Çok Uluslu Şirketlerin Sınır Ötesi Faaliyetleri ve Haksız Fiil Sorumluluğu: Vedanta v Lungowe ve Okpabi v Shell Kararları Çerçevesinde İngiliz Mahkemelerinin Milletlerarası Yetkisi

Küreselleşme ile beraber çok uluslu şirketlerin özellikle gelişmekte olan ülkelerdeki sınır ötesi faaliyetleri arttıkça bu şirketlerin sınır ötesi insan hakları ihlallerine ilişkin tartışmalar da yoğunlaşmıştır. Uluslararası hukuk doktrinindeki farklı görüşler karşısında çok uluslu şirketlerin insan hakları ihlallerinden doğrudan sorumlu tutulması henüz mümkün görünmemektedir. Buna bağlı olarak, çok uluslu şirketlerin sınır ötesi insan hakları ihlallerinden doğan zararın giderilmesinde şirketlerin haksız fiil sorumluluğuna dayanılması gündeme gelmiştir. Hâkim şirketin merkezinin İngiltere’de bulunduğu, bağlı şirketin ise yabancı bir ülkede tescil edildiği çok uluslu şirketlerde, bağlı şirketin faaliyetlerinden zarar gören kişiler İngiliz mahkemelerinde hem bağlı şirkete hem de hâkim şirkete karşı haksız fiile dayalı tazminat talepleri ileri sürebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada söz konusu ihtilaflar kapsamında İngiliz mahkemelerinin milletlerarası yetkisi incelenmiştir. Bu kapsamda, öncelikle çok uluslu şirketlerin sorumluluğuna ilişkin uluslararası hukuktaki tartışmalara kısaca değinilmiş, ardından İngiliz Medeni Usul Kuralları ele alınmış ve son olarak Vedanta v Lungowe ve Okpabi v Shell kararları incelenerek İngiliz mahkemelerinin bu tür uyuşmazlıklardaki yetkiye ilişkin yaklaşımı incelenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Çok uluslu şirket, milletlerarası yetki, Uygulama Talimatı 6B, özen yükümlülüğü, forum non conveniens

Cross-Border Activities of Multinational Companies and Tort Liability: International Jurisdiction of English Courts within the Framework of Vedanta v Lungowe and Okpabi v Shell Decisions

The increase in overseas activities of multinational corporations due to globalisation has also augmented the discussions over overseas human rights violations of such corporations. According to the discussions under international law, holding corporations directly liable for human rights violations remains yet a disputed issue. Against the backdrop of debates under international law, the liability of multinational corporations arising from tort law has become an alternative legal ground for holding multinational corporations accountable for their overseas wrongs. In a dispute where the parent company is domiciled in England and its subsidiary is domiciled in a foreign country, victims who suffer from the activities of the subsidiary may file compensatory claims against both the subsidiary and the parent company before English courts based on principles of tort law. This article examines civil jurisdiction of English courts about such disputes. In this context, initially the debates in international law regarding the human rights liabilities of multinational companies are briefly touched upon, then the Civil Procedure Rules are examined followed by an analysis of the Vedanta v Lungowe and Okpabi v Shell decisions.

Keywords:

Multinational Corporations, Practice Direction 6B, international jurisdiction, duty of care, forum non conveniens,

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