CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <link rel="contents" title="Archive" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/archive" /> <link rel="start" title="Doing Business Right Blog" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/" /> <link type="application/rsd+xml" rel="edituri" title="RSD" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/rsd.axd" /> <link type="application/rdf+xml" rel="meta" title="SIOC" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/sioc.axd" /> <link type="application/apml+xml" rel="meta" title="APML" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/apml.axd" /> <link type="application/rdf+xml" rel="meta" title="FOAF" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/foaf.axd" /> <link type="application/rss+xml" rel="alternate" title="Doing Business Right Blog (RSS)" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/syndication.axd" /> <link type="application/atom+xml" rel="alternate" title="Doing Business Right Blog (ATOM)" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/syndication.axd?format=atom" /> <link type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" rel="search" title="Doing Business Right Blog" href="http://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/opensearch.axd" /> <link href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Content/Auto/Global.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no" /><link href="themes/Standard/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet" /><link href="themes/Standard/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet" /><link href="themes/Standard/css/responsive.css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="themes/Standard/css/print.css" media="print" />    <link rel="shortcut icon" href="pics/blogengine.ico" type="image/x-icon" /><link href="editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/styles/shCore.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /><link href="editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/styles/shThemeDefault.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/en.res.axd"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Scripts/Auto/01-jquery-1.9.1.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Scripts/Auto/02-jquery.cookie.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Scripts/Auto/04-jquery-jtemplates.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Scripts/Auto/05-json2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Scripts/Auto/blog.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/scripts/XRegExp.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/scripts/shCore.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/scripts/shAutoloader.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/editors/tiny_mce_3_5_8/plugins/syntaxhighlighter/shActivator.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/scripts/BackStretch.js"></script> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <meta name="description" content="<a href="https://www.asser.nl/" target="_blank"><img src="/doingbusinessright/blog/pics/AsserLogo.PNG" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin-left: 7px; float:right;" alt="T.M.C. Asser Instituut" /></a>" /> <meta name="author" content="Asser International Sports Law Centre" />  <script type="text/javascript"> $(function(){ var title = $("h1 a").html(); title = title.replace("Right", "<i>Right</i>"); $("h1").html(title); }); </script>  <title> Doing Business Right Blog | <a href="https://www.asser.nl/" target="_blank"><img src="/doingbusinessright/blog/pics/AsserLogo.PNG" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin-left: 7px; float:right;" alt="T.M.C. Asser Instituut" /></a> </title></head> <body class="ltr"> <form method="post" action="./" onsubmit="javascript:return WebForm_OnSubmit();" id="aspnetForm"> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTTARGET" id="__EVENTTARGET" value="" /> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTARGUMENT" id="__EVENTARGUMENT" value="" /> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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" /> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var theForm = document.forms['aspnetForm']; if (!theForm) { theForm = document.aspnetForm; } function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) { if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() != false)) { theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget; theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument; theForm.submit(); } } //]]> </script> <script src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/WebResource.axd?d=pynGkmcFUV13He1Qd6_TZKFmBG-AUY7YwSX-Eh_-So8UKa0fIVRDpGlQdJn4r3q4SNLVEw2&t=638628279619783110" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/WebResource.axd?d=x2nkrMJGXkMELz33nwnakCtZ34Mn6eBLBMlvZVv4Wb4Oh2imzvaEcSb41UN__ZKr_-NEfxOm8xbKr0mL-Fcwb5JstEM1&t=638628279619783110" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function WebForm_OnSubmit() { if (typeof(ValidatorOnSubmit) == "function" && ValidatorOnSubmit() == false) return false; return true; } //]]> </script> <header class="header"> <div class="navbar navbar-inverse" role="navigation"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-header"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button> </div> <div class="navbar-collapse collapse"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav "> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/archive">Archive</a></li> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/contact">Contact</a></li> <li class="page-menu clearfix"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/page/the-project" class="pull-left dropdown-m">The Project </a> </li> <li class="page-menu clearfix"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/page/the-team" class="pull-left dropdown-m">The Team </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="nav navbar-nav navbar-right"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/Account/login.aspx" id="ctl00_aLogin">Log in</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="title-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <img src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/pics/Doing-Business-Right-logo.png" class="pull-left logo" alt="Doing Business Right Blog" /> <hgroup class="pull-left"> <h1><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/">Doing Business Right Blog</a></h1> <h3><a href="https://www.asser.nl/" target="_blank"><img src="/doingbusinessright/blog/pics/AsserLogo.PNG" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin-left: 7px; float:right;" alt="T.M.C. Asser Instituut" /></a></h3> </hgroup> <div id="social-icons" class="pull-right social-icon"> <a href="http://facebook.com/"> <img src="themes/Standard/images/facebook.png" alt="facebook" /> </a> <a href="http://twitter.com/DoinBizRight"> <img src="themes/Standard/images/twitter.png" alt="twitter" /> </a> <a href="https://plus.google.com/"> <img src="themes/Standard/images/googleplus.png" alt="google plus" /> </a> <a href="syndication.axd"> <img src="themes/Standard/images/rss.png" alt="rss feed" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> </header> <section class="container"> <div class="row"> <section class="col-md-8 content-wrapper"> <div id="ctl00_cphBody_divError"></div> <div id="ctl00_cphBody_PostList1_posts" class="posts"> <article class="post" id="post0"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-norwegian-transparency-act-2021-an-important-step-towards-human-rights-responsibilities-for-corporations-by-nora-kenan">The Norwegian Transparency Act 2021 – An important step towards human rights responsibilities for corporations - By Nora Kenan</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>29. June 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-norwegian-transparency-act-2021-an-important-step-towards-human-rights-responsibilities-for-corporations-by-nora-kenan#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor’s note</b>: Nora Kenan has been an intern at the Asser Institute for the past five months and is about to complete her LL.B. in International & European Law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Upon graduating, she will proceed with a Master’s in human rights at the University of Utrecht.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/prop.-150-l-20202021/id2843171/?ch=1">Norwegian Transparency Act</a> <a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>(‘Åpenhetsloven’), also known as the ‘Act on Business Transparency and Work with Fundamental Human Rights and Decent Work’ was proposed in April 2021. Now, two months later, the Act <a href="https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=84474">has officially been adopted by the Norwegian government</a> and represents yet another mandatory due diligence initiative which has been trending across various jurisdiction in the recent years. The Act will require all large and medium-size corporations in Norway to disclose the measures taken to ensure the respect for human rights throughout their entire supply chain.