The 2nd CEE&CA Summer Academy
on Business and Human Rights (2024)
25 September – 1 October 2024
on-line
Introduction
Dear Participants,
Welcome to the „Materials for Participants” sub-page – your point of reference from now throughout the whole Summer Academy, where you will find the Pre-Summer Academy reading materials as well as a set of introductory video materials developed by the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights (GBI), to help you get familiar with the Business and Human Rights (BHR)/ UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) language. All this material aims to introduce you to some of the core concepts so that you find it easier to follow the Summer Academy sessions, and thus gain more from it.
Below you will find – for now – the first section:
GBI Business & Human Rights 101 – Learning Materials [compulsory modules: introduction, Module 1, Module 4. Other modules are optional but we strongly recommend watching them all before the start of the Summer Academy]
-
- How to watch it? Click on the picture cover of the selected module and save the PPSM file that will pop up on your computer. Open the file. All modules contain voice/video/and other interactive elements. You can move to the next slide/section within a module by using arrows at the bottom of the window.
- You can also skim through the PPTs of the modules which are shared under the individual modules.
Soon we will add Pre-Academy reading, which is aimed to introduce you to the core aspects of the individual sessions with which they are linked and enable you to take active part in the discussions during the Summer Academy.
As we move closer to the Summer Academy and during the Summer Academy, we will add additional sections in which you will find the presentations and handouts.
Should you have any issue with accessing the materials – please let us know by writing to the CEECA SA Secretariat’s email: ceeca-academy@pihrb.org
Enjoy discovering BHR!
GBI Business & Human Rights 101 – Learning Materials
→ Overview of this learning resource
Introduction and welcome
Introducing the modules and how to use this resource
Module 1: Getting started – 45 mins
1.1 The business case for respecting human rights
1.2 Getting started on business and human rights
1.3 What are the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs)?
Module 2: Some first steps – 45 mins
Module 3: Embedding respect for human rights in a company – 60 mins
Module 4: A thematic challenge in focus – 20 mins
Pre-Academy reading materials
Obligatory reading
Outline based on: Muchlinski, P. T. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing [chapter 1].
Wolfsteller, R., & Li, Y. (2022). Business and human rights regulation after the UN guiding principles: Accountability, governance, effectiveness. Human Rights Review, 23(1), 1-17.
Faracik, B., Černič, J., L., Uvarova, O. (2024). Business and Human Rights in Central and Eastern Europe: Trends, Challenges and Prospects. Business and Human Rights Journal, 9, 1–14: https://pihrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Faracik-B.-Cernic-J.-L.-Uvarova-O.-2024.-Business-and-Human-Rights-in-Central-and-Eastern-Europe_Trends-Challenges-and-Prospects.pdf
Szablowski, D. (2024). Economic Diplomacy and Home State Responsibility for Human Rights Abuses Involving Extractive Industries Abroad: The Case of Canada. Business and Human Rights Journal, 1–7: https://pihrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Szablowski-D.-2024.-Economic-Diplomacy-and-Home-State-Responsibility-for-Human-Rights-Abuses-Involving-Extractive-Industries-Abroad_The-Case-of-Canada.pdf
Report of the UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises: „Corporate human rights due diligence – emerging practices, challenges and ways forward”, UN Doc. A/73/163 (link).
Anaya, J. (2013). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples : Extractive industries and indigenous peoples, A/HRC/24/41: https://www.refworld.org/reference/themreport/unhrc/2013/en/97007
UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2024). Investors, environmental, social and governance approaches and human rights, A/HRC/56/55: https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/070/76/pdf/g2407076.pdf (see executive summary: Investors, ESG and human rights, A/HRC/56/55: https://tiny.pl/3wv3wypw)
ICCR (2024). Catalyzing Corporate Change: A Review of ICCR’s 2024 Proxy Season: https://www.iccr.org/reports/catalyzing-corporate-change-2024
Bansal, T. (2023). Human Rights in Impact Assessment. FASTIPS no 26, IAIA: https://www.iaia.org/uploads/pdf/Fastips_26%20Human%20Rights%20in%20IA.pdf (two-pager).
Methven O’Brien, C. and Dhanarajan, C.S., “The corporate responsibility to respect human rights: A status review”, Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, Volume 29, Issue 4 (2016), 542-567 (link; link).
University of Warwick, NomoGaia (2023). Enhancing the effectiveness of grievance mechanisms in multi-stakeholder initiatives. Policy brief, April 2023.
NomoGaia (2023). Report Recommendations for Non-Governmental Human Rights Grievance Mechanisms. June 2023.
Maher, R., Buhmann, K. (2019). Meaningful stakeholder engagement: Bottom-up initiatives within global governance frameworks. Geoforum 107, pp. 231-234.
Oxfam America (2023). Meaningful Rights Holder Engagement: An Introduction.
Buhmann, K. Human Rights, Business and Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement.
EFRAG IG 2 (2024). Value Chain Implementation Guidance.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights (2024). Due diligence in the downstream value chain: case studies of current company practice.
GBI (2023). Effective downstream human rights due diligence: Key questions for companies. Project report.
