LW922-7-AU-CO:
Business and Human Rights
2025/26
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
08 August 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:
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May, J.R. and Daly, E. (eds) (2019) Human rights and the environment: legality, indivisibility, dignity and geography. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
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Muchlinski, P.T. (2022a)
Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=7054856.
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George, E. (2021)
Incorporating rights: strategies to advance corporate accountability. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199941483.001.0001.
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Bernaz, N. (2017)
Business and human rights: history, law and policy - bridging the accountability gap. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1434964.
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Deva, S. (2012)
Regulating corporate human rights violations: humanizing business. London: Routledge. Available at:
http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780203125618.
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Talbot, L. (2015)
Critical company law. Second edition. London: Routledge. Available at:
http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315737690.
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Moeckli, D., Shah, S. and Sivakumaran, S. (eds) (2022)
International human rights law. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198860112.001.0001.
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UN Guiding Principles | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (no date). Available at:
http://business-humanrights.org/en/un-guiding-principles.
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Karen Erica BravoJena MartinTara L. Van Ho&
0
more (2020)
When Business Harms Human Rights: Affected Communities that are Dying to be Heard. Anthem Press; Illustrated edition. Available at:
https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/books/when-business-harms-human-rights/749D6D519621AE3492C61203344C63B0#fndtn-contents.
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Rehman, J. (2010)
International human rights law. 2nd ed. Harlow: Longman. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5174399.
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Deva, S. and Birchall, D. (eds) (2020)
Research Handbook on Human Rights and Business. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6263896.
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Ramasastry, A. (2015) 'Corporate Social Responsibility versus Business and Human Rights: Bridging the Gap Between Responsibility and Accountability',
Journal of Human Rights, 14(2), pp. 237–259. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/14754835.2015.1037953.
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J Turner, S. (2019) 'Business practices, human rights and the environment', in J. R. May and E. Daly (eds) Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law: Vol. VII: Human Rights and the Environment?: legality, indivisibility, dignity and geography. Edward Elgar Publishing.
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Robert, M. (2024c) 'State Obligations Concerning Business and Human Rights', in
Business and Human Rights. Oxford University Press, pp. 48–80. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780192855855.003.0004.
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Muchlinski, P.T. (2022b)
Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 70–93. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=7054856.
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United Nations (2011) 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights'. Office of the High Commissioner. Available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf.
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Rachel Chambers & Anil Yilmaz Vastardis (no date) 'Human Rights Disclosure and Due Diligence Laws: The Role of Regulatory Oversight in Ensuring Corporate Accountability',
Chicago Journal of International Law, 21(2). Available at:
http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?public=false&handle=hein.journals/cjil21&id=331.
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Robert, M. (2024b) 'Corporate Responsibilities and Human Rights Due Diligence', in
Business and Human Rights. Oxford University Press, pp. 81–123. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780192855855.003.0005.
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Muchlinski, P.T. (2022c)
Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 25–46. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=7054856.
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Muchlinski, P.T. (2022d)
Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 94–118. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=7054856.
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Bueno, N.
et al. (2024) 'The EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD): The Final Political Compromise',
Business and Human Rights Journal, pp. 1–7. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2024.10.
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Abe, O. (2022) 'Corporate duty to respect human rights', in
Implementing Business and Human Rights Norms in Africa: Law and Policy Interventions. London: Routledge, pp. 57–63. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003290124-7.
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Chandler vs Cape plc. (UK Court of Appeal) [2012] EWCA Civ 525 (2012). British and Irish Legal Information Institute. Available at:
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/525.html.
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Vedanta Resources PLC and another v Lungowe and others [2019] UKSC 20. UKSC 2017/0185 (2019). The Supreme Court. Available at:
https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2017-0185.html.
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Robert, M. (2024a) 'Access to Remedies for Victims', in
Business and Human Rights. Oxford University Press, pp. 124–156. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780192855855.003.0006.
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Shelton, D. (2015)
Remedies in international human rights law. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 13–31. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=4310772.
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Van Ho, T.L. (2020) 'COMMUNITY INTERRUPTED, “LIFE PROJECTS” DISRUPTED: CAJAMARCA, IBAGUÉ, AND THE LA COLOSA MINE IN COLOMBIA', in J. Martin, K.E. Bravo, and T. Van Ho (eds)
When Business Harms Human Rights: Affected Communities that Are Dying to Be Heard. Anthem Press, pp. 109–136. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvt9k5wr.12.
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Muchlinski, P.T. (2022e)
Advanced Introduction to Business and Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, pp. 94–118. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=7054856.
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Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, Case Study: Barrick Gold Corp.'s Porgera Joint Venture mine – Human Rights Abuses, February 14, 2023 (no date). Available at:
https://cnca-rcrce.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cnca-case-study-5-porgera-1.pdf.
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THOMPSON, B. (2017) 'Determining Criteria to Evaluate Outcomes of Businesses' Provision of Remedy: Applying a Human Rights-Based Approach',
Business and Human Rights Journal, 2(1), pp. 55–85. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2016.30.
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Lisa J. Laplante (2023) 'The Wild West of Company-Level Grievance Mechanisms: Drawing Normative Borders to Patrol the Privatization of Human Rights Remedies',
Harvard International Law Journal, 64(2). Available at:
http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?public=false&handle=hein.journals/hilj64&id=324.
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Knuckey, S. and Jenkin, E. (2015) 'Company-created remedy mechanisms for serious human rights abuses: a promising new frontier for the right to remedy?',
The International Journal of Human Rights, 19(6), pp. 801–827. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2015.1048645.
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Lauwo, S. and Otusanya, O.J. (2014) 'Corporate accountability and human rights disclosures: A case study of Barrick Gold Mine in Tanzania',
Accounting Forum, 38(2), pp. 91–108. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2013.06.002.
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Latiff, L. (2022) 'Financial compensation for business-related human rights violations in the mining sector: Challenges and ways forward', in D.S. Olawuyi and O. Abe (eds)
Business and Human Rights Law and Practice in Africa. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 39–56. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207460.00012.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Dr Anil Yilmaz Vastardis, email: ayilma@essex.ac.uk.
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 882 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
882 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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