The NOVA BHRE was pleased to contribute to the Master of Arts in Human Rights and Conflict Management at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa on 28-29th of May 2026 by delivering a course on Business and Human Rights. Our Director, Claire Bright, guided students through the evolution of the Business and Human Rights field, the development and significance of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and contemporary debates on corporate accountability and access to remedy.
The course examined the historical efforts to regulate business-related human rights impacts. Students then explored the UNGPs’ three-pillar structure (Protect, Respect and Remedy) and discussed recent developments in mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, including initiatives at the French, German and European levels as well as outside of Europe. The final session focused on access to justice for victims of corporate human rights abuses, analysing key case law on parent company and supply chain liability across different jurisdictions.
