Abstract:
In the current global economy shaped by the global supply chain model, linking business and human
rights represents a core challenge to advance sustainable development and a transition to a more socially inclusive economic paradigm. In such context, the State acting as buyer purchases goods, works, services in a multi-stakeholder network with the value chain phases dispersed worldwide. The State represents a potential mega-consumer purchasing products and services through public procurement operations to carry out its core functions and to provide essential services to its citizens. Government buying comprises a significant proportion of the overall global economy, accounting for 15-20% of the global GDP. Therefore, it represents an opportunity for governments to promote responsible and sustainable business practices among their contractors, advancing SDG 12 on sustainable production and consumption and target 12.7 on Sustainable Public Procurement. However, like any other consumers, governments procure via global supply chains in which serious human rights abuses, such as labour standards violations, may occur.
The research paper purports to explore spaces of interconnection among public procurement and
human rights, through a three-partite research approach – at international, European and national level. The main results are illustrated, starting with an introduction to the main challenges calling for International Law perspective and showing public procurement as opportunity and risk. Insight is, firstly, provided into the international legal perspective; secondly into the EU legal framework; finally at national level selecting Sweden as case study in the EU panorama for advanced Socially Responsible Public Procurement initiatives.