Publications - ETO Consortium

Filling Gaps in International Human Rights Law to Address Global Land and Resource Grabbing. Extraterritorial Human Rights Law Obligations of States and the Rights of Future Generations

Filling Gaps in International Human Rights Law to Address Global Land and Resource Grabbing. Extraterritorial Human Rights Law Obligations of States and the Rights of Future Generations

Traditionally, human rights law (treaties in particular) applies only to the territories of states that have ratified such treaties, and only states are legally bound by these agreements. Yet, as a result of processes of globalization and the conduct of states, corporate actors and international organizations, including their involvement in land and resource grabbing, increasingly […]

12 Policies for States on ETOs

12 Policies for States on ETOs

This booklet is meant primarily for public officials and their advisers working in international relations. It could, of course, be useful for everybody else concerned with international affairs. Its purpose is to trigger thought and discussion about the added value of extraterritorial human rights obligations for international policies. This booklet will show that ETOs in […]

14 Misconceptions about ETOs

14 Misconceptions about ETOs

When discussing ETOs with States – but also sometimes with the human rights community – ETO defenders often face some legal and doctrinal misunderstandings that need to be tackled. One of these misunderstandings relate to the attempted reduction of States’ obligations to territory.The following fourteen misconceptions are frequently encountered when discussing ETOs. This booklet aims […]

Toolkit for Human Rights Beyond Borders

Toolkit for Human Rights Beyond Borders

February 17, 2023

The ETO Consortium published a handbook and a toolkit on how to monitor States’ compliance with their human rights obligations beyond their own territory. The handbook and toolkit “Human Rights Beyond Borders: How to Hold States Accountable for Extraterritorial Violations” aim to serve as a practical guide for human rights advocates and social movements in […]

Handbook for Human Rights Beyond Borders

Handbook for Human Rights Beyond Borders

February 17, 2023

The ETO Consortium published a handbook and a toolkit on how to monitor States’ compliance with their human rights obligations beyond their own territory. The handbook and toolkit “Human Rights Beyond Borders: How to Hold States Accountable for Extraterritorial Violations” aim to serve as a practical guide for human rights advocates and social movements in […]

China: Human Rights and Chinese Business Activities in Latin America

China: Human Rights and Chinese Business Activities in Latin America

February 17, 2023

Civil society organisations have submitted a report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on Chinese business activities in nine Latin American countries. In total, 14 cases were analysed in which these activities led to human rights violations and environmental damage. The report provides input to the CESCR on China’s non-compliance with […]

Extraterritorial Obligations in the Context of International Financial Institutions

Extraterritorial Obligations in the Context of International Financial Institutions

February 14, 2023

This brochure discusses the obligations that States have when acting (as members) within international financial institutions (IFIs) and also questions whether IFIs themselves have direct obligations. This publication was prepared by the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) with the support of Amnesty International, both members of the ETO Consortium.

Conclusions. The future of extraterritorial human rights obligations – The Routledge Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations

Conclusions. The future of extraterritorial human rights obligations – The Routledge Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations

February 14, 2023

The concluding chapter of the Research Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations explores the challenges ahead for human rights law and public international law in responding to border-defying challenges such as climate change and pandemics in ways that effectively provide human rights protections to individuals and communities. To realize the promise and potential of human […]

ETOs and biodiversity. A right to food perspective on the intersection of human rights and environmental law

ETOs and biodiversity. A right to food perspective on the intersection of human rights and environmental law

February 14, 2023

Biodiversity and human rights are closely interrelated, both in positive terms – biodiversity allows the enjoyment of several human rights – as well as in negative terms – destruction of biodiversity often entails human rights impairments. ETOs come into play as many of the components of biodiversity, the threats to biodiversity and the benefits it […]

Cross-border pollution

Cross-border pollution

February 14, 2023

While the Maastricht Principles constitute a good basis for extraterritorial obligations regarding human rights violations arising from cross-border pollution, prescribing more punctual threshold criteria could have better reflected positive international law. The Maastricht Principles incorporate a detailed guidance as to the content of the States’ obligations to protect against human rights violations by third parties […]