PART II, SECTION 9–
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR OTHER DOMINANT ACTORS

USING MODULE 25 IN A TRAINING PROGRAM

CORPORATIONS AND ESC RIGHTS

GO TO SECTION I - MODULE 25
The purpose of Module 25 is to clarify whether private companies or corporations have obli­gations for ensuring that their activities do not result in negatively affecting the enjoyment of ESC rights. 

This module should help trainees understand/clarify for themselves:

  • how corporations (in particular transnational corporations) can affect people’s enjoyment of ESC rights;
  • the extent to which corporations have legally enforceable human rights obligations;
  • how companies can be brought to account through states’ international human rights ob­ligations; and
  • what other strategies activist can use to compel companies to act in pursuance of ESC rights.

Suggested Methods

¨      Case study discussion: A facilitator could provide a case study for discussion.  The case study should be based on a well-known situation-such as the Bhopal gas tragedy nar­rated in Module 25-in which actions of a national or transnational company have ad­versely affected the enjoyment of ESC rights.

The participants should discuss the case study and explain what, if any, obligations the concerned company has in ensuring that its actions do not adversely affect the enjoyment of ESC rights.  

¨      Role play: Participants can be asked to role play one of the cases discussed in Module 25.  The roles should include a judge, human rights groups seeking relief from the court, and a lawyer arguing the case on behalf of the corporation.

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