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

这页面没有简体中文版本,现以English显示

文章

2023年3月27日

作者:
Diana Sanabria, NOVA BHRE

Commentary: Access to remedy under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains

The German Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains (GSCDDA) is intended to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in Germany (purpose of the GSCDDA: BT-Drs. 19/28649, p. 1). This article aims to analyse to what extent the GSCDDA responds to the third pillar of the UNGPs, namely the access to remedy for those affected by business-related human rights impacts. Since even with the best due diligence efforts, negative human rights impacts may still result from business operations, affected people should be able to seek redress. The article addresses the question of what the GSCDDA offers in these cases, including when damages occur...

The GSCDDA established three ways that have the potential to lead to remedies in the sense of the UNGPs: the obligation of taking remedial action as part of the due diligence process, the complaints procedures implemented by the enterprise, and the administrative action of the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), the authority that is competent for GSCDDA-issues (sec. 14 ff. GSCDDA)...

However, it is unclear if these mechanisms require remediation in line with the UNGPs – to lead to substantive outcomes to counteract or make good an adverse impact, especially when it comes to reparation.

The text of sec. 7 GSCDDA refers to the obligation of taking remedial action and it does not mention explicitly the concept of “reparation” (Wiedergutmachung)... Nevertheless, this norm could be object of different interpretations.

The systematic interpretation of the GSCDDA could offer an argument against covering reparation of damages with the concept of ending a human rights violation. The concept of reparation is explicitly mentioned in the GSCDDA as an incentive for enterprises: The intentional or negligent regulatory offence of due diligence obligations will be punished with an administrative fine of up to 8 million euros – or 2 % of the average annual turnover of the enterprise, in the case of an average annual turnover of more than 400 million euros (sec. 24 para. 2 and 3 GSCDDA). The efforts taken to detect the offence and to repair the damage are to be taken into consideration by the BAFA for the assessment of the administrative fine (sec. 24 para. 4 No. 7 GSCDDA) – the fine can be lower if the enterprise repairs the damages. This could be a potential argument against the reparation of damages as part of the obligation of taking remedial action from sec. 7 GSCDDA because the legislator clearly thought about reparation and mentioned it, so if he wanted to include it in sec. 7, he could have mentioned it explicitly there.

Since the systematic interpretation of the GSCDDA does not clarify if “reparation” is part of the obligation to take appropriate remedial action, it is necessary to consider the purpose of the provision. An interpretation based on the meaning and purpose of sec. 7 GSCDDA and its origin in international law[1] considers that effective remedies should be able to redress, insofar as possible, the harm caused by business activities...

In sum, these strong arguments in favour of “reparation” being part of the obligation to take appropriate remedial action will play an important role for affected persons and in the administrative actions taken by the BAFA. For some, the discussion may remain open...

时间线

隐私资讯

本网站使用 cookie 和其他网络存储技术。您可以在下方设置您的隐私选项。您所作的更改将立即生效。

有关我们使用网络存储的更多信息,请参阅我们的 数据使用和 Cookie 政策

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.

分析 cookie

ON
OFF

您浏览本网页时我们将以Google Analytics收集信息。接受此cookie将有助我们理解您的浏览资讯,并协助我们改善呈现资讯的方法。所有分析资讯都以匿名方式收集,我们并不能用相关资讯得到您的个人信息。谷歌在所有主要浏览器中都提供退出Google Analytics的添加应用程式。

市场营销cookies

ON
OFF

我们从第三方网站获得企业责任资讯,当中包括社交媒体和搜寻引擎。这些cookie协助我们理解相关浏览数据。

您在此网站上的隐私选项

本网站使用cookie和其他网络存储技术来增强您在必要核心功能之外的体验。