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Transnational business activities are important drivers for the development of developing and least-developed countries. However, business activities can also have negative impacts on the enjoyment of human rights. In some cases business enterprises, especially multinational corporations, have even been accused of being responsible for grave human rights abuses. Several cases (such as those involving the extractive and chemical industries in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Ecuador, and India) have led to important legal disputes. Business activities can have an impact on the entire spectrum of the internationally recognized human rights, although some of them are at greater risk than others. Corporate violations of the rights to health, to life, of the core labour standards, and of the rights of minorities (including indigenous peoples) have already been addressed by legal proceedings.

These cases demonstrate the need to strike a balance between economic development, on the one hand, and the implementation of sustainable development and the protection of essential public interests, such as the most fundamental human and labour rights and the environment, on the other hand. Foreign investors are often multinational enterprises having their home corporations on the territory of the European Union (EU). Thus, the European legal framework plays a crucial role in understanding how business should be conducted, why these violations occur in practice, and which remedies can be activated.

This course on EU Law on Business and Human Rights (a Jean Monnet Module funded by the European Union - 564952-EPP-1-2015-1-IT-EPPJMO-MODULE) focuses on five areas of European law crucial in the field of business and human rights (B&HR): human rights protection from corporate activities; the EU strategy on Corporate Social Responsibility; the international legal tools providing for standards of corporate responsible conduct and their implementation at European level; the external relations of the EU, with special regard to the European trade and investment policies; the European private international legal framework, as applied in disputes on corporate human rights violations.

This course aims at giving students the skills to develop professional careers in the field of business and human rights, with a specific European and international legal background. In order to stimulate students’ active participation and problem-solving skills, the course (42 hours/year) is structured on lectures, mock trials (i.e. the simulation of legal proceedings concerning disputes on corporate human rights violations), case studies (i.e. the solution of practical cases), and workshops involving, as speakers, academics from Italian and foreign institutions, civil society, and corporate representatives.

The course, part of the didactic programme of the Law Faculty and the LLM in Sustainable Development, is open also to PhD students, experts, professionals, civil society and corporate representatives, policy makers, public administrators, civil servants.

Attendance at the course (first semester) is compulsory. The final mark consists of an overall assessment of the activities carried out by each student throughout the course: active participation (20%), case studies (40%), mock trials (40%). Those students who are not satisfied with the final mark can register for an oral colloquium during the official exam sessions.

If you wish to receive further information, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Angelica Bonfanti
(angelica.bonfanti@unimi.it).

If you want to receive updates on the course, on the related events, and on the project on EU Law on Business and Human Rights, please subscribe to the newsletter by contacting EUlawbusinesshumanrights@unimi.it (please specify your name, institution and position.)