Posted on 07/24/2002 6:45:41 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
Greenleaf Publishing invites contributions for a book on the topic of "Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and Solutions" to be edited by Rory Sullivan (Amnesty International (UK) Business Group and Queen Mary College, University of London).
Rationale
The globalisation of the world economy offers both unprecedented opportunities for companies as well as unprecedented threats, as companies increasingly find themselves, their partners or their contractors mired in zones of conflict or in countries where human rights violations are occurring. Companies are subject to ever-increasing scrutiny of their supply chains, their investments, their employee relations, their impacts on communities, and their influence on government. The ability to maintain the 'corporate licence to operate' has become increasingly dependent on companies' ability to contribute to the protection of human rights within their area of influence. Furthermore, the language of human rights (e.g. the right to development, the right to information) is, more and more, underpinning public policy debates and informing discussions about the social responsibility of companies.
There is also a fault-line in the debate, between companies who argue that voluntary corporate social responsibility initiatives provide the way forward and those, in particular those representing broader civil society, who have criticised corporate responses as being ineffective or inadequate. While both sides of the argument have merit, it also remains the case that the polarised positions do not adequately reflect the potential contribution of business to the protection and promotion of human rights, nor the limitations and constraints on company action.
The aims of the proposed book, "Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and Solutions", are:
(a) to capture the current debates around business and human rights;
(b) to provide a series of case studies and examples to illustrate the opportunities and difficulties faced by companies in responding to the evolving human rights agenda;
(c) to assess the adequacy of corporate responses, including an assessment of the responsibility of government, civil society and trade unions, as well as companies;
(d) to provide a framework (e.g. management tools, strategic responses) for companies to move forward.
Coverage
* The specific human rights issues that companies need to address: workplace, community, supply chain, public policy?
* Perspectives on the responsibility of business for the protection and promotion of human rights: How far does responsibility extend? What is the nexus between business and other actors such as government, NGOs, trade unions?
* Specific dilemmas and responses, including both civil and political rights (e.g. corruption, operating in conflict zones, child labour, freedom of association) and economic, social and cultural rights (e.g. living wage, the environment, development).
* Emerging issues and dilemmas: in particular, corporate accountability, the economic, social and environmental impacts and implications of development, corporate influences on public policy, the implications of globalisation.
* Assessment of the adequacy of corporate responses to the emerging human rights debate.
* Corporate responses: case studies detailing how individual companies have faced human rights dilemmas and responded to these dilemmas, including management systems and tools (reporting, auditing, risk assessment) and emerging strategies (e.g. partnership approaches).
* Public policy approaches: the role of regulation and self-regulation, other pressures on companies (e.g. investors, insurance).
Contributions/Contributors
Reflecting the intended practical nature of this publication and also the many different parties that have an interest in human rights, contributions are welcomed from practitioners in business, NGOs, development agencies, trade unions and government, as well as academics.
Contributions will be expected to be between 3,000 and 5,000 words. Submissions should follow the editorial guidelines that can be obtained from Greenleaf Publishing (see below).
Contributions on the following specific issues will be particularly welcome:
* Case studies of corporate responses to specific dilemmas. It is expected that these will be from a cross-section of business sectors (e.g. primary production, investment, insurance, manufacturing, etc.) and will consider the reasons for managing human rights issues (or a specific human rights issue), the measures/solutions adopted, the outcomes achieved, lessons learned, future directions.
* Critical perspectives on corporate responses to human rights issues. These may include commentaries on corporate social responsibility, reputation impacts, corporate accountability, the balance of responsibility between government, business, civil society and other actors.
* Emerging dimensions of human rights (in particular, economic, social and cultural rights and their relevance to companies). Specific themes that are of interest are pieces on development, the environment, the broader impacts and influences of companies on society.
Suggestions for themes or pieces other than those outlined here and above are welcomed.
Schedule
The submission deadline for initial expressions of interest in the form of abstracts of approximately 300 words is 1 October 2002. Abstracts should, ideally, be sent as an e-mail attachment to the editor (see contact details below). A selection process will then be put into motion. Contributors whose abstracts are felt appropriate for the project will then be asked to submit full papers by 17 December 2002. Contributors will be informed of the acceptance of their abstract or invited to submit final revised papers by 17 February 2003. It is intended that the book "Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and Solutions" will be published in Autumn 2003.
Contact Details
For further information, to discuss ideas for contributions and to submit abstracts/manuscripts, please contact the editor:
Rory Sullivan rory.sullivan@amnesty.org.uk
Contribution guidelines can be found at: http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/contribu2.htm
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