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Various Norwegian organizations have been campaigning for years in favor of such a law. The official preparations began in 2017, when the Parliament (‘Regjeringen’) requested the Government (‘Stortinget’) to explore the possibility of introducing a law that would oblige companies to inform consumers about the steps that they take to follow up on various human rights responsibilities. The Government appointed a law firm as well as a <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dep/bfd/org/styrer-rad-og-utvalg/innstillinger-fra-utvalg/innstillinger-2019/etikkinformasjonsutvalget/id2603560/">group of experts, the Ethics Information Committee</a>, to conduct thorough research on the matter, and to investigate whether there were any other legal obligations standing in the way of a proposal of this kind, such as for example EEA-obligations or bilateral/multilateral agreements. As a result of this research, it was concluded that there was indeed room for imposing human rights obligations on corporations. Shortly after, the Ethics Information Committee published a <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/7fb040bb744c43d0896b99a3dbbc91cb/195794-bfd-etikkrapport-web.pdf">report</a> in which they proposed the introduction of a due diligence legislation – more specifically, the <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/c33c3faf340441faa7388331a735f9d9/no/pdfs/prp202020210150000dddpdfs.pdf">Transparency Act</a>. The Act consists of fifteen paragraphs (§)<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>, and each paragraph has a commentary which further describes how it should be interpreted and applied.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The objective of the law is essentially to promote corporate respect of human rights and decent working conditions in the production of goods and provision of services, as well as to ensure public access to information on the steps taken by corporations to safeguard these goals (§1). By making this information public, individuals and stakeholders in general are given the chance to directly question the activities of a company. <a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-norwegian-transparency-act-2021-an-important-step-towards-human-rights-responsibilities-for-corporations-by-nora-kenan#continue">More...</a></p> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post1"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-2-subjecting-ai-to-the-hrdd-process">Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Due Diligence - Part 2: Subjecting AI to the HRDD Process - By Samuel Brobby</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>28. June 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-2-subjecting-ai-to-the-hrdd-process#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p class="MsoBodyText" align="justify"><b>Editor's note: </b>Samuel Brobby graduated from Maastricht University's Globalisation and Law LLM specialising in Human Rights in September 2020. A special interest in HRDD carries his research through various topics such as: the intersection between AI and HRDD, the French Devoir de Vigilance or mHRDD at the EU level. Since April 2021 he has joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business Right project.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">I am not convinced that inherently evil technology exists, rather, bad business models perpetuate and accentuate existing problems. AI is no exception to this phenomenon and diligent discussion is required to ensure that the negative impacts of artificial intelligence are meticulously scrutinised. In the end, transparency, responsibility and accountability must be ensured around technology that has the power to be an important tool for Human Rights and to provide support for development <a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w24001/w24001.pdf">across every sector of society</a>.  Given that this very same technology, if used irresponsibly, has the power to compound and accelerate the very issues we would like it to help solve, it is the intention of this blog to raise further questions and continue to provide discussion surrounding AI and responsibility. In the first part of this publication, I discussed how AI has the potential to contribute to HRDD by being technologically integrated into the process. However, before AI will even be considered as a possible tool to aid in the HRDD process, it will play a large part in making businesses more profitable. It will also be used by civil society, States and State-backed institutions in the pursuit of their respective goals. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">AI and its declinations are, and will, continue to be deployed in a number of sectors including, marketing, healthcare, social media, recruitment, armed conflicts and many more. Thus, given that AI has the potential for contributing negatively to Human Rights and the environment, it is important to discuss the risks and potential legal challenges surrounding AI and responsibility. Identifying these is crucial to the goal of taming AI in an attempt to mitigate some of the potential negative impacts it may have on Human Rights. The pervasive nature of this technology along with the particular place AI developers hold in supply chains warrants some attention. As such, this section aims at analysing the HRDD obligations of AI developing businesses. To do so, we will illustrate some of the Human Rights (and environmental) risks linked to the creation of these AI agents before looking at the manner through which ex ante responsibility through HRDD can be applied to AI developing businesses in the creation and commercialisation of AI algorithms. <a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-2-subjecting-ai-to-the-hrdd-process#continue">More...</a></p> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post2"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-1-integrating-ai-into-the-hrdd-process-by-samuel-brobby">Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Due Diligence – Part 1. Integrating AI into the HRDD process - By Samuel Brobby</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>17. June 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-1-integrating-ai-into-the-hrdd-process-by-samuel-brobby#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p><b>Editor's note: </b>Samuel Brobby graduated from Maastricht University's Globalisation and Law LLM specialising in Human Rights in September 2020. A special interest in HRDD carries his research through various topics such as: the intersection between AI and HRDD, the French Devoir de Vigilance or mHRDD at the EU level. Since April 2021 he has joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business Right project.</p><p align="justify"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The recent surge in developments and debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been business centric, naturally so. The conversation has long been centred on the possible gains “digitally conscious” companies can recoup from their sizeable investments in the various forms this technology can take. The ink continues to flow as numerous articles are released daily; debating between the ultimate power of artificial intelligence (and topical subsets like machine learning) on the one hand, versus the comparatively more philistinish views regarding what these technologies can offer on the other. Our objective here is not to pick a side on the AI debate. Rather, we would like to explore the Business & Human Rights implications of the development of AI and, in particular its intersection with the human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes enshrined in the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf">UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights</a> and subsequent declinations. How compatible is AI with HRDD obligations? Where does AI fit into the HRDD process? Can AI be used as a tool to further HRDD obligations? Can the HRDD process, in return, have an effect on the elaboration and progress of AI and its use in transnational business? And, to which extent will the roll out of AI be affected by HRDD obligations? These are all questions we hope to tackle in this blog.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In short, it seems two distinct shifts are occurring, rather opportunely, in close time frames. The impending mass adoption of AI in transnational business will have strong consequences for the state of Human Rights. This adoption is not only substantiated by an uptick of AI in business, but also in policy documents produced or endorsed by leading institutions such as <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---cabinet/documents/publication/wcms_647306.pdf">the ILO</a> or <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/artificial-intelligence-in-society-eedfee77-en.htm#:~:text=Today%2C%20AI%20is%20transforming%20societies,resource%20scarcity%20and%20health%20crises.">the OECD</a> for instance. Inversely, we must consider that HRDD obligations elaborated by the BHR community will also have strong implications for the development and roll out of AI. These two transformations will interact increasingly as their positions are consolidated. It is these interactions that we wish to analyse in the two parts of this article. Namely, the emergence of Artificial intelligence as a tool to shape and further HRDD obligations (1) and the emergence of HRDD as a process to shape the development of AI (2). <a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-1-integrating-ai-into-the-hrdd-process-by-samuel-brobby#continue">More...