Human Rights Implementation in Switzerland A Baseline Study on the Business and Human Rights Situation in Switzerland SKMR / CSDH / CSDU / SCHR I.6 Schweizerisches Kompetenzzentrum für Menschenrechte (SKMR) Centre suisse de compétence pour les droits humains (CSDH) Centro svizzero di competenza per i diritti umani (CSDU) Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) © Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) and University of Zurich Centre for Human Rights Studies Human Rights Implementation in Switzerland A Baseline Study on the Business and Human Rights Situation in Switzerland Prof. Dr. Christine Kaufmann lic.iur. Jonatan Niedrig MLaw Judith Wehrli MLaw Laura Marschner Dr. iur. Christoph Good The views expressed in this study are those of the authors and only the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights can be held responsible. Schweizerisches Kompetenzzentrum für Menschenrechte (SKMR) Centre suisse de compétence pour les droits humains (CSDH) Centro svizzero di competenza per i diritti umani (CSDU) Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) Schanzeneckstrasse 1, 3012 Bern Center for Human Rights Studies University of Zurich (UZHR) Rämistrasse 74/5 CH-8001 Zurich Tel. +41 (0)44 634 41 87 Fax +41 (0)44 634 43 78 [email protected] Schriftenreihe SKMR Collection CSDH Series SCHR Zurich 2014 [Translation provided by the University of Zurich Centr for Human Rights Studies (UZHR)] Preliminary Remarks The Study on Human Rights Implementation in Switzerland is a baseline study in six sub-volumes released by the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) that analyses the implementation of recommendations and decisions by international human rights bodies in Switzerland. The sub-volumes refer to the areas Migration, Imprisonment, Police and Justice, Gender Policy, Child and Youth Policy, Institutional Issues, as well as Business and Human Rights. The study analyses the commitments arising from the United Nations and Council of Europe human rights treaties ratified by Switzerland, the recommendations of the supervisory bodies and the UN Human Rights Council that are based on these agreements and issued in the course of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), as well as the decisions against Switzerland in individual cases made under these treaties. In drafting the sub-studies, the recommendations and decisions were collected and substantially evaluated, and specific focal points were defined for every subject area. Except in the sub-study on Business and Human Rights, the evaluation was limited to the topics addressed by international human rights bodies – other problem areas in the human rights implementation were not further analysed. On the basis of the information gathered, the study evaluates the current state of the implementation of obligations and recommendations in Switzerland, demonstrates the difficulties in the implementation, and defines the current need for action. Moreover, the results from previous consultations with selected authorities, non- governmental organisations (NGO), and other relevant actors were also incorporated into this study. The Study on Human Rights Implementation in Switzerland represents a snapshot of the current situation. The present sub-study on Business and Human Rights takes decisions and developments up to July 2013 into account. The SCHR studies and all information on its further activities are available on the SCHR website, http://www.scehr.ch. The SCHR is a network consisting of the universities Berne, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Zurich as well as the Institut Universitaire Kurt Bösch (IUKB), the Center of Human Rights Education (ZMRB) at the University of Teacher Education Central Switzerland – Lucerne (PHZ Lucerne), and the association http://www.humanrights.ch/MERS. The SCHR is a pilot project limited to five years and mandated by the Federal Council to strengthen and support capacities with regard to the implementation of international human rights obligations in Switzerland on all levels of the political system, the civil society, and the corporate sector, as well as to advance the public debate on human rights. To this end, the Centre will mainly author studies and expert reports, hold conferences, provide information, and offer continued education and trainings. It does not, however, offer any consultation services for individual cases. In the scope of its yearly performance mandate, the SCHR is financed with a basic contribution by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of justice (FDJP). Moreover, the SCHR is supported by mandates from public authorities, NGOs and private businesses, as well as the resources of the network institutions. This Study on Human Rights Implementation in Switzerland is based on the SCHR’s own initiative, and the network partners financed its publication. At the end of the pilot phase in 2015, the Swiss Federal Council will decide on the future of the SCHR, and consider whether the Centre should be converted into an independent human rights institution. I CONTENT Preliminary Remarks ................................................................................................................................................................ I Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................................................... VI Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 I. Background and Objective of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 1 II. Special Characteristics of the Business and Human Rights Nexus .................................................................................. 1 1. Structural Particularities ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Coherence as Challenge ....................................................................................................................................... 2 III. International Law Framework ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1. The Scope of Switzerland’s Human Rights Obligations ........................................................................................ 2 2. Developments until 2005 ....................................................................................................................................... 3 3. Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework ........................................................................................................... 5 4. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ........................................................................................ 5 4.1. State Duty to Protect .................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1.1. Extraterritoriality (Guiding Principle 2) .......................................................................................................... 6 4.1.2. Business operations in conflict-affected areas (Guiding Principle 7) ............................................................ 6 4.1.3. Coherence (Guiding Principles 8 to 10) ........................................................................................................ 6 4.2. The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights ............................................................................. 7 4.3. Access to Grievance and Remediation Mechanisms ................................................................................... 7 5. Importance of the Framework and the Guiding Principles .................................................................................... 7 IV. Domestic Law.................................................................................................................................................................... 8 V. Approach ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1. The Study as a First of Three Steps ...................................................................................................................... 8 2. Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 State Duty to Protect in Connection with Business and Human Rights ........................................................................ 10 I. Concept and Meaning of the State Duty to Protect ......................................................................................................... 10 II. International Incorporation of the State Duty to Protect .................................................................................................. 11 1. Particular International Law Aspects and Relevance to the Actors ..................................................................... 11 2. International Law Foundations for the State Duty to Protect ............................................................................... 12 3. Substantiating Guidelines