The following materials should be at least skimmed through prior to the Summer Academy
OECD related:
- OECD (2023). OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. Paris: OECD Publishing: https://doi.org/10.1787/81f92357-en
- OECD (2018), OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct. Paris: OECD Publishing: https://doi.org/10.1787/15f5f4b3-en
- OECD (2023). Recommendation on the Role of Government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct, OECD/LEGAL/0486: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/oecd-recommendation-on-the-role-of-government-in-promoting-rbc.htm
- Websites:
- Responsible Business Conduct, the new normal for a sustainable future: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org
- Complaints database: https://www.oecdwatch.org/complaints-database;
- NCP Evaluations: https://www.oecdwatch.org/indicator (and other subsites of https://www.oecdwatch.org)
Tools and Guidance
Shift, Oxfam and Global Compact Network Netherlands (2016). Doing Business with Respect for Human Rights: A Guidance Tool for Companies: https://www.businessrespecthumanrights.org
The Danish Institute for Human Rights, Methodologies for assessing business respect for human rights: https://www.humanrights.dk/tools/methodologies-assessing-business-respect-human-rights and
Human Rights Impact Assessment Guidance and Toolbox: https://www.humanrights.dk/tools/human-rights-impact-assessment-guidance-toolbox
Investor Alliance for Human Rights (2020). Investor Toolkit on Human Rights. New York: Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility: https://tiny.pl/y7wdwdkb (see: Executive Summary: https://tiny.pl/sy99vhds)
Facultative reading
Ruggie, J.G. and Sherman, F., “The Concept of ‘Due Diligence’ in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Reply to Jonathan Bonnitcha and Robert McCorquodale,” European Journal of International Law, Volume 28, Issue 3, August 2017, pp.921–928. Preprint (link). [it might be helpful to read also Bonnitcha, J. and McCorquodale, R. “The Concept of ‘Due Diligence’ in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, European Journal of International Law, Volume 28, Issue 3, August 2017, pp.899–919 (link), to which John Ruggies’s and Sherman’s article is a reply].
Macchi, C., Van Zeben, J. (2021). Business and human rights implications of climate change litigation: Milieudefensie et al . v Royal Dutch Shell. 30:3 Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law , pp. 409–415: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/reel.12416 (Open Access).
Macchi, C. (2023). A timely development the EU can learn from: The climate change dimension of the 2023 OECD Guidelines’ OECD Watch (14 November 2023): https://www.oecdwatch.org/a-timely-development-the-eu-can-learn-from-the-climate-change-dimension-of-the-2023-oecd-guidelines
Amnesty International, Human Rights Principles For Companies (1998), https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/act700011998en.pdf
Academy presentations and handouts
September 25th (Day 1)
Beata Faracik: Human rights – setting the stage (the presentation has been extended to address additional topics connected with „Business and Human Rights (BHR) before the United Nations Guiding Principles. How we got to where we are now” lecture.)
Prof. Peter Muchlinski: Business and Human Rights (BHR) before the United Nations Guiding Principles. How we got to where we are now
Marian Ingrams: OECD Guidelines for MNEs on Responsible Business Conduct and other guidance. Overview
Dr Nadia Bernaz: Implementing the UNGPs: Global Trends & Current Challenges
Dr Olena Uvarova: Rule of law and business (additional reading: Uvarova, O. The Rule of Law and Corporate Actors: Measuring Influence. Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, 14 August 2024)
Publications and links recommended_Day 1
September 26th (Day 2)
Prof. Jernej Letnar Černič: Pillar I – State Duty to Protect (NBAs, NAPs, etc.)
Assistant Professor Chiara Macchi: BHR & Environment. New dimensions and challenges
Julie Schindall: Pillar II – Corporate responsibility to respect human rights, with focus on the human rights due diligence in the value chain
Dr Olena Uvarova: BHR in challenging contexts. Heightened HRDD
September 27th (Day 3)
Bartosz Kwiatkowski: NCP OECD grievance mechanism – underused or ineffective?
Dr Claire Methven O’Brien: Pillar III – Access to remedy. State judicial and non-judicial and non-state, operational level grievance mechanisms
Dr Samentha Goethals: Meaningful stakeholder engagement
Dr Dorothee Cambou: Minority & Indigenous peoples rights in the business context. FPIC
Vladyslava Kaplina: BHRRC’s work in EECA region: available data and resources
Publications and links recommended_Day 2 and 3
September 30th (Day 4)
Ron Popper: Being a business practitioner
Ron Popper: Supply chain: a case study
Dr Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt: Role of investors in contributing proactively to the protection of human rights
Notes to the R. DeWinter-Schmitt presentation
Gabriela Factor: Human Rights Impact Assessments – methodology and practice
Publications and links recommended_Day 4
October 1th (Day 5)
Dr Jacqueline Kacprzak: Next steps for BHR in the CEE&CA region
Contact details
SUMMER ACADEMY’S WEBMAIL
ceeca-academy@pihrb.org
CEE&CA SUMMER ACADEMY CO-DIRECTORS:
- Beata Faracik, LL.M., PIHRB
- Dr Olena Uvarova, YMNLU
LIGHTHOUSE-KEEPERS’ PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR:
- Aleksandra Wardak