</a></p></br> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post3"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-iii-the-referentenentwurf-a-compromise-a-la-merkel-by-mercedes-hering">Corporate (Ir)Responsibility Made in Germany - Part III: The Referentenentwurf: A Compromise à la Merkel - By Mercedes Hering</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>16. March 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-iii-the-referentenentwurf-a-compromise-a-la-merkel-by-mercedes-hering#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <b><u>Editor’s Note</u></b><b>:</b> Mercedes is a recent graduate of the LL.B. dual-degree programme English and German Law, which is taught jointly by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cologne. She will sit the German state exam in early 2022. In September 2020, she joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business <i>Right</i> project. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>I. What happened so far </u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It took Ministers Heil (Labour, SPD), Müller (Development, CSU) and Altmaier (Economy, CDU) 18 months to agree on a draft for the <i>Lieferkettengesetz </i>(Supply Chain Law) to be presented soon to the German Bundestag for legislative debates. For an overview of the different proposals put forward by the Ministries and NGOs, and political discussion surrounding them, please check my previous blogs, which you can find <a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-i-the-national-in-action-plan-2016-2020-by-mercedes-hering">here</a> and <a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-ii-the-unfinished-saga-of-the-lieferkettengesetz-by-mercedes-hering">here</a>. You can also watch the <a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsability-made-in-germany-event-report-by-mercedes-hering">panel discussion</a> on the <i>Lieferkettengesetz</i> that we organized in November 2020 with <i>Cornelia Heydenreich</i> (Germanwatch), <i>Miriam Saage-Maaß</i> (European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights), and <i>Christopher Patz </i>(European Coalition for Corporate Justice). <br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 15 February 2021 the government’s <a href="https://www.wiwo.de/downloads/26927976/3/lieferkettengesetz-sorgfaltspflichtengesetz.pdf">“final” draft</a> was published – the so-called “Referentenentwurf”. This initial agreement was <a href="https://www.dw.com/de/meinung-lieferkettengesetz-ein-typischer-merkel-kompromiss-aber-immerhin/a-56549723">met with relief</a> from all parties involved, as it was preceded by a long-lasting deadlock. At first, Minister for Economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier, blocked Cabinet meetings so that the government position paper (“Eckpunkteplan”) published by Ministers Heil and Müller <a href="https://www.energiezukunft.eu/politik/lieferkettengesetz-droht-zur-farce-zu-werden/">could not be discussed</a>. Afterwards, Altmaier again <a href="https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/menschenrechte-gegen-kinderarbeit-und-umweltzerstoerung-lieferkettengesetz-wird-weiter-blockiert/26878862.html?ticket=ST-78867-fFlK2Ng5sQQbfuEYHF39-ap5&utm_term=Autofeed&social=tw-hb_hk-li-ne-or-&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=hb_hk&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1612355448">blocked a compromise</a> proposal brought forward by Müller and Heil in Cabinet. The matter <a href="https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/menschenrechte-gegen-kinderarbeit-und-umweltzerstoerung-wirtschaftsminister-altmaier-blockiert-lieferkettengesetz/26878862.html?utm_term=Autofeed&social=tw-hb_hk-li-ne-or-&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=hb_hk&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1612355448">went up to the “Koalitionsausschuss”</a>, the committee that negotiates if members of the coalition parties cannot reach an agreement. This committee failed to come to an agreement. The issue of civil liability and the scope of application were the <a href="http://www.finanztreff.de/news/merkel-erreicht-nach-kabinettsgespraech-zu-lieferkettengesetz-keine-einigung/23105880">most controversial points</a>. Thereafter, the matter reached the “Chefetage”, Angela Merkel. She sat down with the three ministers involved and Olaf Scholz, Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Finance (SPD), and <a href="https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/wirtschaft-und-menschenrechte-streit-ueber-lieferkettengesetz-koalition-scheitert-mit-schlichtungsversuch/26887784.html">tried to mediate</a> between the different positions. The group met twice before, eventually, an agreement was reached resulting in the <a href="https://www.wiwo.de/downloads/26927976/3/lieferkettengesetz-sorgfaltspflichtengesetz.pdf">Referentenentwurf of 15 February 2021</a>. The agreement did not last for long. Peter Altmaier <a href="https://www.wiwo.de/politik/deutschland/keine-einigung-beim-lieferkettengesetz-es-kracht-gewaltig-zwischen-altmaier-und-heil/26927614.html">withdrew (again) his support</a> for the draft just after it had been circulated. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 28 March 2021, <a href="https://lieferkettengesetz.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-03-01_RefE-Sorgfaltspflichtengesetz.pdf">another “final” draft</a> was published. Those two drafts differ in subtle but impactful aspects. This blog post was originally based on the <a href="https://www.wiwo.de/downloads/26927976/3/lieferkettengesetz-sorgfaltspflichtengesetz.pdf">first</a> draft; its text has been amended to integrate the changes introduced in the <a href="https://lieferkettengesetz.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-03-01_RefE-Sorgfaltspflichtengesetz.pdf">second draft</a>. The second Referentenentwurf is the one <a href="https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/menschenrechte-kabinett-bringt-lieferkettengesetz-auf-den.1939.de.html?drn:news_id=1233735">signed off by Cabinet on 3 March 2021</a>. In this blog, I will first summarize the main points of the draft(s), and afterwards review the various critical points raised against it.<a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-iii-the-referentenentwurf-a-compromise-a-la-merkel-by-mercedes-hering#continue">More...</a></p></br> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post4"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-ii-strategies-of-rebalancing-by-mercedes-hering">The unequal impact of COVID-19 in the global apparel industry - Part. II: Strategies of rebalancing – By Mercedes Hering</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>10. February 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-ii-strategies-of-rebalancing-by-mercedes-hering#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p><b><u>Editor’s note</u></b><b>: </b>Mercedes is a recent graduate of the LL.B. dual-degree programme English and German Law, which is taught jointly by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cologne. She will sit the German state exam in early 2022. In September 2020 she joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business <i>Right</i> project.</p><p><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">My previous blog post depicted how economic asymmetry of power translates into imbalanced contractual relationships. At the moment, supply chain contracts ensure that value is extracted while precarity is outsourced. In other words, supply chains can be described as ‘<a href="https://www.afronomicslaw.org/2020/11/13/the-law-of-global-value-chains-as-transmission-nodes-for-global-inequality">global poverty chains</a>’. In this blog post, I will present and assess four potential way to alleviate this asymmetry and to better protect the right of the poorest garment workers in the context of the Covid-19 the pandemic. <a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-ii-strategies-of-rebalancing-by-mercedes-hering#continue">More...</a></p></br> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post5"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-i-the-contractual-roots-by-merec">The unequal impact of COVID-19 in the global apparel industry - Part I: The contractual roots - By Mercedes Hering</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>4. February 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-i-the-contractual-roots-by-merec#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p align="justify"><b><u>Editor’s note</u></b><b>: </b>Mercedes is a recent graduate of the LL.B. dual-degree programme English and German Law, which is taught jointly by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cologne. She will sit the German state exam in early 2022. In September 2020 she joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business <i>Right</i> project. </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The Covid-19 pandemic is straining global supply chains and exposes the inequality that underlies them. As many countries entered lockdowns, the economy was brought to a rapid halt. This caused demand for apparel goods to plummet. Global apparel brands, in turn, have begun to disengage from business relationships with their suppliers. Lead firms <a href="https://www.workersrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Unpaid-Billions_October-6-2020.pdf">cancelled</a> or even <a href="https://www.somo.nl/responsible-disengagement-in-the-time-of-corona/">breached</a> their contracts with suppliers (often relying on force majeure or hardship), suspended, amended or postponed orders already made. This practice had a devastating effect on suppliers. