Session 1 will serve as an introduction to BHR and review the course content as well as course requirements and assessment. Overall, it will map students’ previous knowledge of BHR. Reading: ● Bernaz, N. (2016). Business and Human Rights: History, Law and Policy – Bridging the Accountability Gap, pp.1-3

We will explore the origins and development of BHR through content delivery and In-class practical activity (Students will be asked to choose an aspect of the historical development of BHR and prepare a short presentation. Students will work in teams). Reading: • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, ch.1 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives • Bernaz, N. (2016). Business and Human Rights: History, Law and Policy – Bridging the Accountability Gap., Chs. 3-4-5. Assignments/deadlines: Explaining Assignment 1 (for Session 5)

Session 3 will provide an overview of human rights violations in the conduct of businesses (direct-indirect violations, and various sources/causes of these violations). Screening of TED Talk with Erika George (Reimagining corporate responsibility to respect human rights) Reading: • Session 3 Case Studies - Oil extraction in Niger Delta & Unocal Case in Burma • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, Edward Elgar, ch.1 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial Perspectives, ch. 5 Assignments/deadlines: None

Session 4 will discuss the nature and extent of corporate human rights responsibility. Overall, it will discuss the arguments in favor of and against extending human rights to the corporate sector and the scope for introducing human rights regulatory measures for corporate behavior. State duties and preventing abuses by businesses in the European, and Convention system will be also included. Students will be involved in an in-class practical activity involving the discussion of a relevant case study. Reading: • BHR Case Study 3 • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, ch.2 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives Assignments/deadlines: None

Session 5 will discuss the operationalization and implementation of human rights responsibility at the corporate level. In particular, it will focus on the impact of human rights due diligence in theory and practice, discuss challenges to its fuller implementation and provide critique of the due diligence concept. The importance of remedy will be also included. Students will reflect on BCC Documentary “Where Children Must Work”. Reading: • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives, ch. 8. • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights Assignments/deadlines: ASSIGNMENT 1 - Research Essay due

We will focus on the UN business and human rights framework. In particular, it will discuss the foundations and provide an overview of the pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR. Reading: • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, Edward Elgar, ch.3 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives, CUP, c Assignments/deadlines: None

We will cover the first pillar of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR – the state duty to protect human rights, focusing on how this duty is integrated within different human rights treaties. Students will also participate in discussion after the screening of a short video series about UN, children, and human rights. Reading: • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives • Bernaz, N. (2016). Business and Human Rights: History, Law and Policy – Bridging the Accountability Gap Assignments/deadlines: None

Mid-term break. No Class

Session 8 will cover the second pillar of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR – the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, focusing on how this responsibility is incorporated across different human rights treaties. The content delivery will also include Amnesty International case studies along with discussion and screenings. In-class practical activity will include identifying relevant case studies in countries where students come from. Reading: • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, ch.5 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives, ch. 10. Assignments/deadlines: Explaining Assignment 2 (Sessions 12 &13)

Session 9 will explore the third pillar of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – access to remedy, with a specific focus on how this right is enshrined within various human rights treaties. The content will also include relevant practices. Students will continue working in class on case studies that address those practices in countries they come from and will analyse what potential remedies might be employed. Reading: • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights, Edward Elgar, ch.6 • Wettstein, F. (2022). Business and Human rights: Ethical, Legal, and Managerial perspectives. CUP, ch. 10. Assignments/deadlines: None

We will cover other international soft-law initiatives on BHR including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Global Compact. It will also discuss the prospects for a binding treaty on BHR. Reading: • Muchlinski, P. (2022). Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights • Bernaz, N. (2016). Business and Human Rights: History, Law and Policy – Bridging the Accountability Gap, ch. 7 Assignments/deadlines:None

We will focus on emerging discussions on BHR. Topics to be covered will include climate change and BHR, gender perspectives and BHR, the role of NGOs in BHR and BHR in post conflict processes. This session will also include screening of a short documentary about climate changes and impact of corporations on the environment. Reading: • Jae-Eun Noh. “The role of NGOs in building CSR discourse around human rights in developing countries” Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 9.1 (2017): 1-19. • David Murphy and Jem Bendell (1999) Partners in time? Business, NGOs and sustainable development. UNRISD Discussion Paper Volume 109. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Geneva, Switzerland. • Bernaz, N. (2016). Business and Human Rights: History, Law and Policy – Bridging the Accountability Gap Assignments/deadlines: None

Student Presentations Group 1 Students will be delivering Oral Presentations in class while using screen, PowerPoint, PDF formats along with other visual tools. Assignments/deadlines: ASSIGNMENT 2 – Student Presentations Group 1

Student Presentations Group 2 Students will be delivering Oral Presentations in class while using screen, PowerPoint, PDF formats along with other visual tools. Assignments/deadlines: ASSIGNMENT 2 – Student Presentations Group 2

The final exam. It will also serve as a review session. Assignments/deadlines: ASSIGNMENT 3 – Final Exam