module
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3198: Business and Human Rights Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2023/4 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Multinational enterprises and the global governance gap.The intersection of business practices and human rights protection, with case studies from a range of industry sectors, including, for example, garment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, financial institutions, and extractives (mining, oil, and gas).
- The evolution and challenges for accountability under State-centric human rights and the limits of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
- The development and implementation of an international legal framework specific to business and human rights, and the role and responsibility of business in upholding international human rights law.
- Judicial and non-judicial remedies.
- Corporate human rights due diligence.
- Current developments in the field and the future of business and human rights.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | 123.5 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 7.5 | 5 x 1.5 hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 8 | 4 x 2 hour workshops |
| Guided independent study | 73.5 | Preparation for scheduled learning and teaching sessions, including pre-reading and the completion of learning activities |
| Guided independent study | 50 | Preparation for assessments |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Web-based and electronic resources:
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
- British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Business and Human Rights: www.biicl.org/categories/business-and-human-rights
- Corporate Human Rights Benchmark: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/corporate-human-rights-benchmark/
- Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: www.business-humanrights.org/en
- Institute for Human Rights and Business: www.ihrb.org
- UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Business and Human Rights: www.ohchr.org/en/issues/business/pages/businessindex.aspx
- UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx
- UN Forum on Business and Human Rights: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Forum/Pages/ForumonBusinessandHumanRights.aspx
Other Learning Resources
Other resources:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976) 999 UNTS 171.
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 3 January 1976) 993 UNTS 3.
- UN Human Rights Council, ‘Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, John Ruggie, Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework’ (21 March 2011) UN Doc A/HRC/17/31.
- Legally Binding Instrument to Regulate, in International Human Rights Law, the Activities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises (Third Revised Draft) (17.8.2021) https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/LBI3rdDRAFT.pdf