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">This situation again shows that the contractual structure of global supply chains is tilted towards (often) European or North American lead firms. In this blog, I will first outline the power imbalance embedded in global supply chain contracts. Secondly, I will outline how order cancellations impact suppliers and their workers. In Part II, I will go through four approaches to mitigate the distress of suppliers and their workers and to allow the parties to reach solutions which take into account their seemingly antagonistic interests. <a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-i-the-contractual-roots-by-merec#continue">More...</a></p> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post6"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsability-made-in-germany-event-report-by-mercedes-hering">Corporate (ir)responsability made in Germany – Event report - By Mercedes Hering</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>28. January 2021</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsability-made-in-germany-event-report-by-mercedes-hering#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p><strong>Editor's note:</strong> Mercedes is a recent graduate of the LL.B. dual-degree programme English and German Law, which is taught jointly by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cologne. She will sit the German state exam in early 2022. Alongside her studies, she is working as student research assistant at the Institute for International and Foreign Private Law in Cologne. Since September 2020, she joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business Right project</p><p>On 27 November 2020, the T.M.C Asser Institute hosted an online roundtable discussion on the German Supply Chain Law (Lieferkettengesetz). The full recording of the event can be seen here:</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSpxwST0gw8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p>The three panelists, <a href="https://germanwatch.org/en/users/corneliaheydenreich"><em>Cornelia Heydenreich</em></a> from Germanwatch, <a href="https://www.ecchr.eu/en/person/miriam-saage-maass/"><em>Miriam Saage-Maaß</em></a> from the ECCHR and <a href="https://corporatejustice.org/"><em>Christopher Patz</em></a> from the ECCJ reflected on the political framework surrounding the debate, current drafts, and Germany’s role in the European discussion on binding due diligence legislation.</p><p><strong>I. The pathway to a Lieferkettengesetz </strong></p><p>As <em>Heydenreich</em> pointed out, civil society’s role in the struggle for a <em>Lieferkettengesetz</em> can barely be overstated. When in 2011, the UNGPs were passed, Germany was in no rush to implement binding due diligence legislation. Instead, the German legislators waited for their European counterparts to come forward with an action plan. It was in 2013 when a new – more left-leaning – government first voiced the idea that a national action plan should be drawn up. In 2015, consultations began. The consultation process was a dialogue, the drafting process itself was not. Even though the monitoring methodology fell short of civil society’s expectations, the result of the monitoring process was shocking nonetheless: Only <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/germany-monitoring-of-the-national-action-plan-on-business-human-rights/">13-17% of companies</a> complied with the National Action Plan. </p><p>It became clear that the government needed to implement binding due diligence regulation. It also became clear that the drafting process would have to begin as soon as possible for a law to be passed before the general election in September 2021. </p><p><strong>II. Current drafts</strong></p><p><em>Saage-Maaß</em> turned to the different proposals for a <em>Lieferkettengesetz:</em> The <a href="https://die-korrespondenten.de/fileadmin/user_upload/die-korrespondenten.de/Lieferkettengesetz-Eckpunkte-10.3.20.pdf">government’s position</a> paper from the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Labour as well as civil society’s <a href="https://lieferkettengesetz.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Anforderungen-an-ein-wirksames-Lieferkettengesetz_Februar-2020.pdf">model law</a>. Contrary to what the government currently envisages, <em>Saage-Maaß</em> emphasized the need to include small or medium-sized companies that operate in high-risk areas. </p><p>The role of private international law must not be neglected. The question turns on whether or not the whole of the <em>Lieferkettengesetz </em>will be an overriding mandatory provision, or merely the due diligence obligation itself. </p><p>Civil society organizations are particularly critical of so-called “safe harbor” provisions. These safe harbor provisions allow companies to be exempted from liability if they are part of certain multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs). All panelists agree, however, that as of today, no MSI meets the standards set out by the OECD. In its <a href="https://www.msi-integrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MSI_SUMMARY_REPORT.FORWEBSITE.FINAL_.pdf">report</a>, the Institute for Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Integrity (MSI Integrity) comes to the same conclusion: “MSIs are not effective tools for holding corporations accountable for abuses, protecting rights holders against human rights violations, or providing survivors and victims with access to remedy.” </p><p>For an overview of other aspects of the legislative proposals, such as the burden of proof, please see the foregoing blog series <a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-ii-the-unfinished-saga-of-the-lieferkettengesetz-by-mercedes-hering">“Corporate (Ir)responsibility Made in Germany”</a>. </p><p><strong>III. EU-wide discussion</strong></p><p>In April 2020, European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, announced that the Commission commits to legislation on mandatory due diligence. <em>Patz </em>emphasizes the positive impact Germany’s Council Presidency, beginning July 2020, has had on the endeavor. Germany’s Council Presidency stands out because of its strong affirmative call for a supply chain law and for reforms of directors’ duties. At the beginning of December, the Council published its <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/46999/st13512-en20.pdf">Conclusion on Human Rights and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains</a>, where it calls on the European Commission to launch an EU Action Plan by 2021 (n. 45) and to table a proposal for an EU legal framework on corporate due diligence (n. 46). According to <em>Patz</em>, this constitutes a strong political signal. This strong call is reinforced by three Committees, the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-PA-655782_EN.pdf">Human Rights Committee</a>, <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/commissions/deve/projet_avis/2020/657424/DEVE_PA(2020)657424_EN.pdf">Development Committee</a>, and the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/JURI-PR-657191_EN.pdf">Legal Affairs Committee</a>, that also spoke out in favor of civil liability. </p><p>Another strong political signal was sent by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, which in its <a href="https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2020-business-human-rights_en.pdf">report “Business and Human Rights – Access to Remedy”</a> called for significant changes pertaining to the reversal of the burden of proof, class actions and procedural mechanisms in order to facilitate access to justice for those affected. </p><p>The work of German MEP <em>Anna Cavazzini</em> (Greens) should be highlighted, too. In the European Parliament she pushed for an additional enforcement mechanism in the form of <a href="https://www.annacavazzini.eu/gastkommentar-auf-euractiv-the-eu-must-stop-importing-human-rights-violations/">trade restrictions</a>. Products that benefitted from human rights abuses along the supply chain should not have access to the European single market. In order for the trade restrictions to be lifted, remediation ought to be paid. This initiative counters criticism from civil society that points out that due diligence laws often have the effect of targeting whole sectors of one particular economy. Adopting additional trade restrictions allows for a much more targeted approach. </p><p>In her <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0179_EN.html">report</a> on an anti-deforestation legal framework, <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/de/197440/DELARA_BURKHARDT/home"><em>Delara Burkhardt</em></a>(S&D) also advocated for civil liability. Companies that exercise control over companies should be held liable, even where it was not directly them, but the other company that committed an unlawful