The Business of Human Rights: Moving Forward, Looking Back

Professor Jena Martin

A cutting edge conference hosted by Professor Jena Martin entitled "The Business of Human Rights: Moving Forward, Looking Back" is being held at the West Virginia University College of Law on September 23-24, 2013.  The conference features Bill Richardson, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as a keynote speaker.  The symposium also includes a variety of interesting panels, presentations and workshop sessions aimed at examining the role that multinational corporations play in global human rights.  The two-day symposium "will examine the United Nations’ recent work on business and human rights issues, an area that has grown substantially in the last ten years. Highlights of the subject’s growth include the United Nations’ establishment of a Working Group on Business and Human Rights and its adoption of the Guiding Principles for business and human rights. Participants will use these two major events as a focal point for discussing the roles that corporations, civil society, and states can all play in advancing the cause of human rights."

Bill Richardson

Day one focuses on a "Practicum on Human Rights and Risk Management" facilitated by Roger Branigin, the Executive Director of the Global Corporate Community of Practice for Business and Human Rights.  Day two features a "Symposium Exploring Some Themes for Business and Human Rights, featuring academics and corporate representatives from across the United States and around the world.

The conference agenda can be viewed here.

The live webcast can be viewed here.