The role of the OECD Guidelines' National Contact Points in mitigation of impacts of globalised business activities on human rights

Abstract

The OECD is a long-standing promoter of responsible business conduct (RBC). The most significant RBC instrument is the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

The Guidelines are the only multilaterally agreed and the most comprehensive code of RBC that governments have committed to. In 2011, the OECD took an important step towards the application of this instrument in human rights as it was decided to update the Guidelines and to include new recommendations on human rights abuse.

With regard to the developing NCPs' case law it is argued that NCPs' activities and particularly their unique non-judicial grievance mechanism help not only to create a level playing field globally, but also to promote a better RBC by multinational enterprises.