Keynote address: What is the emerging framework for corporate liability for Human Rights?

Are we beginning to see a framework by which corporations can be held accountable in civil and criminal law across the international sphere?

This talk will cover the International Criminal Court's imminent focus on the role played by non-state actors including business in human rights abuse, and current developments concerning the Alien Tort Claims Act and foreign direct liability.

Speaker: International Commission of Jurists, Secretary-General, Nicholas Howen

Companies argue that they are being expected increasingly to take on the role of governments. To attempt to identify the limits of corporate responsibility for human rights, Ethical Corporation has organised a formal debate for this session.

Speakers:

US Council for International Business, Vice President Labor Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, Adam Greene, will propose the following motion:

"National governments, not companies, should enforce human rights."

and Amnesty International UK Business Group, Founder-Chair, Sir Geoffrey Chandler, (and Shell International, former Director) will respond.

Both debaters have been asked to consider and, if relevant to their argument, define, the terms “sphere of influence” and “complicity”.

11.45 – 12.30

International law of human rights – business in the cross-hairs

This talk will cover the International Criminal Court's imminent focus on the role played by non-state actors including business in human rights abuse, a synopsis of the current status of the Draft UN Norms, and current developments concerning the Alien Tort Claims Act and foreign direct liability.

To what extent does international human rights law extend to multinational corporations?

Rio Tinto, a business with significant interface with questions regarding human rights impacts, will comment on the morning's proceedings, before giving the Chair the final word.

Speakers: Rio Tinto , Head of Communication and Sustainable Development, Andrew Vickerman

Case studies and workshops: Human Rights Policy Development

These sessions looks at the practical issues encountered in human rights policy development through the presentation of case studies. We have tried to ensure that each available session offers a perspective on a different industry and a different human rights issue, so that even if your industry is not represented you will find the issues that you wish to explore.

Each company will have around 20 minutes to speak followed by a facilitated discussion. The company has been asked to speak about how the need to devise a policy arose, whose buy-in was needed within the firm and how it was secured, what stakeholder engagement ensued and what challenges were met along the way.

2.30 – 3.30

Business and human rights 101

Not everyone has led internal battles to gain acceptance of their draft human rights policy, engaged with multiple stakeholders, held human rights seminars with representatives of autocratic regimes or laid bare their supply chain human rights abuses in a soul-baring corporate responsibility report that their own layers tried to ban.

Professor Alyson Warhurst here presents a workshop for those still trying to understand what business and human rights have in common and how you start to get to grips with managing the issues.

Speaker: Warwick Business School Corporate Citizenship Unit, Professor, Alyson Warhurst

Engineered products for process industries: Supply chain labour rights: Alfa Laval Group

Alfa Laval is a Swedish multinational with companies in 50 countries and manufacturing in West Europe, Asia (including China and India), USA and Central and East Europe.

In this session they share their recent experience of developing their human rights policies and practices.

The company has faced the issue of offshoring and asked themselves the question: "Are we exploiting cheap labour or are we providing the economic tools for the development of improved working and living conditions?"

Speaker: Alfa Laval Group, Senior Vice President Human Resources, David Ford

Human rights policy development for the pharmaceuticals sector : 

Speaker:  Oxfam, Health policy advisor, Mohga Smith

4.00 – 5.00
Round 2 (These 3 case study sessions run concurrently)

Extractive industries: Local community impacts: Sector initiatives:

The revenues generated through the extraction of valuable natural resources can be used to exacerbate violence between governments and those of their people who challenge the distribution of the resource benefit, with horrific human rights consequences.

The Kimberley Process evolved as a means of combatting these negative aspects of diamond extraction – the so-called “conflict diamonds”.

How did this industry initiative evolve, where is it heading, and what are its strengths and weaknesses versus the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative?

Speakers:

DeBeers, Senior External Affairs Executive, Simon Gilbert

Amnesty, Campaign coordinator Economic Relations and Human Rights, Alessandra Masci

Water supply: Product access: RWE Thames Water

Thames Water is the world's third largest private sector provider of water. Private sector participation in water provision has been the subject of heated debate. But how can private companies respond appropriately to the challenge of the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation?

This session will explore the development of a novel partnership to supply water to the world's poorest while creating shareholder value.

Speakers:

Thames Water, CSR project manager,Thomas van Gilst

WaterAid, Head of Planning & Development, StephenTurner

The direct human rights impacts of financial services companies are more limited than their indirect impacts through their investment activities and project finance activities.

Two years ago Henderson Global Investors developed a sector leading human rights policy concerning their investment activities.

How was this policy developed and how has it evolved in the light of experience?

Speaker:

Henderson Global Investors , Head of Corporate Engagement, Rob Lake