Does the World Need a Treaty on Business and Human Rights? Weighing the Pros and Cons
Channel: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Date: 2014-05-22

The proposal for an international binding treaty on business and human rights is a hot topic. The Government of Ecuador proposed the treaty at the UN Human Rights Council session in September 2013 and over 80 states have supported the initiative. It has also gained the support of over 150 civil society organisations. The UN Human Rights Council in June 2014, will discuss whether and how this will progress.

Notre Dame University and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre held a public debate on 14 May 2014 to bring together some of the academics, lawyers, activists, and business representatives, committed to furthering human rights at the core of business operations, to consider the balance of arguments for and against a treaty on business and human rights. 

Debate held at Univ. Notre Dame, London campus, 14 May 2014

Programme:

Welcome: Notre Dame London Law Programme Director, Professor Geoffrey Bennett

Chair's Introduction: Phil Bloomer, Executive Director, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

Introduction of Topic: Professor Doug Cassel, Notre Dame Law School

Proponent: Professor Chip Pitts, Stanford Law School

Commentator: Professor Sheldon Leader, Essex University

Sceptic: Chris Esdaile, Leigh Day

Commentator: Professor Nadia Bernaz, Middlesex University

Reflections: Professor Michael Addo, UN Working Group on business and human rights

Questions from the audience: Moderator, Andrea Saldarriaga, Lawyer and Lead, Investment and Human Rights

Project, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics

Closing remarks: Chip Pitts and Chris Esdaile

Further information and perspectives on a binding treaty on business & human rights are available at: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Legally_Binding_Instrument_Business_Human_Rights