The ATS [Alien Tort Statute] had long been considered the sharp sword in the battle against human rights violations. But then the court rejected the claims in the Kiobel case, saying they lacked a strong enough connection to the US…Michael Windfuhr [deputy director of the German Institute for Human Rights] believes legal hurdles are too high for victims of human rights violations...[and] hopes that the United Nations guiding principles on business and human rights will afford people who have suffered human rights abuses more opportunity to bring their cases to court…The hope is that human rights can be ensured all along the value chain…It's still not clear whether the UN principles, also known as 'soft laws,' will be effective because they are not legally binding. That's why international law expert Jochen von Bernstorff believes the answer is an internationally binding treaty…