Enforcement in Human Rights Due Diligence Laws: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This Comment embarks on a comparative analysis of a variety human rights due diligence (HRDD) laws. It examines six different laws related to human trafficking and supply chains. These laws originate from five different countries and fit into two categories: (1) laws requiring a company to report what, if any, human rights due diligence it engages in and (2) laws that require more than just reporting. By surveying a wide sample of HRDD laws, this Comment provides a broad overview of this area of the law. It also describes the range of legal obligations that multinational enterprises face in different jurisdictions. Then, through a comparative analysis, this Comment argues for strong enforcement mechanisms in HRDD laws. Without effective enforcement, this Comment contends that HRDD laws fail to compel corporations to effectively reduce human rights violations, such as human trafficking, in their supply chains.