Multinational corporations may be involved in human rights abuses in a variety of ways, especially in developing countries where such corporations may be unaware of political realities and sometimes end up being accused of complicity in the commission of gross human rights violations. Not only can the consequences be disastrous for business, but the companies are also at risk of being targeted in legal proceedings.

While international human rights law has traditionally been seen as binding governments only, there is currently little remaining debate about whether companies should comply with this body of law. In fact, corporations have a growing responsibility to respect and even promote international human rights standards. There have been thriving discussions about these crucial issues at the international level, especially since the appointment in 2005 of Professor John Ruggie (Harvard Law School) as the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

In October 2010, the Law department at Middlesex University will propose a new postgraduate programme (MA) in Human Rights and Business. The MA aims at equipping professionals with a range of legal tools to enable them to follow, influence and work within human rights frameworks. It is a highly innovative programme in terms of its contents and delivery. The new modules will cover areas of law such as international human rights law and the law of the World Trade Organisation and explore their relevance to multinational corporations, especially those operating in emerging economies. The modules are deliberately human rights law-centred and go beyond the mere idea of corporate social responsibility. Moreover, the programme is tailored for busy professionals with lots of online material and is being taught two days a month (Friday-Saturday). In between sessions the students will be given material to read and case studies to work on and discuss during the teaching days.

If you are interested in these issues and would like to know more about the MA, feel free to contact us.

MA Human Rights and Business - Middlesex University

MA Human Rights and Business - Middlesex University

The programme is tailored for busy professionals with significant online content and class contact restricted to two days a month (Friday-Saturday) in London. The course covers areas of law such as international human rights law, and the law of the World Trade Organisation, and explores their relevance to multinational corporations, especially those operating in emerging economies.

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