The Duty of Care of the Parent Company: A Comparison between French Law, UK Precedents and the Swiss Proposals

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
pp. 265-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia PALOMBO
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Parent Company ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
French Law ◽  
Legislative Proposals ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Parent Companies

AbstractIn 2017, France established a due diligence statutory obligation for French parent companies to monitor extraterritorial human rights and environmental abuses committed by their off-shore affiliates. Switzerland is also considering adopting a similar law for Swiss parent companies. These obligations are comparable to the duty of care that, according to recent case law, British parent companies owe towards their subsidiaries’ neighbours. This article compares and contrasts the newly introduced French due diligence statutory obligation, the UK precedents, and two alternative Swiss legislative proposals on the due diligence and duty of care of parent companies.

scholarly journals Vedanta Resources Plc and Another v. Lungowe and Others

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-116
Author(s):  
Tara Van Ho
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Copper Mines ◽  
Public Disclosures ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Right ◽  
Parent Companies ◽  
Human Rights Due Diligence

In Vedanta v. Lungowe, the United Kingdom Supreme Court determined that civil claims for negligence brought by Zambian claimants against an English parent company (Vedanta) and its Zambian subsidiary (Konkola Copper Mines plc (KCM)) for damages experienced in Zambia can proceed in English courts. While framed as a domestic tort law case, the decision is significant for international efforts aimed at holding businesses accountable for their “negative impacts” on human rights. Writing for a unanimous Court, Lord Briggs's judgment hinged narrowly on the right of victims to access substantial justice. More broadly, Lord Briggs suggested that parent companies that hold themselves out in public disclosures as overseeing the human rights, environmental, social, or labor standards employed by their subsidiaries assume a duty of care to those harmed by the subsidiary. This suggestion has the potential to transform current corporate approaches to human rights due diligence and accountability.

scholarly journals Vicarious Liability in Groups of Companies and in Supply Chains - Is Competition Law Leading the Way?

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-129
Author(s):  
Vibe Ulfbeck
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Competition Law ◽  
Civil Liability ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Parent Company ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
The Law ◽  
Parent Companies

The article discusses the concept of vicarious liability in the area of competition law. It argues that this concept is to some extent embedded in the concept of the undertaking under competition law with the consequence that parent companies – under certain conditions – can be held liable for competition law infringements committed by subsidiaries. The liability can be termed “vicarious” because it is imposed regardless of whether the parent company was involved in or ought to have had any knowledge of the competition law infringements committed by the subsidiary. Whereas such liability has until recently only been imposed for administrative fines, the Skanska decision changes this. Following this decision it must be assumed that parent companies can also be held vicariously liable for civil liability incurred by a subsidiary. It is pointed out that it is a separate question whether the Akzo-presumption rule, established with regard to the imposition of fines for competition law infringements, can also be applied in a pure civil liability case concerning parental liability. Next, the article discusses whether the results reached in the area of competition law can be transferred to other areas of the law. In this regard, the article analyses recent case law with regard to parental liability for workers’ injuries and environmental damage and compares these areas of the law to competition law. Finally, the article discusses whether the concept of the undertaking can be extended to apply also in situations where companies are not tied by ownership but by contract. In this regard the article focuses on the (possibly) emerging concept of supply chain liability.

scholarly journals Getting it right: directors’ assessment of information

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-131
Author(s):  
Kerri O’Donnell ◽  
Barry Hicks ◽  
John Streeter ◽  
Paul Shantapriyan
Keyword(s):  
Case Law ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Guidance ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Individual Interpretation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the increasing expectation against two concepts, information and process scepticism. In light of the Centro case judgement, directors’ decisions are held to increasing standards of due care and diligence. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper, drawing upon archival material, including statute law, case law, regulatory guidance material and media releases in Australasia. The authors review the statutory duty of care, skill and diligence expected of non-executive directors. Findings – Whether a director has exercised an appropriate level of reasonable care and skill and/or due diligence has been a matter for the courts to decide. Such retrospective analysis leaves directors vulnerable to the uncertainty of whether their individual interpretation of diligence matches up to that of the presiding judge. The authors provide directors with a framework to apply scepticism to information and processes provided by those on whom the directors may rely. Research limitations/implications – Two concepts are identified: reasonable reliance on others and the business judgement rule. The authors present arguments that challenge us to understand reasonable reliance, judgement and actions of directors in light of processing and information scepticism. Practical implications – Directors do have a different role to that of auditors; incorporating scepticism can enable directors to fulfil their responsibility towards shareholders. By applying information and process scepticism, directors of companies can reduce the likelihood and magnitude of litigation costs and out-of-court settlements. Originality/value – This paper provides a framework to apply scepticism to information and processes provided by people on whom the directors may rely.

