Sustainable Global Supply Chains: The Human Rights Aspect

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine Global Supply Chains (GSC) from the perspective of human rights. Economists and international business scholars focus on the economic nature of this phenomenon and its complex international structure. International institutions (such as the WTO, OECD and others) direct their efforts to the regulation of the relations within the structure and to the measurement of the contribution of GSC to national economies and global trade. Human Rights activists, on the other hand, are tackling violations of human rights at the various stages of the supply chains. At present, politicians, regulators and a limited number of scholars are also trying to deal with the issue of human rights within GSC from a different angle – namely, the behaviour of business with regard to human rights issues in international business activities. The paper builds on the author’s previous research on global supply chains in their role as stakeholders within the corporate governance system. The author adheres to the view that the study of human rights issues in the context of GSCs demands an interdisciplinary research approach and utilizes an adequate conceptual framework that should be further developed. Theoretical observations are combined with a survey on the business attitude towards human rights. Venue for following studies is drafted. Keywords: words: global supply chains, human rights; international business; stakeholders; corporate governance, adverse impact, modern slavery JEL: M54, M55, K3, J28, F2