Business and Human Rights

Module Code	LA7117
ECTS weighting	10
Semester/term taught	2
Lecturer	Dr. Rachel Widdis
Pre-requisite	Students are asked to take into account that this module includes discussion of cases and provisions for corporate liability in civil and criminal law. It remains fully accessible to students from non-law backgrounds once they engage in keeping up to date with pre-reading and with lectures. Students are asked to take into account that this module includes discussion of cases and provisions for corporate liability in civil and criminal law. It remains fully accessible to students from non-law backgrounds once they engage in keeping up to date with pre-reading and with lectures.

This module explores the rapidly evolving field of Business and Human Rights and the role of law in shaping responsible business conduct across companies’ global activities. Students will examine new legislation requiring large companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence and discuss current cases driving accountability and access to remedy.

Through practitioner led analysis, the module provides students with insight into a dynamic area which is shaping business conduct.  

Lecture themes include assessing the impact soft law frameworks, alongside deeper examination of new laws requiring companies to carry out human rights and environmental due diligence, such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (2026). The class will include breakout groups to discuss current cases concerning the involvement of subsidiaries in environmental damage affecting livelihoods and communities, as well as labour rights in global supply chain relationships. We will examine issues with corporate accountability under criminal law, and the rise of climate litigation against companies. To provide students with a broader perspective, the module will place these themes within the wider context of ‘ESG’ and sustainability-related regulation.

Within this rapidly evolving area, this module explores the challenges of implementing business respect for human rights, emerging regulatory and policy developments, and how companies are adapting their behaviour. It encourages students to critically assess how soft and hard laws as well as business practices can drive responsible business conduct, prevent harm, and enable access to remedy.

Weekly reading lists and lecture notes will be made available throughout the semester via Blackboard. Students are expected to have read materials in advance of class.  

Learning Outcomes :

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to;

Appreciate the legal, commercial and human impacts at the interface of business, human rights and environment. 
Critically evaluate key global frameworks in the field of Business and Human Rights, and the existing performance and accountability gaps. 
Discuss the changed regulatory context, in particular the significance of new obligations on companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence, and prevent and address adverse impacts across their operations and business relationships.
Evaluate emerging trends in the accountability of business for harm via both regulation and litigation, and discuss continuing  barriers to remedy for people and communities impacted by the activities of business. 
Demonstrate an understanding of growing litigation related to companies’ supply chains. 
Understand the interaction between the field of Business and Human Rights and reporting or disclosures on sustainability matters.  
Appreciate by reference to actual business practices how increased focus on these issues is influencing companies to adapt their policies and practices.
Understand crossover themes, such as how Business and Human Rights links to the ‘S’ in ‘ESG’.

Assessment:

Essay - 70%.  4,000 word essay due at the end of the semester, from a choice of assigned topics. 
Blog post – 10%. Blog post of maximum 800 words, to be submitted before lecture 5, for brief feedback around lecture 8.
Class Presentation - 10%. Students will deliver a short presentation in self-selected small groups from a choice of assigned topics. The mark for the group will apply to all students within the group. 
Class Participation- 10%. This will be determined based on individual participation in discussions in class.

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