act. In order for this liability mechanism to be effective, <em>Burkhardt </em>advocates for a presumption in favor of control. This helps to balance the information deficit litigants suffer because they do not have access to internal corporate documentation. </p><p><strong>IV. Conclusion </strong></p><p>At the beginning of the roundtable discussion, <em>Duval</em> pointed out that Germany’s stance on any binding due diligence regulation will be decisive. Germany’s role in the EU-wide discussion can hardly be overstated. Germany amounts to 30% of all EU exports, and to 20% of all imports. Factoring in France’s <em>loi de vigilance</em>, both countries together could put enough pressure on the European legislators to push for an EU-wide mandatory due diligence regulation. </p><p>Germany is as close as it has ever been to adopting a <em>Lieferkettengesetz</em>. Yet, the process has come to a halt. The government position paper should have been discussed in the Cabinet at the end of last year for the law to be adopted in 2021. All ministers have to agree, afterwards the proposition will go to Parliament. <em>Heydenreich </em>said that the law will have to be adopted in May, or June the latest; Parliamentary session ends in July. </p><p>At least Germany’s involvement in the EU-wide debate looks promising. Germany’s Council Presidency as well as individual German MEPs have had a tremendous impact on the adoption of an EU-wide due diligence regulation.</p> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post7"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/new-event-corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-27-november-3pm-cet">New Event! Corporate (ir)responsibility made in Germany - 27 November - 3pm (CET)</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>20. November 2020</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/new-event-corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-27-november-3pm-cet#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <section class="event-text-container col-xxs-12 col-xs-12"> <p align="justify">On 27 November, we will host a digital discussion on Germany’s approach to corporate (ir)responsibility for human rights violations and environmental harms in the supply chains of German businesses. This event aims to analyse the evolution of the business and human rights policy discussion in Germany and its influence on the wider European debates on mandatory human rights due diligence EU legislation. Germany is the EU’s economic powerhouse and a trading giant, hence its position on the (ir)responsibility of corporations for human rights risks and harms throughout their supply chains has major consequences for the EU and beyond.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Background</strong></p> <p align="justify">Currently, Germany is debating the adoption of a supply chain law or <em>Lieferkettengesetz</em>. This would mark the end of a long political and legal struggle, which started in 2016, when the German government adopted its National Action Plan (NAP) 2016-2020. Germany’s NAP, like many others, counted on voluntary commitments from businesses to implement human rights and environmental due diligence throughout their supply chains. Unlike other NAP’s, the German one also included a monitoring process, which tracked the progress businesses made during that four-year period.</p><p align="justify">The final report, which was published in September, showed that only roughly 13-17% of German businesses implemented the voluntary due diligence measures encouraged in the NAP. On the basis of these rather disappointing results, as required by the coalition agreement between the two governing parties, a draft for a <em>Lieferkettengesetz</em> should have been presented to the Cabinet this autumn. However, the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, backed by business lobby groups, strongly opposes any form of civil liability for human rights violations committed within supply chains and managed until now to delay the process.<br><br></p><p align="justify">Our discussion aims to review these developments and highlight the key drivers behind the (slow) movement towards a <em>Lieferkettengesetz. </em>Weaving political insights with legal know-how, our speakers will provide a comprehensive overview (in English) on Germany’s positioning in the business and human rights discussion and its potential influence on the future trajectory of a European legislation.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>Speakers:</strong></p> <p align="justify"></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ecchr.eu/en/person/miriam-saage-maass/">Miriam Saage-Maaß</a> (Vice legal director and programme director, business and human rights, ECCHR)</li><li><a href="https://germanwatch.org/en/users/corneliaheydenreich">Cornelia Heydenreich</a> (Team leader – corporate accountability, Germanwatch)</li><li><a href="https://corporatejustice.org/contact-us">Christopher Patz</a> (Policy officer of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ))<br></li></ul><p></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Moderator:</strong></p> <p align="justify"></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.asser.nl/research/research-staff/AntoineDuval">Antoine Duval</a> (Senior researcher, Asser Institute)</li></ul><p></p><p align="justify"></p> <p align="justify"><strong><br></strong></p> <p align="justify">To register for this event, please click <u><b><a href="https://www.asser.nl/register/DBR27Nov2020">here</a>.</b></u> You will receive a link before the start of the event.</p> <p align="justify"><br></p><p align="justify">For enquiries, contact <a href="mailto:conferencemanager@asser.nl">conferencemanager@asser.nl</a></p><p align="justify"><br></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Winter academy: Due diligence as a master key to responsible business conduct</strong></p> <p align="justify">On 25-29 January 2021, The Asser Institute’s ‘Doing business <em>right’</em> project is organising an online winter academy on ‘Doing business right: Due diligence as a master key to responsible business conduct’<strong>.</strong></p> <p align="justify">This academy brings together students, academics and professionals from around the world and provides a deep dive into the due diligence process as a strategy to achieve responsible business conduct.</p> <p align="justify">Learn more and register <a href="https://www.asser.nl/education-events/events/?id=3153">here</a>.<strong> </strong></p> </section> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post8"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/call-for-papers-delocalised-justice-the-transnationalisation-of-corporate-accountability-for-human-rights-violations-originating-in-africa-deadline-15-january-2021">Call for Papers - Delocalised Justice: The transnationalisation of corporate accountability for human rights violations originating in Africa - Deadline 15 January 2021</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>13. November 2020</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/call-for-papers-delocalised-justice-the-transnationalisation-of-corporate-accountability-for-human-rights-violations-originating-in-africa-deadline-15-january-2021#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p align="justify">More than twenty years ago nine local activists from the Ogoni region of Nigeria were executed by the then military dictatorship. The story of the Ogoni Nine does not stop in Nigeria; the tale of the nine men, the many lives lost, and the environmental degradation linked to the extraction of oil in the region by Shell has quite literally travelled the world. What is often commonly referred to as the Kiobel case—after the application lodged by Esther Kiobel, the widow of Dr. Barinem Kiobel—originated in Nigeria, has been heard by courts in the USA, and is currently before Dutch courts. The Kiobel case, as well as a flurry of other cases (e.g. the Bralima case before the Dutch NCP, the Nevsun case before the Canadian courts, the Vedanta case before the UK courts, or the Total case before the French courts, among others), embodies the flight of corporate accountability cases out of their original African contexts. <br></p><p align="justify">This transnational quest for an effective remedy by those who’s human and/or environmental rights have been violated is understandable, but it also raises serious questions about the consequences of the delocalisation of access to remedies in such cases. This conference aims to provide a forum for critical discussions of the justifications for, and consequences of, using various delocalised ‘sites of justice’ for human and environmental rights violations associated with ‘doing business’ in Africa. The aim is not to focus on Kiobel or Nigeria in particular, although contributions on this case are welcome, but to generally engage in a critical examination of cases that ‘migrate’ between different sites of justice, and the associated benefits and drawbacks of the displacement of corporate accountability out of African courts to courts or non-judicial mechanisms (such as OECD National Contact Points) based in the so-called Global North. In doing so, we strongly encourage applicants to consider a variety of (critical) theoretical perspectives in the analysis of this phenomenon.