This course equips students to understand the major human rights concerns arising in the intersection between human rights and business. It focuses on the relationship and interconnections between human rights obligations and transnational business activities, with a particular emphasis on mechanisms for advancing corporate accountability for human rights.

This course begins with a study of international human rights and labour rights standards and their application (or not) to non-state actors. The course focuses on the principal mechanisms for advancing corporate accountability both at the international level through bodies such as the United Nations and via ‘soft law’ tracing the development of corporate and multi-stakeholder codes of conduct. Other advocacy and litigious techniques are also examined including viewing international human rights standards through the prism of
domestic laws.

This course aims to provide students with an introductory approach to business and human rights issues and provides a good grounding for further studies in this area.

More information can be found on the Course Outline Website.