abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

Esta página no está disponible en Español y está siendo mostrada en English

Artículo

4 Sep 2018

Autor:
Gabriela Quijano, Legal Adviser, Amnesty International - International Secretariat

Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell: An opportunity to honour international standards or another instance of corporate impunity?

On 14 February 2018, a UK Court of Appeal dismissed the Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell (RDS or Shell) appeal on the basis that RDS could not be held legally responsible for the actions of its Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)...This decision is highly concerning for two main reasons. Firstly, it denies the Ogale and Bille communities an opportunity for justice in a case where the chances of obtaining meaningful reparation in Nigeria are virtually non-existent.  Secondly, it backtracks on prior UK court decisions on parent company liability...

The Court of Appeal dismissed the claims based on the absence of evidence to demonstrate operational control of Shell over its subsidiary...Such a high evidentiary burden on claimants alleging parent company liability at such an early stage in the proceedings is unjust and unrealistic...

UK courts have gradually advanced useful parent company liability principles, with Chandler v Cape plc being the strongest precedent yet.  However, the Court of Appeal disregarded principles established in this case...[I]t is not the active engagement of a parent company in the abuse, but its failure to act to prevent it when it could that results in serious harm.  Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal chose to backtrack on this important point.

The view expressed by the Court of Appeal that a parent company duty of care may only arise in cases of active control or enforcement would promote a “hands off” approach to the human rights impacts of subsidiaries...Should it stand, the Court of Appeal’s ruling would have the exact opposite effect of discouraging parent companies from concerning themselves with, and taking action to avoid, the adverse human rights impacts of their subsidiaries...

Línea del tiempo

Información de privacidad

Este sitio usa cookies y otras tecnologías de almacenamiento web. Puede configurar sus preferencias de privacidad más adelante. Los cambios se aplicarán de inmediato.

Para más información sobre el uso que hacemos del almacenamiento web, por favor consulte nuestra Política de Cookies y Uso de Datos

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Cookies analíticas

ON
OFF

Cuando accede a nuestro sitio web, utilizamos Google Analytics para recopilar información sobre su visita. La aceptación de esta cookie nos permitirá conocer más detalles sobre su visita y mejorar la forma en que mostramos la información. Toda la información analítica es anónima y no la utilizamos para identificarle. Google proporciona un complemento de inhabilitación de Google Analytics para todos los navegadores populares.

Cookies promocionales

ON
OFF

Compartimos noticias y actualizaciones sobre empresas y derechos humanos a través de plataformas de terceros, incluidas las redes sociales y los motores de búsqueda. Estas cookies nos ayudan a comprender el rendimiento de estas promociones.

Sus preferencias de privacidad en este sitio

Este sitio usa cookies y otras tecnologías de almacenamiento web para mejorar su experiencia, mas allá de la funcionalidad básica necesaria.