</p> <p align="justify">In this collaboration between Asser Institute’s <a href="https://www.asser.nl/research/advancing-public-interests/doing-business-right/">Doing Business Right</a> project and <a href="https://www.afronomicslaw.org/">AfronomicsLaw</a>, we welcome contributions from scholars working on African international law, African perspectives of international/transnational law, as well as scholars working on business and human rights more generally. The aim is to bring a plurality of voices into conversation with each other, and to generate original (and critical) engagements with the operation of transnational justice in the business and human rights space. With important developments taking place at the international level, such as the drafting of a binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights, the preparation of European legislation on mandatory human rights due diligence, as well as the emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is set to foster business across African borders, such discussions are not only timely, they are also necessary.</p><p align="justify"><br></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Deadlines and requirements: </strong></p> <p align="justify">In order to increase engagement from a broader range of actors from the continent, the conference will be bilingual, English and French. The conference presentations and outputs will also be accepted in either language (<a href="https://www.afronomicslaw.org/guidelines-for-submissions/">2,000 word</a> blog post as part of a special symposium on AfronomicsLaw, as well as a full-length paper for a special issue with a journal (journal tbd)).</p><p align="justify"><br></p> <p align="justify"><strong>Overview of deadlines:</strong></p> <p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Deadline for abstract submission: 15 January 2021</li><li>Draft papers due: 1 March 2021</li><li>Digital conference: 24-26 March 2021</li><li>Final contribution to blog symposium on AfronomicsLaw: 30 April 2021</li><li>Final papers due for special issue with journal: 1 July 2021</li></ul><p></p><p align="justify"><br></p> <p align="justify">Please submit abstracts in English or French (250 words) accompanied by a short CV (max. 5 pages) to <a href="mailto:m.plagis@asser.nl">m.plagis@asser.nl</a> by 23:59 CET on <strong>15 January 2021</strong>.</p> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> <article class="post" id="post9"> <header class="post-header"> <h2 class="post-title"> <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/kiobel-in-the-hague-holding-shell-accountable-in-dutch-courts-event-report-by-mercedes-hering">Kiobel in The Hague – Holding Shell Accountable in Dutch Courts - Event Report - By Mercedes Hering</a> </h2> <div class="post-info clearfix"> <span class="post-date"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i>2. November 2020</span> <span class="post-author"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-user"></i><a href="https://www.asser.nl/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine-Duval">Antoine Duval</a></span> <span class="post-category"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-folder-close"></i></span> <a rel="nofollow" class="pull-right post-comment-link" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/kiobel-in-the-hague-holding-shell-accountable-in-dutch-courts-event-report-by-mercedes-hering#comment"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i>(0)</a> </div> </header> <section class="post-body text"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><u><b>Editor's note</b></u>: Mercedes is a recent graduate of the LL.B. dual-degree programme English and German Law, which is taught jointly by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cologne. She will sit the German state exam in early 2022. Alongside her studies, she is working as student research assistant at the Institute for International and Foreign Private Law in Cologne. Since September 2020, she joined the Asser Institute as a research intern for the Doing Business <i>Right</i> project</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="left">On 25 September 2020, the final hearings in the <i>Kiobel </i>case took place before the Dutch District Court in The Hague. This case dates back to 25 years ago; and the claimants embarked on a judicial journey that led them from the US to the Netherlands. On 16 October 2020, the TMC Asser Institute hosted an online roundtable discussion to present and discuss the arguments raised before the Dutch court. The three panelists, <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/vanho61805/tara-van-ho"><i>Tara Van Ho</i></a> from Essex University,<i> </i><a href="https://www.prakkendoliveira.nl/nl/wie-zijn-wij/advocaten/tom-de-boer"><i>Tom de Boer</i></a> from Prakken d’Oliveira, and <a href="https://www.uu.nl/medewerkers/LRoorda"><i>Lucas Roorda</i></a> from Utrecht University each provided their stance on the case and analyzed the past, the present and the main issues of the proceedings. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Depending on the outcome of the case,<i> Kiobel </i>could pave the way for further business human rights litigation in Europe. It raises questions ranging from jurisdiction, applicable law, parent company liability and fee arrangements to state sovereignty and the responsibility of former colonial states vis à vis countries that emerged from colonial rule. Below you will find the highlights of our discussion, you can also watch the full video on the Asser Institute’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zawdpr09aWM">YouTube channel</a>.<a class="more" href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/kiobel-in-the-hague-holding-shell-accountable-in-dutch-courts-event-report-by-mercedes-hering#continue">More...</a></p></br> </section>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = { "data_track_addressbar": false }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53440c2d1af691c5"></script>  </article> </div> <div id="postPaging" style="display: none"> <a id="ctl00_cphBody_PostList1_hlPrev" style="float:left"><< Older posts</a> <a id="ctl00_cphBody_PostList1_hlNext" style="float:right">Newer posts >></a> </div> <div style="clear:both; display:block"> <ul id="PostPager"><li class="PagerLinkDisabled">Newer posts</li><li class="PagerLinkCurrent">1</li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=2">2</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=3">3</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=4">4</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=5">5</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=6">6</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=7">7</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=8">8</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=9">9</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=10">10</a></li><li class="PagerLink"><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?page=2">Older posts</a></li></ul> </div> </section> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar-wrapper"> <div id="widgetzone_be_WIDGET_ZONE" class="widgetzone"> <div class="widget textbox" id="widgetb32fee7d-043e-450a-b599-90af2bf57502"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Doing business right blog <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <p style="text-align: justify;">    </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This blog offers a platform for scholars and practitioners concerned with the idea of Doing Business <em>Right. </em>This is a collective enterprise aimed at investigating the multiple legal and regulatory mechanisms tackling the negative effects of transnational business conduct.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We hope you'll enjoy it and wish you a good read!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; font-family: Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The Editors</span></p> </div> </div> <div class="widget newsletter" id="widget5ff66f94-1825-4026-b102-e733e4fa8a88"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Newsletter <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <div id="newsletterform"> <p>Get notified when a new post is published.</p> <label for="ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_txtEmail" style="font-weight:bold">Enter your e-mail</label><br /> <input name="ctl00$widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$txtEmail" type="text" id="ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_txtEmail" class="form-control" style="width:98%;" /> <span id="ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00" style="display:none;">Please enter an e-mail address</span> <span id="ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01" style="display:none;">Please enter a valid e-mail</span> <div style="text-align:center"> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$btnSave" value="Notify me" onclick="return beginAddEmail();WebForm_DoPostBackWithOptions(new WebForm_PostBackOptions("ctl00$widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$btnSave", "", true, "newsletter", "", false, false))" id="ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_btnSave" class="btn btn-primary" /> </div> </div> <div id="newsletterthanks" style="display:none;text-align:center"> <br /><br /> <h2 id="newsletteraction">Thank you</h2> <br /><br /> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> function beginAddEmail() { if(!Page_ClientValidate('newsletter')) return false; var formAction = ''; if (formAction.length > 0) { document.getElementById("aspnetForm").action = formAction; } var arg = BlogEngine.