The Centre

The NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment

NOVA BHRE Centre

A multidisciplinary academic centre within NOVA School of Law

The NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment (NOVA BHRE) is a multidisciplinary academic centre within NOVA School of Law. It was founded by its current director Claire Bright, and is supported by a team composed of students (undergraduates and postgraduates), researchers (PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers) as well as renown national and international experts. Its executive committee is composed of Claire Bright, Laura Iñigo Álvarez (Scientific Coordinator of the Centre) and Ana Duarte (Research Associate).

The main goal of the NOVA BHRE is to contribute to fostering responsible and Sustainable business conduct in Portugal, Europe and beyond that upholds respect for human rights, decent work and environmental standards throughout global value chains. In this way it aims to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals which ‘seek to realize the human rights of all’.

Research Topics

At NOVA BHRE

Human Rights Due Diligence

The researchers involved in this research line are exploring the origins and meaning of the concept of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) as well as the various legislative and case-law developments pertaining to it and their implications for businesses.

Environmental Due Diligence

The researchers involved in this research line are analysing the concept of Environment Due Diligence as well as the various legislative and case-law developments pertaining to it and their implications for businesses.

Climate Change and the Just Transition

The researchers involved in this research line are studying the corporate responsibility in relation to climate change, the meaning and implications of climate change due diligence as well as the various legislative and case-law developments pertaining to it and their implications for businesses.

Children Rights and Business

The researchers involved in this research line are exploring the impact that business activities can have on the full spectrum of children’s rights and how businesses can implement the Children’s Rights and Business Principles developed by UNICEF, the UN Global Compact and Save the Children.

Business, Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence

The researchers involved in this research line are studying how artificial intelligence can affect human rights, the responsibility of business enterprises in the tech industry and the implications of adopting a human rights-based approach to AI.

Decent Work

The researchers involved in this research line are exploring the corporate responsibility in relation to decent work, the meaning and implications of due diligence in this respect as well as the various legislative and case-law developments pertaining to it and their implications for businesses.

Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The researchers involved in this research line are analysing how business enterprises can ensure that discrimination does not occur within their own operations and value chains and that equal opportunities and diversity are fully embedded in all relevant business operations and processes.

Access to Remedy

The researchers involved in this research line are exploring the barriers to accessing justice and remedy faced by claimants when attempting to seek redress in concrete cases and potential ways of overcoming them.

Business and Human Rights in Conflict-Affected Areas

The researchers involved in this research line are analysing what it means for businesses to respect human rights whilst having operations or business relationships in conflict-affected areas and its implications in terms of the human rights due diligence that this requires.

The main pillars of the activities of the NOVA BHRE are threefold:

To conduct research with an emphasis on applied academic work which puts the latest academic research directly into practice. In particular, the team seeks to clarify the role of law in corporate sustainability and analyse the effectiveness of the various legal frameworks in prompting sustainable due diligence practices by companies. The work of various members of the NOVA BHRE has directly contributed to legislative developments in the domestic and European level.

To promote awareness and capacity building around key issues of sustainable business conduct through the organisation of events (conferences, practical workshops and webinars) and podcasts. It also aims to train the next generation of sustainable business leaders and legal practitioners though the development of courses and trainings in the field which include this courses:

Show courses

  • Business, Human Rights and the Environment;
  • Climate and the Just Transition;
  • Regional Approaches and Developments on Business and Human Rights;
  • The new track on ESG Risk Management and Corporate Sustainability within the Master’s Degree in Law and Management jointly taught by NOVA School of Law and NOVA Business School (NOVA SBE).

To serve as a platform of exchange, facilitating strong connections, exchanges and collaborations between multistakeholders including academics from various disciplines and institutions, companies, NGOs, legal practitioners, government officials, trade-unions, investors, business organisations as well as European and international organisations.

Facts

The NOVA BHRE Centre by Numbers

33

Academics involved

Lisbon,
Portugal

Located

28

Students

18

Nationalities