Global Business and Local Struggle

For twenty years the UN has promoted non-judicial mechanisms against human rights abuses. This book investigates if they actually work.

When transnational business is associated with human rights abuses, are the existing non-judicial mechanisms (NJMs) effective in addressing this problem? Based on interviews with 1100 individuals, this study delves into the practical workings of NJMs in diverse industries and contexts and offers a detailed map of practical actions.In the quest for human rights justice for communities and workers whose rights are breached by transnational businesses, non-judicial mechanisms (NJMs) are often deployed, but how effective are they? This book creates a blueprint for reforming transnational human rights NJMs and for helping communities and workers to use them. Through 587 interviews with 1100 individuals over five years of research in Indonesia and India, the authors delve into the practical workings of NJMs in diverse industries and contexts. The findings reveal that while NJMs are limited in providing standalone remedies, they can play a valuable role within a broader regulatory ecosystem. Combining rich empirical data, multi-method analyses and a new theoretical framework, the authors argue for a multi-pronged approach to human rights redress. Their findings will advance both academic and policy debates about the merits and shortcomings of NJMs.