[Blog post] Should mandatory human rights due diligence be based on social expectations?
Published 17 March 2025By Irem Cakmak
Potential Photo: Photo by ThisisEngineering
On the tenth anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Asser Institute researcher Antonio Guzmán Mutis examines the definition basis of corporate responsibility in a new blog post. Should corporate responsibility continue to rely on industry expectations, or should mandatory due diligence laws be rooted in human rights justifications?
A decade after the introduction of the UNGPs, the landscape of corporate accountability is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The UNGPs, established by the United Nations in 2011, set out a global framework that outlines the responsibilities of states and businesses to prevent, address, and remedy human rights abuses linked to business activities.
In his contribution to Oxford Human Rights Hub, Mutis critically examines whether the UNGPs - built on non-binding standards and societal expectations - are still suitable, as human rights due diligence becomes enforcable legal requirement across Europe.
Crucial question
With the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) set to establish mandatory legal frameworks, this research highlights a crucial question: should corporate responsibility continue to rely on shifting social standards, or should laws be rooted directly in universal human rights obligations?
The EU Directive is particularly significant as it aims to hold companies legally accountable for human rights and environmental violations across their global supply chains, setting a new benchmark for corporate responsibility.
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About Antonio Guzmán Mutis
Antonio Guzmán Mutis is a junior researcher in International Human Rights Law at the Asser Institute, focusing on the human rights implications of irresponsible arms exports. His research interests include business and human rights, international investment law, and state responsibility. Read more.
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Business & human rights experts Antoine Duval (Asser Institute) and Nadia Barnaz (Wageningen University) have co-edited a blog symposium on the Business and Human Rights Journal Blog, aiming to dive into different dimensions of the The French duty of vigilance law implementation. Read more.