ON and DP v. Russian Federation

2021 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 463-486
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rule Application ◽  
United Nations Convention

463Human rights — Women’s rights — Elimination of discrimination against women — Sexual orientation — Exhaustion of domestic remedies — Due diligence obligations — Obligation to investigate — Requirement of prompt and impartial investigation — Protection of lesbian women from violence — Gender stereotypes — Committee case law and general recommendations — Remedies — Whether Russian Federation violating Articles 1, 2 and 5 of United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979International tribunals — Jurisdiction and admissibility — United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women — Local remedies rule — Application in light of time bar under national law

Physical Education and Religious Freedom

2019 ◽  
pp. 144-155
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Margaritis
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Democratic Society ◽  
The Other ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
Freedom Of Religion ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
European Court

Freedom of religion has been constantly characterized as one of the foundations of a democratic society. On the other hand, the significance of physical education in the development of children's overall personality is beyond dispute. Thus, the question that arises is, What happens in a case of a conflict involving the above? The aim of this chapter is to provide an answer on the basis of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. In particular, the fundamental cases of Dogru vs. France and Kervanci vs. France will be examined, as well as the recent case of Osmanoglu and Kocabas vs. Switzerland. Through the analysis of the cases, useful conclusions will be drawn on the possible impact of religious freedom on physical education.

scholarly journals De lo subjetivo a lo objetivo en la jurisprudencia convencional, en dos ejemplos

2019 ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
Antonio López Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
European Court ◽  
Living Together

En la reciente jurisprudencia del TEDH se advierte una cierta modulación, de lo subjetivo a lo objetivo, en un contexto de controvertida reconsideración nacional de las sociedades abiertas de la Europa en crisis. De ello se trata aquí atendiendo a dos manifestaciones de conflictos de diverso porte y alcance; a propósito, la una, del inclusivo ámbito de la enseñanza, y relativa, la otra, a la regulación de acceso al espacio público mediante reglas excluyentes, de prevención general, pretendidamente instrumentales al aseguramiento de la salvaguarda de la convivencia, de la vida en común.The recent case law of the European Court of Human Rights shows a certain modulation, from the subjective to the objective, in a context of controversial national reconsideration of the open societies of Europe in crisis. This is what we are dealing with here in the light of two manifestations of conflicts of different sizes and scope; purposefully, one, of the inclusive field of education, and relative, the other, to the regulation of access to public space by means of excluding rules, of general prevention, supposedly instrumental to ensuring the safeguarding of coexistence, of living together.

scholarly journals FREDA: a human rights-based approach to healthcare

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 150-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Curtice ◽  
Tim Exworthy
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Deficit ◽  
Human Rights Act ◽  
Human Rights Act 1998 ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Human Rights Based Approach ◽  
Organisational Level

SummaryThe introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998 in the UK has not led to widespread knowledge and understanding in patient and carer groups, healthcare professionals or at an organisational level. This knowledge deficit has been recognised by government bodies and other agencies, which has led to the introduction of a bottom-up human rights-based approach that can be used by individuals and organisations alike in everyday practice. It avoids the need to have technical knowledge of the Human Rights Act and associated case law and is based upon concepts that underpin all the articles of the Act. The human rights-based approach is the process by which human rights can be protected by adherence to underlying core values of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy, or FREDA.

CHILD ABDUCTION: RECENT JURISPRUDENCE OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Beaumont ◽  
Katarina Trimmings ◽  
Lara Walker ◽  
Jayne Holliday
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Habitual Residence ◽  
Child Abduction ◽  
European Court ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThis article examines how the European Court of Human Rights has clarified its jurisprudence on how the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention Article 13 exceptions are to be applied in a manner that is consistent with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It also analyses recent case law of the European Court of Human Rights on how the courts in the EU are to handle child abduction cases where the courts of the habitual residence have made use of their power under Article 11 of Brussels IIa.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document