• Umlas Elizabeth

This course seeks to provide a solid grounding in business and human rights as an emerging and rapidly developing field. Students should be able to apply key concepts learned to practical, real-life examples, and to understand current and evolving debates around corporate responsibility to respect human rights. The first part of the course introduces the field of business and human rights (why human rights matter to business; the state of the international debate on corporate responsibility to respect human rights; the evolution of the UN framework and Guiding Principles on business and human rights) and presents an overview of measures and mechanisms through which stakeholders might hold business accountable for this responsibility (judicial and non-judicial mechanisms; multi-stakeholder initiatives; civil society organization campaigns; emerging laws, etc.). The second part takes a more sectoral/thematic approach, focusing on selected areas that pose particularly difficult human rights challenges for companies (extractive industries; supply chain labor standards), examining key issues in these areas and exploring how companies, civil society organizations, governments and other stakeholders have sought to address these. The final two sessions of the course will be devoted to group presentations.

Provide a solid grounding in the field of business and human rights, and enable students to apply key concepts learned to practical, real-life examples of companies and their stakeholders facing challenges in this area.

The final grade will be based on continuous evaluation elements (including short written assignments, one in-class test, class participation and a group presentation).

Course with continuous evaluation: after the registration period, you can no longer cancel your registration (see session calendar on the Faculty's website).

No retake exam