Litigation against MNCs: A Medium for accountability for human rights violations in the mining industry
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Date
2025
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Department of Commercial and Property Law Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State
Abstract
Lawsuits against multinational corporations (MNCs) are one of the means to hold companies accountable for violations of human rights in sectors like mining, where the consequences on the environment and local communities are often severe. Notwithstanding the massive financial power of large multinational firms, lawsuits offer a means of seeking justice, righting wrongs, and defending human rights standards. Numerous mining operations take place in countries with weak regulatory frameworks or where the government may be complicit in human rights abuses such as forced displacement, child labour, and environmental damage. In some cases, litigation may be heard under the jurisdiction of the parent company's native country's courts while it may be difficult to institute legal action against companies that committed such wrongful acts. This could compel the multinational corporation to take responsibility for its foreign operations. Therefore, this article discusses litigation against MNCs as an important tool for corporate accountability in the mining industry and instances MNCs have been accused of violating human rights in the US, UK, and Nigeria. The analysis takes into account the achievements as well as its shortcomings in addressing the violations. This research also examined several barriers to lawsuits against corporations. They have the power to keep victims from getting justice for alleged wrongdoing and human rights abuses by businesses. It states strategies to strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of litigation against MNCs and businesses.
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Keywords
Human Rights, Litigation, Multinational Corporations (MNCs), Accountability
Citation
Journal of Commercial and Property Law