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An alternative <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> above is <strong>to</strong> rely upon <strong>in</strong>ternational law for relief. Some legalcommenta<strong>to</strong>rs have argued that MNCs are caught by <strong>the</strong> reach of <strong>in</strong>ternational lawbecause <strong>the</strong>y have <strong>in</strong>ternational legal personality, which can be def<strong>in</strong>ed as an entitycapableof possess<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational rights and duties and has <strong>the</strong> capacity <strong>to</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> its rights bybr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational claims even though <strong>the</strong>y lack state status. International jurisprudencehas traditionally favoured associat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> personality of an MNC more closely with that ofan <strong>in</strong>dividual than with that of a state. This l<strong>in</strong>k stems, for <strong>the</strong> most part, on <strong>the</strong> presumptionthat <strong>the</strong>re exists certa<strong>in</strong> state duties that are unique and cannot be fulfilled by an MNC,such as <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of public order, for example.Transplant<strong>in</strong>g human rights duties of a state on<strong>to</strong> an MNC is problematic because <strong>in</strong> sodo<strong>in</strong>g one must assume that MNCs are similar <strong>to</strong> states, and that is conceptually difficult <strong>to</strong>construct. For example, a state’s duty under <strong>in</strong>ternational treaty law is <strong>the</strong>oretically difficult<strong>to</strong> transplant <strong>to</strong> an MNC because economic, social, and cultural rights are not with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>prov<strong>in</strong>ce of corporate activity. For example, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> crim<strong>in</strong>al process, only states can ensurea person’s rights through fairness of trial. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, states and MNCs have different <strong>in</strong>terests<strong>in</strong> light of human rights. States are concerned with balanc<strong>in</strong>g its <strong>in</strong>terests versus <strong>the</strong> libertyits citizens. In contrast, for MNCs, <strong>the</strong> balance is between liberty of its <strong>in</strong>dividuals andbus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong>terests (profit). Thus, it is argued that it is far <strong>to</strong>o simplistic <strong>to</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k that atransfer of human rights obligations from a state <strong>to</strong> an MNC can ever be realised. Amore appropriate l<strong>in</strong>k would be for an MNC <strong>to</strong> assume <strong>the</strong> same responsibilities under<strong>in</strong>ternational law as a private <strong>in</strong>dividual, where an MNC’s responsibility need not extendbeyond <strong>in</strong>dividual responsibility.The difficulty with a model whereby MNCs are held <strong>to</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dividual ra<strong>the</strong>r than statestandard is that MNCs possess far greater resources, and, as a result, are <strong>in</strong> a position <strong>to</strong>have a greater impact on <strong>the</strong> liberty and rights of private <strong>in</strong>dividuals. By way of conclusion,<strong>the</strong> duties of a private <strong>in</strong>dividual as applied <strong>to</strong> an MNC are <strong>to</strong>o narrow while those of a stateare <strong>to</strong>o broad. In <strong>the</strong> absence of an alternative an attempt has been made <strong>to</strong> create a hybridtype of treaty <strong>to</strong> hold MNCs accountable for fundamental human rights obligations.48|Private Sec<strong>to</strong>r Accountability <strong>in</strong> Combat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Commercial Sexual Exploitation of <strong>Child</strong>ren

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