Human Rights & Supply Chain

Since the United Nations explicitly declared the universality of human rights in 1948, human rights have become an integral part of international law. Not only states, but also companies are required to comply with human rights in business relations abroad. The due diligence obligations of companies in particular have developed considerably in recent years as a result of international agreements and national legislation. Relevant frameworks include the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), the German government's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).

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We are happy to help you understand the legal requirements for your company and your specific business model and to derive concrete measures to prevent the violation of human rights due diligence obligations. These include, for example, the ratification of the UN Global Compact, your own code of conduct, a code of conduct for your business partners and the consideration of ESG issues in the selection of your suppliers throughout the entire supply chain. The topics can range from the prevention of child labour in the cacao or hazelnut supply chain to the development of a strategy for dealing with state actors in so-called authoritarian regimes.

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Our academic work in this area includes, for example, the following publications:

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• Kriebitz, A. (2022). Western Sanctions on Xinjiang: An Impact Assessment. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 23(2), 238-245.

• Kriebitz, A., & Max, R. (2020). The Xinjiang case and its implications from a business ethics perspective. Human Rights Review, 21(3), 243-265.

• Kriebitz, A., & Lütge, C. (2020). Artificial intelligence and human rights: a business ethical assessment. Business and Human Rights Journal, 5(1), 84-104.

• Kriebitz, A., & Ammah, L. (2020). Statistical Capacity, Human Rights and FDI in Sub-Saharan Africa Patterns of FDI Attraction in Sub-Saharan Africa. J. Mgmt. & Sustainability, 10, 162.

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