Webinar: Book Launch of 'Business and Human Rights - The Obligations of the European Home States'
Notes & Changes
Please note that this is a virtual event taking place via Zoom. If you are interested in attending, please register for the event on Eventbrite. Once you register, you will receive automatic email notifications 48 hours and 2 hours before the event with the Zoom invitation. Click on the orange 'View Now' button in the notification emails to access the Zoom meeting link, ID and password and direct yourself to the webinar.
Please also note that this event will be recorded, with the exception of any live audience questions.
The Oxford Business and Human Rights Network invites you to the launch of the book “Business and Human Rights: The Obligations of the European Home States” (Hart Publishing, 2020). This study analyses the accountability of European home States for their failure to secure the human rights of victims from host States against transnational enterprises. It argues for a reconfiguration of the relationship between multinational enterprises and individuals, both of which have been profoundly changed by globalisation. Enterprises are now supranational entities with numerous affiliates all over the world. Likewise, individuals are increasingly part of a global community. Despite this, the relationship between the two is deregulated. Addressing this gap, this study proposes an innovative business and human rights litigation strategy. Human rights advocates could file a test case against a European home State, at the European Court of Human Rights, for its failure to secure the rights of victims vis-à-vis European multinational enterprises. The book illustrates why such a strategy is needed, and points to the lack of effective legal remedies against European multinationals. The goal is to empower victims from developing countries against European States which are failing to hold multinational enterprises accountable for human rights abuses.
An audio recording of this event is available to listen to on Soundcloud
Dr. Dalia Palombo is a senior research fellow at the Institute for Business Ethics, University of St. Gallen. Previously, she was a fellow at the London School of Economics and at the Max Planck Institute for Procedural Law in Luxembourg. She graduated in law from the Universitá degli Studi di Milano, obtained an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and a Ph.D. in Law from Maastricht University.
Professor Robert McCorquodale is Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Nottingham, a barrister at Brick Court Chambers, London, and the Founder of Inclusive Law, a consultancy on business and human rights. He was Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) for 10 years. He has over 25 years of experience working in business and human rights. He published widely in this area, including by empirical research, has advised business of all sizes, assisted governments around the world, been involved with civil society, industry and organisations in drafting legal changes and in litigation. This has included capacity building, legislative proposals and training, as well as interviewing and qualitative research. He has appeared as an advocate before the International Court of Justice and the United Kingdom Supreme Court, and as a legal expert before United Nations bodies.