CALL FOR PAPERS: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UN GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SPAIN

The Research Project DER 2010-18780 “The Responsibility of Spanish Transnational Corporations in the field of Human Rights: towards a framework of public policies” and the Research Action DER 2011-16006-E, under the coordination of Dr. Carmen Márquez Carrasco, Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the University of Seville are calling for papers for its international conference on 4, 5 and 6 November 2013 at the Law School of the University of Seville (Spain). Following the overarching theme of the conference The implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on business and human rights in Spain we invite papers addressing contemporary issues in the field of business and human rights which consider challenges in the domestic implementation of the global standards in this context.

Call for papers for workshop and publication on The Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Spain

4 to 6 November 2013, University of Seville (Spain), Law School
Website of the conference: http://www.congresoempresasddhh.com/
Deadline for submissions of abstracts: 31 July 2013

The Topic

Recent years have witnessed the crystallization of the social expectation that business corporations, and transnational companies in particular, bear the responsibility to respect the human rights of the individuals and communities that may be adversely affected by their operations and/or value chains.
The adoption of the UN Global Compact, ensued by the process leading towards the endorsement by the Human Rights Council of the Protect, Respect and Remedy United Nations Framework and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, have contributed to clarifying the scope of corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and its interaction with the State’s duty to protect those rights. The UN Guiding Principles reflect the up to date most authoritative expression of the existing international consensus on this issue-area, as reflected in the overall support to the principles by States, companies and international civil society actors at large. Moreover, the conceptual framework “Protect, Respect and Remedy” has contributed to a rapid development of international normative and policy standards, as illustrated by the revised ODCE Guidelines on Multinational Corporations; the revised IFC Sustainability Framework, or the ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility) Norm, among many others.
The UN Framework and Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are not a point of arrival, but a point of departure for future developments. In particular the UN framework does not provide an international implementation nor a simple monitoring mechanism. Companies cannot be forced to follow the principles, only encouraged to do so; it rests mainly on their willingness; the only way to go beyond voluntarism is for domestic law to step in. The Framework and Guiding Principles set an agenda for action that simultaneously requires the revision of State legislative and policy frameworks; the establishment or improvement of companies’ human rights policies and due diligence mechanisms, and the opening of new avenues for dialogue and accountability involving duty-bearers, rights-holders, and other stakeholders. In unfolding this complex agenda, there is a pressing need for both academic reflection and policy innovation.
The expansion of the Spanish foreign direct investment sector in recent decades and the ever-growing overseas presence of Spanish transnational companies has been coupled to increased civil society concern and pressure derived from the adverse human rights impact derived from these companies’ operations. Allegations of human rights violations have been particularly significant in relation to extractive industries and renewable energies in Latin America, including in relation to the rights of indigenous peoples. Yet, despite some important CSR initiatives in the past, the business and human rights agenda in Spain remains mostly uncharted.
The conference aims at identifying the implications of implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for the Spanish policy and legal framework.

The Call

The Conference welcomes the submission and presentation of papers falling within its five thematic lines. Following the overarching theme of the conference papers may consider (but are not limited to) the following topics:
- The interaction between the different instruments and standards on business and human rights
- Due diligence mechanisms of companies in human rights
- EU Implementation of the Guiding Principles
- National implementation of the Ruggie framework and Guiding Principles, with special consideration for the Spanish Action Plan and process
- Judicial and non judicial remedies
- The application of the Guiding Principles in conflict or high risk situations
- The application of the Guiding Principles in relation to vulnerable persons and groups


Submission of papers

- Abstracts/paper proposals of approximately 200 words should be sent to Prof. Dr. Carmen Márquez Carrasco, cmarque@us.es by 31 July 2013.
- Papers will be subject to peer review by members of the Scientific Committee of the Conference. Within ten days of your submission the Committee will inform you if your paper proposal has been accepted.
- The selected papers will be considered for presentation at the conference and for publication in an edited volume together with the papers of the panelists.
- For further information of the submissions, please consult http://www.congresoempresasddhh.com/.

Timeline

- Deadline for submission of abstracts: September 1, 2013.
- Deadline for submission of papers: September 30, 2013.

Contact

For more information please do not hesitate to contact: marta.congresoddhh@gmail.com.