While once the subject of human rights rarely applied to corporations, the business sector has become increasingly more concerned with how its daily operations might give rise to liability related to human rights abuses. This panel will provide practitioners with useful knowledge regarding the evolving international legal and policy framework that may impact how they work with corporations of all sizes.
Panelists will discuss the practical consequences of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights framework, which was unanimously approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council. Additionally, the panel will explore the impact of the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum, which restricted the jurisdictional reach of the Alien Tort Statute but did not definitively preclude corporate liability for human rights violations. Attendees will also learn about a proposed bill in Massachusetts that may have implications for tort law reform that could impact corporate liability.
Panelists include Tyler Giannini, Director, Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School; John Sherman, of Shift; and Amanda Werner, of International Corporate Accountability Roundtable.