To what Extent Does Corporate Due Diligence Extend to Subsidiaries?
Policy paper
2013
The cases Danzer, Nestlé and Lahmeyer
When corporations conduct business activities abroad, whether on their own or through a subsidiary, the question arises as to their responsibility for human rights violations. Within the EU, national and European laws on labor, the environment and consumers’ rights provide quite comprehensive protection for the human rights of the European population. Outside the EU, there are often less protection mechanisms and there may be a lack of enforcement of existing laws; in many cases there is suppression of trade unions and other organizations.