Title
Inter-American Court Recognizes Elevated Status of Trade Unions, Rejects Standing of Corporations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2017
Keywords
Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Trade unions
Disciplines
Human Rights Law
Abstract
The Inter-American Court was unanimous in concluding that legal entities do not have the standing to directly access the Inter-American system in a contentious process as presumptive victims. Corporations therefore will not be permitted to access the Court as victims of human rights transgressions, which the Court determined is limited to human beings, with two exceptions: trade unions and indigenous communities. Trade unions have standing as victims of human rights violations on their behalf and that of their members, but under certain limitations. This commentary focuses on the Court’s decision with regard to trade unions, but begins with a description of the heart of the decision limiting the access of other legal entities.
Recommended Citation
Angela B. Cornell, "Inter-American Court Recognizes Elevated Status of Trade Unions, Rejects Standing of Corporations," 3 International Labor Rights Case Law (2017)