuses of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). Section 2 considers definitions of “remedy” under human rights law, and under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and how NHRIs can contribute to remedy so defined. Section 3 explores how far NHRIs have contributed to remediating business-related human rights abuses in practice, both through the exercise of formal legal powers, and through third-party mobilisation and agenda setting, drawing on cross-regional examples. Section 4 concludes. An Annex briefly reviews how NHRIs’ mandate and scope to provide remedy for human rights and business issues has been interpreted via the ICC, the UNGPs and other international and regional human rights bodies.