BHRJ Blog
Welcome to the blog of the Business and Human Rights Journal, an authoritative platform for scholarly debate on all issues concerning the intersection of business and human rights in an open, critical and interdisciplinary manner.
Latest posts:
- From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: Time for Professional Ethics in a Growing Industry?
- The Implications of the Limbu Case for Tackling New Economic Imperialism in Global Labour-Value Chains
- From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: Ethical Tensions and Professional Dilemmas in Legal Practice
- The Growing Engagement of OECD National Contact Points in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct in Palestinian Territories
- From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: A Renegotiation of Legal Professional Obligations
From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: Time for Professional Ethics in a Growing Industry?
This blog is the third part of a four-part series titled “From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights”. In Blog I and Blog II of this series we discussed the theoretical foundations and practical manifestations of ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers, particularly in the context of the growing body of hard law…
The Implications of the Limbu Case for Tackling New Economic Imperialism in Global Labour-Value Chains
Introduction It is estimated that more than eighty per cent of world trade is controlled by multinationals headquartered in the Global North. Intan Suwandi’s book introduces the concept of “global labour-value chains” to describe how globalised production entrenches imperial dominance by transferring surplus value from the Global South to the Global North. Rather than levelling…
From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: Ethical Tensions and Professional Dilemmas in Legal Practice
Introduction This blog is the second part of a four-part series titled From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights With the coming in force of stronger regulation concerning the responsibilities of corporations, there has been an expansion in the role of the lawyer acting on behalf of their corporate clients. Whilst previously,…
The Growing Engagement of OECD National Contact Points in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct in Palestinian Territories
Introduction The OECD’s network of National Contact Points (NCPs), which implements the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), is approaching its thirtieth anniversary. Over this period, the prominence of NCPs has grown and they have developed in several directions, including the promotion of RBC. In parallel, there has been a growing…
From Business of Human Rights to Business for Human Rights: A Renegotiation of Legal Professional Obligations
In a discussion held at University College London on if law firms can have values, a partner at a large law firm in London reflected on his initial desire to become a lawyer, namely, a strong sense of and interest in justice. Instead, as he started as a junior lawyer in a large law firm,…
Moving the Needle: Reflecting on the Total Uganda Decision of 18 September 2025
In 2017, France became the first Member State of the European Union to adopt a law on the corporate duty of vigilance (Loi de Vigilance). The Law allows any person with a legitimate interest to issue a formal notice to the company that is failing to meet its obligations under the Law. If the company…
Forever Chemicals, Human Rights, and Corporate Accountability: Reflections from the Miteni Case
Introduction In recent years, the intersection between environmental harm and human rights has gained increasing attention within the Business and Human Rights field. Historically, corporations operated with significant latitude, often treating environmental compliance as a discretionary matter. Today, however, they must navigate a complex framework of national, regional, and international legal obligations and guidelines, such…
La Poste Case: The First Decision on the Merits by the Paris Court of Appeal’s Special Chamber, a Methodological Milestone Structuring Duty of Vigilance Jurisprudence
On June 17, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal’s Special Chamber (Chamber 5-12, dedicated to “emerging litigation”) delivered its first-ever ruling on the merits under France’s 2017 Duty of Vigilance Law (Loi sur le devoir de vigilance – “LdV”). The La Poste decision by the Paris Court of Appeal’s Special Chamber is not the first…
Climate Change and Corporate Accountability: What the ICJ Advisory Opinion Means for Business and Human Rights
The first Advisory Opinion on climate change of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) marks a turning point in international legal discourse. The unanimous Opinion, delivered on July 23, 2025, follows a wave of legal developments confirming that States have binding obligations to prevent climate harm. These developments include the 2024 ITLOS Advisory Opinion, which affirmed the duty of…
The Dark Side of Corporate and Digital Power: When Companies Fuel International Crimes
Corporate Complicity in Atrocity Corporate responsibility has shifted from voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to binding legal, civil, and criminal liability for companies implicated in international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, or apartheid. Technologies, infrastructures, financial services, and digital platforms are instruments that can sustain systems of oppression rather than neutral…
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