corporate accountability research

Non-Judicial Redress Mechanisms Project

This research project addresses the urgent need to provide vulnerable workers and communities with more effective means of defending their human rights when these are violated by businesses based in countries elsewhere in the world.

What Are Non-Judicial Redress Mechanisms?

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Research methodology

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Research Organisations

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Research team

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Project Publications

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events

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In 2011 the United Nations endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights, the third pillar of which is ‘redress’, in recognition that despite the best efforts of civil society, governments and responsible businesses, human rights are sometimes harmed as a result of business activity. However, there are significant barriers to judicial redress for workers and communities who find their human rights threatened or harmed by businesses. There are problems to do with jurisdiction, cost and timeliness that leave many without any meaningful option for redress.

Over recent years a number of non-judicial redress mechanisms have been developed to address this need. This project evaluates these existing mechanisms in terms of their formal powers and functions, as well as their informal dynamics. The project aims to:

1. Provide evidence for and advice regarding sound institutional design and operation for existing and future redress mechanisms, and;
2. Provide evidence and advice for communities, workers and their supporters about how to make best use of non-judicial mechanisms in seeking redress for human rights harms.

We are conducting research in Australia and the UK as home countries of transnational businesses, and India and Indonesia as host countries. We are exploring twelve case studies – three each in agribusiness, extractives and the garments sector in each host country.

The project is funded by the Australian Research Council and other research organisations.