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Business and human rights (19BBA00837)

General information

Type:

OP

Curs:

1

Period:

S semester

ECTS Credits:

2 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group Teacher Department Language
Ed: 1 Jordi Vives Gabriel Ciencias Sociales ENG

Group Teacher Department Language
Ed: 2 Jordi Vives Gabriel Ciencias Sociales ENG

Workload distribution

The course requires four basic tasks to students
1. Covering a set of short readings in advance of each session
2. In-class participation
3. Group research and presentation on a pre-defined topic
4. Individual assignment

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

This course explores the business and human rights debate, one of the most dynamic discussions within the corporate responsibility domain in recent years. The goal is to capacitate students to confront complex problems for which no silver bullet exists. Business and human rights issues often impact a multiplicity of dimensions well beyond the business case (e.g. social, political and philosophical dilemmas and trade-offs). Students will be encouraged to seek balance among such dimensions and come up with their own critical perspectives at both theoretical and practical levels.

Course Learning Objectives

The course aims at introducing students to the most recent developments within the Business and Human Rights debate. In this regard, the course specific objectives include:
- Introduce students to the fundamentals of the human rights concept as well as to the business responsibilities topic. These two areas are the baseline of the current business and human rights discussions.
- Rise students' awareness and sensitivity on issues and challenges concerning the responsibility and role of businesses with regard to human rights.
- By the end of the course, students should be familiar with the main international and domestic instruments, policies and initiatives that are part of the current state of the art of the business and human rights debate.

CONTENT

1. Background of the course

In front of the increasing (actual and potential) impact corporations have on human rights, in 2011, the United Nations enacted the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Since then the Guiding Principles have become an international authoritative reference point on what is expected in terms of corporate and state human rights responsibilities and obligations.
The course pays specific attention to the Guiding Principles. Furthermore, it aims at equipping students with a set of basic notions to successfully navigate the debate. To do so, the course attempts to strike a balance between conceptual and practical perspectives on the topic. Students will reflect on the rational as well as on the consequences and implications concerning the main topics and challenges that are currently being discussed in this area.

2. The course is structured along three pillars

1. Introduction to the legal and philosophical foundations of the human rights concept.
2. Introduction to corporate responsibility considerations and the irruption of business and human rights debate.
3. Current tools, initiatives and future prospects of the business and human rights debate.

Methodology

The course will leverage on a variety of methods and tools including readings, case-discussions, group presentations, lectures and videos.
Most of the issues and cases discussed in class do not have a straightforward solution. Instead, most of the value of the course depends on unpacking the complexity and multiplicity of interests and variables at stake within each case or issue discussed. Hence, student participation is crucial. To inform such participation, students will be required to cover, previous to each session, a list of selected readings.
The course presents students with two assignments: a group presentation and an individual paper. More instructions regarding both group presentation and the individual paper will be provided in class.

Assessment criteria

Participation 25%
Group project 35%
Final Individual Assignment 40%

Bibliography

Essential Bibliography*
John Ruggie, Just Business: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights, W.W. Norton & Company, 2013.
*A list of short readings to be covered before each session will be provided

Relevant online resources:
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/.
Institute for Business and Human Rights: http://www.ihrb.org/
Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum: http://hrbdf.org/
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner. Business and Human Rights. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/BusinessIndex.aspx
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx

Timetable and sections

Group Teacher Department
Ed: 1 Jordi Vives Gabriel Ciencias Sociales

Timetable Ed: 1

Group Teacher Department
Ed: 2 Jordi Vives Gabriel Ciencias Sociales

Timetable Ed: 2