$('ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_txtEmail').value; var context = 'newsletter'; WebForm_DoCallback('ctl00$widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88$5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88',arg,endAddEmail,context,null,false); return false; } function endAddEmail(arg, context) { BlogEngine.$('newsletterform').style.display = 'none'; BlogEngine.$('newsletterthanks').style.display = 'block'; if (arg == "false") { BlogEngine.$('newsletteraction').innerHTML = "You are now unsubscribed"; } } </script> </div> </div> <div class="widget tagcloud" id="widget8d2f6869-e27d-4585-bada-a9cc84f0978a"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Tag cloud <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <ul id="ctl00_widgetContainer8d2f6869e27d4585badaa9cc84f0978a_8d2f6869e27d4585badaa9cc84f0978a_ulTags"><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Access-to-remedy" class="small" title="Tag: Access to remedy">Access to remedy</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Arbitration" class="smallest" title="Tag: Arbitration">Arbitration</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Bangladesh" class="smallest" title="Tag: Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Binding-Treaty" class="small" title="Tag: Binding Treaty">Binding Treaty</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Business-and-Human-Rights" class="big" title="Tag: Business and Human Rights">Business and Human Rights</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Corporate-Liability" class="small" title="Tag: Corporate Liability">Corporate Liability</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Criminal-Liability" class="small" title="Tag: Criminal Liability">Criminal Liability</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/CSR" class="smallest" title="Tag: CSR">CSR</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Devoir-de-vigilance" class="smallest" title="Tag: Devoir de vigilance">Devoir de vigilance</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Due-Diligence" class="biggest" title="Tag: Due Diligence">Due Diligence</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/EU-Law" class="smallest" title="Tag: EU Law">EU Law</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Forced-labour" class="small" title="Tag: Forced labour">Forced labour</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Garment" class="small" title="Tag: Garment">Garment</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Germany" class="smallest" title="Tag: Germany">Germany</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/HRDD" class="medium" title="Tag: HRDD">HRDD</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Human-Rights" class="small" title="Tag: Human Rights">Human Rights</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Kiobel" class="small" title="Tag: Kiobel">Kiobel</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Labour-Rights" class="small" title="Tag: Labour Rights">Labour Rights</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Liability" class="medium" title="Tag: Liability">Liability</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Modern-Slavery-" class="small" title="Tag: Modern Slavery ">Modern Slavery </a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Modern-Slavery-Act" class="small" title="Tag: Modern Slavery Act">Modern Slavery Act</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Monthly-Report" class="small" title="Tag: Monthly Report">Monthly Report</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/NHRI" class="small" title="Tag: NHRI">NHRI</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/OECD" class="smallest" title="Tag: OECD">OECD</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/OECD-Guidelines" class="smallest" title="Tag: OECD Guidelines">OECD Guidelines</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Rana-Plaza" class="small" title="Tag: Rana Plaza">Rana Plaza</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Ruggie-principles" class="small" title="Tag: Ruggie principles">Ruggie principles</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Shell" class="small" title="Tag: Shell">Shell</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Slavery" class="small" title="Tag: Slavery">Slavery</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Supply-Chains" class="small" title="Tag: Supply Chains">Supply Chains</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/Transparency" class="small" title="Tag: Transparency">Transparency</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/UNGP" class="small" title="Tag: UNGP">UNGP</a> </li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/?tag=/UNGPs" class="big" title="Tag: UNGPs">UNGPs</a> </li></ul> </div> </div> <div class="widget search" id="widgetfb38ecdd-5813-4d10-8c5f-8d901c7c731e"> <div class="widget-content"> <div id="searchbox"> <label for="searchfield" style="display:none">Search</label><input type="text" value="Enter search term" id="searchfield" onkeypress="if(event.keyCode==13) return BlogEngine.search('/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/')" onfocus="BlogEngine.searchClear('Enter search term')" onblur="BlogEngine.searchClear('Enter search term')" /><input type="button" value="Search" id="searchbutton" onclick="BlogEngine.search('/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/');" onkeypress="BlogEngine.search('/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/');" /></div> </div> </div> <div class="widget categorylist" id="widgetdd0a6215-8f33-441e-83c8-9f2ae0abae27"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Category list <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <p>None</p> </div> </div> <div class="widget monthlist" id="widgete0437d2e-de82-4f51-b679-f162fc01b20c"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Month List <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <ul id="monthList"> <li class="year" onclick="BlogEngine.toggleMonth('year2017')">2017<ul id="year2017"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/06/default">June</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/07/default">July</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/09/default">September</a> (4)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/10/default">October</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/11/default">November</a> (5)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2017/12/default">December</a> (4)</li> </ul></li><li class="year" onclick="BlogEngine.toggleMonth('year2018')">2018<ul id="year2018"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/01/default">January</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/02/default">February</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/03/default">March</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/04/default">April</a> (4)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/05/default">May</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/06/default">June</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/07/default">July</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/08/default">August</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/09/default">September</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/10/default">October</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/11/default">November</a> (5)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2018/12/default">December</a> (2)</li> </ul></li><li class="year" onclick="BlogEngine.toggleMonth('year2019')">2019<ul id="year2019"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/01/default">January</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/02/default">February</a> (8)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/03/default">March</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/04/default">April</a> (5)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/05/default">May</a> (6)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/06/default">June</a> (3)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/07/default">July</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/09/default">September</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2019/11/default">November</a> (1)</li> </ul></li><li class="year" onclick="BlogEngine.toggleMonth('year2020')">2020<ul id="year2020"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2020/02/default">February</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2020/05/default">May</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2020/10/default">October</a> (5)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2020/11/default">November</a> (3)</li> </ul></li><li class="year" onclick="BlogEngine.toggleMonth('year2021')">2021<ul id="year2021"> <li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2021/01/default">January</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2021/02/default">February</a> (2)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2021/03/default">March</a> (1)</li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/2021/06/default">June</a> (3)</li> </ul></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="widget