The changing social expectations of corporations within a globalised economic environment are challenging our traditional conception of the proper commercial function. This text delimits their emergent roles and responsibilities under international law. International Documents on Corporate Responsibility includes the principal international, regional and national instruments drafted by intergovernmental organisations or states as well as codes of conduct formulated by industry associations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations. The coverage includes the fields of human rights, international criminal and environmental law, labour standards, international trade, armed conflict, sustainable development, corruption, consumer protection and corporate governance. Each document is accompanied by a brief explanatory commentary outlining the historical origins of the instrument, the principal actors involved, controversial negotiation issues, applicable implementation procedure, and identifies further reference material. This comprehensive compilation of materials dating from the 1970s to the present day in one single readily-accessible and fully-indexed volume will be of interest to students and researchers of corporate responsibility, as well as corporate executives, government officials, legal practitioners, tertiary institutions, business associations, trade unions and NGO activists.

The changing social expectations of corporations within a globalised economic environment are challenging our traditional conception of the proper commercial function. This text delimits their emergent roles and responsibilities under international law. International Documents on Corporate Responsibility includes the principal international, regional and national instruments drafted by intergovernmental organisations or states as well as codes of conduct formulated by industry associations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations. The coverage includes the fields of human rights, international criminal and environmental law, labour standards, international trade, armed conflict, sustainable development, corruption, consumer protection and corporate governance. Each document is accompanied by a brief explanatory commentary outlining the historical origins of the instrument, the principal actors involved, controversial negotiation issues, applicable implementation procedure, and identifies further reference material. This comprehensive compilation of materials dating from the 1970s to the present day in one single readily-accessible and fully-indexed volume will be of interest to students and researchers of corporate responsibility, as well as corporate executives, government officials, legal practitioners, tertiary institutions, business associations, trade unions and NGO activists.

A growing awareness of the responsibility of corporations to respect the rights of workers and consumers and human rights generally, in addition to the impact of commercial operations upon the natural environment - constant concerns for national regulation - has engendered a relative explosion of standard-setting regimes from international institutions such as the United Nations, the European Community, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as from non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and the corporations themselves in the form of such selfregulatory measures as private voluntary initiatives and codes of conduct.

The ever-important topic of corporate legal responsibility is deconstructed into many multifaceted components in this fascinating Handbook, which systematically examines each in turn and describes the contemporary legal position. The Research Handbook on Corporate Legal Responsibility considers general theory and basic concepts such as corporate legal personality, the doctrine of attribution, corporate governance and directors' duties, and reviews the range of individuals to which corporations may be held responsible, particularly employees, suppliers, shareholders, 'stakeholders' and women. The substantive grounds for corporate responsibility under civil and criminal law within the North American and Commonwealth jurisdictions are evaluated, and mechanisms of accountability such as novel regulatory processes (interactive regulation, codes of conduct and social reporting), risk management and the significant role of non-governmental organisations are identified. The thought-provoking chapters contained within this Handbook go on to present perspectives on topical international questions (corruption, labour standards, human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development) including an analysis of recent initiatives from several international organisations. Bringing together the work of around thirty leading academics, practitioners, campaigners and policymakers from North America, Europe and Australia, each chapter locates these issues within a theoretical context, giving an overview of its historical evolution, providing an accurate account of the current legal position and identifying policy issues likely to influence future developments.

The ever-important topic of corporate legal responsibility is deconstructed into many multifaceted components in this fascinating Handbook, which systematically examines each in turn and describes the contemporary legal position. The Research Handbook on Corporate Legal Responsibility considers general theory and basic concepts such as corporate legal personality, the doctrine of attribution, corporate governance and directors' duties, and reviews the range of individuals to which corporations may be held responsible, particularly employees, suppliers, shareholders, 'stakeholders' and women. The substantive grounds for corporate responsibility under civil and criminal law within the North American and Commonwealth jurisdictions are evaluated, and mechanisms of accountability such as novel regulatory processes (interactive regulation, codes of conduct and social reporting), risk management and the significant role of non-governmental organisations are identified. The thought-provoking chapters contained within this Handbook go on to present perspectives on topical international questions (corruption, labour standards, human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development) including an analysis of recent initiatives from several international organisations. Bringing together the work of around thirty leading academics, practitioners, campaigners and policymakers from North America, Europe and Australia, each chapter locates these issues within a theoretical context, giving an overview of its historical evolution, providing an accurate account of the current legal position and identifying policy issues likely to influence future developments.