The Protection of Human Dignity Through the European Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

In June 2024, the European Union adopted a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, which aims to provide a framework for the respect for human rights, including human dignity, and environmental rights by major European companies or those operating in Europe, which are required to institute due diligence protocols in their operational frameworks and transnational value chains with a view to preventing, mitigating and identifying actual and potential negative impacts. To ensure the effectiveness of the system, the European directive on corporate sustainability due diligence provides for the appointment of an independent authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the duty of vigilance and with powers of investigation, inspection, and sanction. Without being exhaustive, the text expressly provides for different types of sanctions in the event of failure to comply with the duty of vigilance.