LW922-7-SP-CO:
Business and Human Rights
2025/26
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
19 March 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
LLM M22212 Corporate Responsibility and Business Law,
LLM M22224 Corporate Responsibility and Business Law,
LLM M1AA12 International Human Rights and Economic Law,
LLM M1AA24 International Human Rights and Economic Law
This module examines the intersection of principles regulating human rights, environmental sustainability, and the interests of multinational commercial enterprises. It highlights the tension between the profit-driven objectives of businesses and the demands of social and environmental justice. The module critically engages with the human rights responsibilities of private companies and examines the progress made with the onset of globalization. It explores the clash and complementarity between the core objectives of corporations, affected communities, governments and the growing demands for human rights protection and environmental sustainability.
The module begins with foundational principles in ethics and debate on regulating corporate activities, followed by an analysis of the applicability of international law to non-state actors in the global economy. It then delves into the responsibilities of multinational corporations through implementation of United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The module also examines international instruments and mechanisms—both voluntary and legally binding—that address corporate behaviour, including legally binding instrument on Business and Human Rights, emerging forms of alternative dispute resolution and civil society movements.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide a systematic understanding of emerging international legal frameworks regulating corporations.
- To critically evaluate the role of multinational corporations in human rights and environmental protection.
- To explore the effectiveness of international instruments and mechanisms in holding businesses accountable for human rights violations.
- To develop students’ ability to analyse complex issues through case studies and propose practical solutions based on existing legal frameworks.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the links between law and policy in regulating human rights concerns and the interests of commercial businesses, both national and multinational.
- Gain an updated and critical awareness of the issues concerning the intersection of business activities, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
- Have the ability to deal with complex issues in the area of business and human rights and communicate their ideas effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Conduct independent research, analyse relevant laws and scholarship, and apply them to real-world cases or legal issues.
- Present analysis and conclusions on business and human rights issues in various forums, adapting communication styles to different audiences.
Please note that LW917 International Economic Law and Contemporary Challenges is different in its coverage from LW922 Business and Human Rights. LW917 is primarily focused on the fundamentals of public international economic law whereas LW922 focuses on the human rights impacts of the transnational corporations.
This module will be delivered via:
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay (LW922 Business and Human Rights) |
|
80% |
| Practical |
Presentation (LW922-7-SP) |
|
20% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Justin Poonjatt, email: j.poonjatt@essex.ac.uk.
Mr Justin Poonjatt
The Law Education Admin Team- pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Titilayo Adebola
University of Aberdeen
Lecturer in Law
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Essex Law School
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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