Sustainability in Transition: Corporate Respect for Solidarity
Kharkiv Forum - Wageningen Law Series 2023/1
25 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2023
Date Written: January 21, 2023
Abstract
Despite the collective nature of sustainable development challenges, the Western legal tradition (with its huge influence on the global legal framework) remains predominantly individualistic. And the existing model of the organization of society and its economic order does not correspond with the values professed by this society.
The Panel discussion was focused on the role of business actors in these transformative changes to solidarity society and on how we can begin to translate those values into corporate practice.
There are moral (discretionary solidarity) and legal (mandatory solidarity) dimensions of corporate responsibility to respect solidarity. From the legal side, solidarity duty barriers are the same as human rights duty barriers. In crises situation and situations of emergency, or in any case of people’s vulnerability, society’s reasonable expectation is enhanced corporate responsibility.
BHR developments are engendering a paradigmatic shift in human rights law. Business actors must incorporate sustainable practices within all levels of governance. This requires a mentality shift towards the ideals of social solidarity. These arguments are particularly forceful in societies with weak rule-of-law infrastructures, political instability and conflict-affected societies. These arguments are also meaningful for corporate actors which provide essential services (services of general interests).
Keywords: corporate respect for solidarity, individual human rights, collective human rights, business and human rights, vulnerable societies
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