authorlist" id="widgetaecb8218-37d0-4b1c-989e-9bddc027ad09"> <h4 class="widget-header"> AuthorList <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <ul id="authorlist" class="authorlist"><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/syndication.axd?author=Antoine-Duval" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/03692f0c56cb14fffb78eeea229672c6.jpg?d=identicon" width="32" height="32" class="author-avatar" /></a><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Antoine Duval" title="Author: Antoine Duval" class="authorlink">Antoine Duval (94)</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/syndication.axd?author=Enrico-Partiti" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/faa1bc98b66951cfc4737384284573a2.jpg?d=identicon" width="32" height="32" class="author-avatar" /></a><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/author/Enrico Partiti" title="Author: Enrico Partiti" class="authorlink">Enrico Partiti (3)</a></li></ul> </div> </div> <div class="widget textbox" id="widget58030aa1-901a-4afc-b679-75c048815f4b"> <h4 class="widget-header"> Twitter <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <p><a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://twitter.com/DoinBizRight" data-height="500">Tweets by Doing Business Right</a></p> <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </section> <footer class="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="widgets-footer clearfix"> <div id="widgetzone_Footer_Widget" class="widgetzone"> <div class="widget recentcomments" id="widget413fe804-17f5-4268-b82b-4a2f59975020"> <h4 class="widget-header"> RecentComments <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <ul id="recentComments" class="recentComments"><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/towards-a-due-diligence-jurisprudence-the-eu-timber-regulation-s-requirements-in-courts-by-wybe-th-douma" class="postTitle">Towards a ‘due diligence’ jurisprudence: The EU Timber Regulation’s requirements in courts - By Wybe Th. Douma</a> (1)<br />dr Frederik Kistenkas wrote: The EUTR and its DDS indeed places itself in the c... <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/towards-a-due-diligence-jurisprudence-the-eu-timber-regulation-s-requirements-in-courts-by-wybe-th-douma#id_55b164b7-55f4-4e03-8971-11c75b75b092" class="moreLink">[More]</a></li></ul><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/syndication.axd?comments=true">Comment RSS <img src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/pics/rssButton.png" alt="" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="widget recentposts" id="widget00f6155c-f4ff-48ca-afc0-2d872422b9d6"> <h4 class="widget-header"> RecentPosts <span class="pull-right"></span> </h4> <div class="widget-content"> <ul class="recentPosts" id="recentPosts"><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-norwegian-transparency-act-2021-an-important-step-towards-human-rights-responsibilities-for-corporations-by-nora-kenan">The Norwegian Transparency Act 2021 – An important step towards human rights responsibilities for corporations - By Nora Kenan</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-2-subjecting-ai-to-the-hrdd-process">Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Due Diligence - Part 2: Subjecting AI to the HRDD Process - By Samuel Brobby</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights-due-diligence-part-1-integrating-ai-into-the-hrdd-process-by-samuel-brobby">Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Due Diligence – Part 1. Integrating AI into the HRDD process - By Samuel Brobby</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-part-iii-the-referentenentwurf-a-compromise-a-la-merkel-by-mercedes-hering">Corporate (Ir)Responsibility Made in Germany - Part III: The Referentenentwurf: A Compromise à la Merkel - By Mercedes Hering</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-ii-strategies-of-rebalancing-by-mercedes-hering">The unequal impact of COVID-19 in the global apparel industry - Part. II: Strategies of rebalancing – By Mercedes Hering</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/the-unequal-impact-of-covid-19-in-the-global-apparel-industry-part-i-the-contractual-roots-by-merec">The unequal impact of COVID-19 in the global apparel industry - Part I: The contractual roots - By Mercedes Hering</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/corporate-ir-responsability-made-in-germany-event-report-by-mercedes-hering">Corporate (ir)responsability made in Germany – Event report - By Mercedes Hering</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/new-event-corporate-ir-responsibility-made-in-germany-27-november-3pm-cet">New Event! Corporate (ir)responsibility made in Germany - 27 November - 3pm (CET)</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/call-for-papers-delocalised-justice-the-transnationalisation-of-corporate-accountability-for-human-rights-violations-originating-in-africa-deadline-15-january-2021">Call for Papers - Delocalised Justice: The transnationalisation of corporate accountability for human rights violations originating in Africa - Deadline 15 January 2021</a></li><li><a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/post/kiobel-in-the-hague-holding-shell-accountable-in-dutch-courts-event-report-by-mercedes-hering">Kiobel in The Hague – Holding Shell Accountable in Dutch Courts - Event Report - By Mercedes Hering</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="end-line text-center"> <p class="text-muted credit">Copyright © 2024 <a href="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/">Doing Business Right Blog</a> </p> </div> </footer> <script src="/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/themes/Standard/js/bootstrap.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script> var links, index, link; links = document.getElementById('social-icons').getElementsByTagName('a'); for (index = 0; index < links.length; ++index) { link = links[index]; if (link.href == 'http://facebook.com/') { link.style.display = "none"; } if (link.href == 'http://twitter.com/') { link.style.display = "none"; } if (link.href == 'https://plus.google.com/') { link.style.display = "none"; } } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var Page_Validators = new Array(document.getElementById("ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00"), document.getElementById("ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01")); //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00 = document.all ? document.all["ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00"] : document.getElementById("ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00"); ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.controltovalidate = "ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_txtEmail"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.errormessage = "Please enter an e-mail address"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.display = "Dynamic"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.validationGroup = "newsletter"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.evaluationfunction = "RequiredFieldValidatorEvaluateIsValid"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl00.initialvalue = ""; var ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01 = document.all ? document.all["ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01"] : document.getElementById("ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01"); ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.controltovalidate = "ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_txtEmail"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.errormessage = "Please enter a valid e-mail"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.display = "Dynamic"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.validationGroup = "newsletter"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.evaluationfunction = "RegularExpressionValidatorEvaluateIsValid"; ctl00_widgetContainer5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_5ff66f9418254026b102e733e4fa8a88_ctl01.validationexpression = "\\w+([-+.\']\\w+)*@\\w+([-.]\\w+)*\\.\\w+([-.]\\w+)*"; //]]> </script> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="AF5F9457" /> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTVALIDATION" id="__EVENTVALIDATION" value="vGOo858lWAxEPyRce2RQlyVSWIm/ZxzFhMHn5AtfsE5qrV1hziQb3kBCQoSz2DqxSUnUEVIiZg9oPuN92Go7enG2npp2SUWE/hZxPC20NUkrT7XEgZqwZfA/oCqpd9PUOVCCBQ==" /> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-20864184-1', 'asser.nl'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var callBackFrameUrl='/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/WebResource.axd?d=beToSAE3vdsL1QUQUxjWdbqv_vsrVPNz5iJHVLj4a15-W6AG51mW0EakKiepjfuzRoi0AQ2&t=638628279619783110'; WebForm_InitCallback(); var Page_ValidationActive = false; if (typeof(ValidatorOnLoad) == "function") { ValidatorOnLoad(); } function ValidatorOnSubmit() { if (Page_ValidationActive) { return ValidatorCommonOnSubmit(); } else { return true; } } //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> $.backstretch("/DoingBusinessRight/Blog/pics/lawn2.jpg"); </script> </body> </html>