The Contribution of the UN Treaty Bodies to Business and Human Rights

The relationship between business and human rights has been the subject of considerable attention within the UN human rights system. The treaty monitoring bodies have played an important but insufficiently explored role in this context. This article discusses the contribution of the treaty bodies to business and human rights and argues for a deeper engagement by the treaty bodies in this sphere. It examines their influence on the development of the UN Guiding Principles and explores recent developments, including the adoption of specialised general comments. It addresses divergences between the treaty bodies’ understanding of state obligations and private sector responsibilities compared with those articulated in the UN Guiding Principles. The article reflects on the potential future contribution of the treaty bodies against the backdrop of continued but faltering efforts to implement the Guiding Principles at the national level and to develop a new treaty on business and human rights.