Abstract:

While multinational companies contribute to the economies of the countries in which they operate, they can also cause negative effects such as environmental pollution, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, insufficient wages, child labor and forced displacement of indigenous people, and as a result, human rights violations. In this paper, corporate human rights due diligence obligations, which serve the purpose of preventing human rights violations and environmental damage that may be caused by the commercial activities of multinational companies, are examined. In this context, nonbinding and voluntary legal texts, especially the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are discussed. Then, the developments within the European Union are explained, and then certain national regulations are included. In terms of the national regulations, considering the export volumes with Turkey, the corporate human rights due diligence obligations under German, English, French and Dutch laws are examined. Finally, the effects of these developments especially on companies located in Turkey and in this regard the need for a reform under Turkish law are evaluated.

Keywords: