Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights From Voluntary Standards to Binding Obligations

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17618839

Abstract

This paper examines the evolving relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and human rights, focusing on the shift from voluntary standards to binding legal obligations. While CSR initially emerged as a philanthropic and voluntary initiative, its limitations in addressing systemic labor, environmental and social injustices have become increasingly evident, particularly in developing countries. The analysis begins with the conceptual and historical foundations of CSR, followed by a discussion of its gradual incorporation into international and regional legal frameworks. A comparative perspective highlights the experiences of Pakistan, Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, illustrating how weak state capacity, complex supply chains and corporate resistance hinder effective implementation. The paper further identifies structural challenges in moving toward binding obligations and proposes future directions, including international treaties, mandatory due diligence laws, regional cooperation and integration with the Sustainable Development Goals. The study concludes that voluntary standards are insufficient for ensuring accountability and that a transition toward binding obligations is both a legal necessity and a moral imperative for aligning corporate conduct with human rights protection.