The Council of Europe is organising an Online Academic Forum on Business and Human Rights to foster dialogue among researchers and academics. The event will explore how academic work deepens understanding of the intersection between human rights and business, informs corporate practices, and promotes responsible conduct. This half-day forum will provide a platform for scholarly exchange on evolving legal frameworks, implementation challenges, and innovative approaches to advancing corporate responsibility.

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance this critical debate on ensuring responsible corporate behaviour and human rights promotion and protection. 

Register now

 Agenda

 14.00 – 14.15  

Welcome and Introduction

  • Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe – TBC
  • Lyra Jakulevičienė, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

Thematic Session I – Standards in Human Rights and Business and Their Implementation

Moderated by: Tigran KARAPETYAN, Head of Division, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe

 14.15 – 14.30 

Council of Europe Committee of Ministers: Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)3 on human rights and business

  • Elvana Thaci, Head of Unit, Tromsø Convention, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe

 14.30 – 14.50 

European Court of Human Rights: case law overview

  • Keynote Address: Raffaele Sabato, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights

 14.50 – 15.20  

Council of Europe: Human Rights and Competitiveness: Reframing the Business Case for Human Rights

  • Katarina Nedeljkovic, Advisor to the Director General, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe
  • Prof. Dorothee Baumann-Pauly, Director of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights 

 15.20 – 15.50  

Questions and Answers

Thematic Session II – Other Academic Research on Human Rights and Business

Moderated by: Biljana NIKOLIC, Programme Manager, Innovative Solutions for Human Rights and Justice Unit, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe

 15.50 – 16.05 

United Nations Development Programme: "Human Rights vs Competitiveness – A False Dilemma?”

  • Siniša Milatović, Business and Human Rights Specialist at UNDP
  • Olena Uvarova, Business and Human Rights Specialist at UNDP, Chair of the International Lab on BHR at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University

 16.05 – 16.20 

Contractual clauses for human rights

  • Claire Bright, Associate Professor and Director of the NOVA Centre on Business, Human Rights and the Environment at NOVA Law School in Lisbon

 16.20 – 16.30 

Evolving Regulation, Academic Research and Practical Implementation

  • Daniel Schönfelder, Partner, Blue Marble Legal

 16.30 – 16.50 

Questions and Answers

Thematic Session III – Training Resources and Academic Networking

Moderated by: Elena YURKINA, Head of Unit for Innovative Solutions for Human Rights and Justice, DG1, Council of Europe

 16.50 – 17.00 

Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN) Programme

  • Dr Olaf Köndgen, Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN) Programme, Council of Europe

 17.00-17.10 

CoE HELP course on Business and Human Rights

  • Lyra Jakulevičienė, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights 
  • Ana Maria Telbis, Head of Division a.i., Justice and Human Rights training, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe

 17.10 – 17.20 

Toolbox Human Rights for Business and Organisations of Belgium Federal Institute for Sustainable Development

  • Prof. Dr. Huib Huyse, Head of Research Group Sustainable Development, KU Leuven

 17.20 – 17.50 

Human Right Education for Business Schools

  • Prof. Dorothee Baumann-Pauly, Director of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights
  • Berit Knaak, Senior Research Associate and Lecturer at University of Geneva - Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights 
  • Elena Plotnikova, Doctoral Researcher, Human Rights, Business and the Environment course teacher, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Finland
  • Radu Mares, Associate Professor at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights

 17.50 – 18.00 

Questions and Answers

 18.00 

Closing remarks

  • Tigran Karapetyan, Head of Division, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe