Fundamental Rights of Corporations as International Human Rights: The Perspective of Regional Economic Courts.

The article examines whether and why international human rights law should protect corporations, focusing on regional economic integration systems such as the European Union (EU). It distinguishes between human rights—grounded in the inherent dignity of natural persons—and fundamental rights of corporations, which are justified politically as legal rights necessary to uphold the Rule of Law (RoL) within economic integration frameworks. Regional courts like the European Court of Justice (ECJ) recognize corporations as rights holders due to their central economic role, granting them fundamental rights that protect against arbitrary state or supranational interference, while still allowing for regulation aimed at protecting human rights. The article argues that although corporations hold fundamental rights, these do not create an absolute shield against accountability, and in balancing corporate and human interests, core human rights (e.g., prohibitions on torture or child labor) maintain priority. It also notes that the applicability and justification of corporate fundamental rights vary across regional human rights systems, reflecting differing political, cultural, and legal traditions.