Human Rights Advocacy
Viability of CSR to break the gridlock of development
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has advent from the realisation of the business entities, which had visualised the people, separating from the source of business. From the genesis of the modern CSR, the term has encompassed numerous aspects in its peripheries and evolved into a comprehensive welfare mechanism. The term which has born as benevolence through charity as a part of familiarising the business interest, now echoing the mandates of human rights.
The linkage can be found from the very factor that has created societies and countries; that is 'people'. People form a society and make everything for their convenience. That include corporate as well, therefore, it is not only responsibility of corporate to fulfill the business needs but to do something which will ensure the sustainability of the society vis-à-vis people. This realisation has worked as a catalyst to familiarise CSR as policy to serve the people through sustainable business. Through this development CSR has included human rights within its ambit.
Rationality of ensuring human rights through CSR in Bangladesh
Can CSR be used to develop human rights in Bangladesh? Before, answering that question, it is pertinent to mention that, human rights encompass wide range of rights. Our constitution has divided these rights into directives and rights paradigm. In particular, civil and political rights are enforceable whereas, fundamental principles are directives of running the state. It is clear from the language used in the Constitution that that state is primarily responsible to ensure fundamental rights. State may able to ensure negative rights i.e. civil and political rights but as to socio economic rights, state is not well equipped and constitutionally responsible to enforce those rights. However, within the socio-economic rights paradigm lie the most basic human rights like fundamental necessity, equality of opportunities, right to work, public health, social welfare, social security, environmental protection, and indigenous rights etc. These are indispensable for existence of human beings. Apart from that sustainable development, child rights, women empowerment also trending at human rights discourse. The reason for non enforceability of economic, social and cultural rights is from the fact that it requires socio-economic stability of the government. This is the point we take to rationalise our proposition that is financial support by way of CSR. It is not that we are suggesting that money should be paid to government rather what we are proposing that corporate can ensure these rights by adopting in their CSR policy and try to develop a sustainable business policy as an ultimate plan. But it cannot be sporadic and has to initiate with wider vision under definite regulation. For example, a corporate may be committed to ensure child rights but that would not be enough by donating some books in schools. It has to be much more than that depending on the capacity of the company. Moreover, the policy has to collective e.g. under Public-Private initiative or any other joint venture. Whatever human rights issue it may it has to address it with the mission to contribute overall human rights pictures of Bangladesh. There are some constraints like lack of policy, regulation with lack of transparency and accountability from both quarters but that can be blotted away with negotiation, willingness and pro-people mindset of the corporate and government.
Potentialities of corporate social responsibility as a mechanism of development
In Bangladesh, CSR is always considered outside the corporate overall policy. However, Corporate around the world started or rather force to relinquish this attitude due to constant pressure from the stakeholder, international bodies and other Actors. For that reason, corporate adopted a policy to do business with the people and for the people; by way of sustainable business. Therefore, even issues like human rights development are been entangled with corporate responsibility together with government to ensure overall development of the people. This will definitely ensure the development of the corporate because healthy, wealthy and develop community creates more business. It may be argued that in order to realise such a massive development as drawn above require exquisite investment, which is practically or theoretically impossible for the corporate. But, one thing needs to be remembered that we are not imposing individual obligations to the corporate rather as a partner in action with Governments. The small contribution can be used to fill up the gap in finance of the state. It is also possible that through intensive social and human rights promotion by the corporate will facilitate to realise the existing action plan of the state regarding social welfare and human rights. CSR can be an effective mechanism to develop overall condition of the State. This is because for the government there is an uncertainty that important sector like education, health, social welfare, agriculture etc may not fulfill their target due to insufficiency of money.
CSR and dream of developed Bangladesh
In our country, we have numerous political, social and economical problems due to lack of resource, corruption, abuse of power etc. It is argued by some quarters that if we can subdue these problems, our country will flourish. But this contention is partially true. This is because without economical solvency we may able to make some progress but that will not change our overall backward pose tends to create deadlock of overall development. To break this deadlock, we may consider a solution in the name of Corporate Social Responsibility. We believe it will work as a boon to achieve greater objectives. The instances as depicted ponder endless possibilities, which can be achieved through CSR. It may appear a little as to approach on the part of corporate. CSR is not a business; rather it is for the people and development of the society. Therefore, corporate have to find the way of the people rather than self righteous media attractive CSR. If corporate can realise the gravity of the term human rights and strives to protect it, It will be a matter of time Bangladesh will find among the developed countries of the world. But to make that dream a reality, corporate society of Bangladesh must come out of their glass ordained houses and see the tangible needs of the people.
The writer is Lecturer of Law, Northern University Bangladesh.
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