The NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment
The NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment (NOVA BHRE) is an innovative and multidisciplinary academic centre within the Nova School of Law. It was founded by its current director Claire Bright, and is supported by a team composed of experts both from NOVA School of Law and NOVA School of Business & Economics (NOVA SBE) as well as external experts from all around the world.
The main goal of the NOVA BHRE is to foster responsible business conduct that upholds respect for human rights, decent work and environmental standards throughout their entire global value chains, thereby also advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The centre is focused on applied academic work, which puts the latest academic research directly into practice, and clarifies the role of law in corporate sustainability.
News
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NOVA BHRE Newsletter September 2025
Upcoming events, activities, publications and blog posts.
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“Beyond Just Transition: Advancing Responsible and Rights-Based Business Practices in the Energy and Extractives Sector”
Upcoming events, activities, publications and blog posts.
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NOVA BHRE Newsletter July 2025
Upcoming events, activities, publications and blog posts.
Our latest blog post
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Ponto de Contato Nacional da França recomenda à SHEIN reformar o modelo de “ultra-fast fashion”
Human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) is increasingly becoming utilized by companies to address their regulatory obligations to avoid importing products that have ties to forced labor arising from regulations such as: Section 307 of the US Tariff Act; the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act; and the EU Forced Labor Ban.
More importantly, HREDD is fast becoming a regulatory requirement by virtue of regulations such as: the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act; the French Duty of Vigilance; the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD); and other similar laws on the verge of being adopted in Europe and elsewhere.
While there has been ample written about undertaking effective HREDD, much less discussion took place as to how to resolve the disputes which will inevitably arise once human rights and/or environmental issues are uncovered.