Do you think international businesses can face challenges with respect to human rights? Give reasons to support your answer.

Answers will vary. International businesses may face challenges with respect to human rights because many countries deny them to their citizens. For instance, as the United States now softens the sanctions placed on Cuba, many protesters are concerned that U.S. companies will return to Cuba without holding the Cuban government accountable for its many human rights violations. The island state operates under a repressive totalitarian government that denies its citizens the right to protest.
In another example, Thai fishing boats-unregistered with any government and operating in the international waters of the South China Sea-have routinely used slave labor to catch fish sold to U.S. companies for pet food and animal feed. Laborers come from poor neighboring countries like Cambodia and Myanmar, lured by the promise of employment, but upon arrival they are enslaved, tortured, and forced to work for years with no payment. They have no chance for escape because the boats stay in international waters, off-loading their catch onto other boats and receiving supplies while at sea. In response, many international companies are seeking full transparency by allowing customers to see sourcing details throughout the supply chain. For instance, Walmart requires all suppliers to list all their facilities and designate a company representative to ensure compliance with laws and standards, and provides workers access to anonymous means of reporting abuse directly to Walmart.
The section "International Business and a Reactive versus Proactive Response to Ethical Dilemmas" on pages 64-65 discusses how international businesses may face challenges with respect to human rights. Students can use this section to make their own interpretation and answer this question.