From: publicity [mailto:
publicity@greenleaf-publishing.com]
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: DILEMMAS AND SOLUTIONS
Greenleaf Publishing invites contributions for a book on the topic of
"Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and Solutions" to be edited by
Rory Sullivan (Amnesty International (UK) Business Group and Queen Mary
College, University of London).
Rationale
The globalisation of the world economy offers both unprecedented
opportunities for companies as well as unprecedented threats, as
companies increasingly find themselves, their partners or their
contractors mired in zones of conflict or in countries where human
rights violations are occurring. Companies are subject to
ever-increasing scrutiny of their supply chains, their investments,
their employee relations, their impacts on communities, and their
influence on government. The ability to maintain the 'corporate licence
to operate' has become increasingly dependent on companies' ability to
contribute to the protection of human rights within their area of
influence. Furthermore, the language of human rights (e.g. the right to
development, the right to information) is, more and more, underpinning
public policy debates and informing discussions about the social
responsibility of companies.
There is also a fault-line in the debate, between companies who argue
that voluntary corporate social responsibility initiatives provide the
way forward and those, in particular those representing broader civil
society, who have criticised corporate responses as being ineffective
or inadequate. While both sides of the argument have merit, it also
remains the case that the polarised positions do not adequately reflect
the potential contribution of business to the protection and promotion
of human rights, nor the limitations and constraints on company action.
The aims of the proposed book, "Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and
Solutions", are: (a) to capture the current debates around business and
human rights; (b) to provide a series of case studies and examples to
illustrate the opportunities and difficulties faced by companies in
responding to the evolving human rights agenda; (c) to assess the
adequacy of corporate responses, including an assessment of the
responsibility of government, civil society and trade unions, as well
as companies; (d) to provide a framework (e.g. management tools,
strategic responses) for companies to move forward.
Coverage
* The specific human rights issues that companies need to address:
workplace, community, supply chain, public policy?
* Perspectives on the responsibility of business for the protection and
promotion of human rights: How far does responsibility extend? What is
the nexus between business and other actors such as government, NGOs,
trade unions?
* Specific dilemmas and responses, including both civil and political
rights (e.g. corruption, operating in conflict zones, child labour,
freedom of association) and economic, social and cultural rights (e.g.
living wage, the environment, development).
* Emerging issues and dilemmas: in particular, corporate
accountability, the economic, social and environmental impacts and
implications of development, corporate influences on public policy, the
implications of globalisation.
* Assessment of the adequacy of corporate responses to the emerging
human rights debate.
* Corporate responses: case studies detailing how individual companies
have faced human rights dilemmas and responded to these dilemmas,
including management systems and tools (reporting, auditing, risk
assessment) and emerging strategies (e.g. partnership approaches).
* Public policy approaches: the role of regulation and self-regulation,
other pressures on companies (e.g. investors, insurance).
Contributions/Contributors
Reflecting the intended practical nature of this publication and also
the many different parties that have an interest in human rights,
contributions are welcomed from practitioners in business, NGOs,
development agencies, trade unions and government, as well as
academics.
Contributions will be expected to be between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
Submissions should follow the editorial guidelines that can be obtained
from Greenleaf Publishing (see below).
Contributions on the following specific issues will be particularly
welcome:
* Case studies of corporate responses to specific dilemmas. It is
expected that these will be from a cross-section of business sectors
(e.g. primary production, investment, insurance, manufacturing, etc.)
and will consider the reasons for managing human rights issues (or a
specific human rights issue), the measures/solutions adopted, the
outcomes achieved, lessons learned, future directions.
* Critical perspectives on corporate responses to human rights issues.
These may include commentaries on corporate social responsibility,
reputation impacts, corporate accountability, the balance of
responsibility between government, business, civil society and other
actors.
* Emerging dimensions of human rights (in particular, economic, social
and cultural rights and their relevance to companies). Specific themes
that are of interest are pieces on development, the environment, the
broader impacts and influences of companies on society.
Suggestions for themes or pieces other than those outlined here and
above are welcomed.
Schedule
The submission deadline for initial expressions of interest in the form
of abstracts of approximately 300 words is 1 October 2002. Abstracts
should, ideally, be sent as an e-mail attachment to the editor (see
contact details below).
A selection process will then be put into motion. Contributors whose
abstracts are felt appropriate for the project will then be asked to
submit full papers by 17 December 2002. Contributors will be informed
of the acceptance of their abstract or invited to submit final revised
papers by 17 February 2003.
It is intended that the book "Business and Human Rights: Dilemmas and
Solutions" will be published in Autumn 2003.
Contact Details
For further information, to discuss ideas for contributions and to
submit abstracts/manuscripts, please contact the editor:
Rory Sullivan
rory.sullivan@amnesty.org.uk
Contribution guidelines can be found at:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/contribu2.htm
or obtained from:
Samantha Self Greenleaf
Publishing Aizlewood Business Centre
Aizlewood's Mill
Nursery Street
Sheffield
S3 8GG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)114 282 3475
Fax: +44 (0)114 282 3476
Email:
journals@greenleaf-publishing.com
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
Call for Contributions: 'Business & Human Rights'
Rory Sullivan, 6 July 2002