Transterritoriality as a theory to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations: the application of its principles in Vedanta and Nevsun cases

Abstract

This paper examines the basis for transterritoriality as a theory to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations and attempts to its application in two Business and Human Rights leading decisions: Vedanta Resources Plc and Konkola Copper Mines Plc v. Lungowe and Ors. [2019] UKSC 20 and Nevsun Resources Ltd. v. Araya, 2020 SCC 5. By the analysis of both judgements, issued by two Supreme Courts under the common law regime, the present work aims to prove that, in order to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations, national judges can apply private international law, public international law and international human rights law in an heterarchical and transversal manner to ensure a genuine dialogue between national jurisdictions and international courts under the application of the main principles and rules of international law. Qualitative and deductive methods used were based on interdisciplinary research and primary and secondary business and human rights sources were consulted to develop the proposed theory and case analysis.