4
State relationships with organisations

Why should economic relations between the state and private organisations be framed within human rights law?

Beach pollution. Plastic bottles and other trash on sea beach of Livingston, Guatemala.

International human rights treaties are binding for states parties and the rights protected are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. When Belgium ratifies these treaties, it assumes the commitment to take “appropriate measures of a legislative, judiciary, administrative or other nature to guarantee the exercise of the rights specified for all individuals falling within their jurisdiction”. 

As a result, Belgium must protect human rights against acts or omissions of its own agents and against harmful acts or omissions perpetrated by private organisations and persons. Therefore, it must regulate its own activities and the ones conducted by private organisations within its jurisdiction. 

Belgium is accountable if its agents cause adverse human rights impacts. It is also accountable if it does not use regulation and enforcement to prevent private organisations within its jurisdiction from causing adverse human rights impacts.