Presentations can be downloaded after the conference from the 'Programme' subfolder to the left

Topic
The overall topic of this conference is the possible directions of the future interrelationship between CSR, Business Responsibilities for Human Rights, and regulatory approaches under and/or informed by international law. The Final Report of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights and Business (SRSG, Professor John Ruggie), submitted to the UN Human Rights Commission in June 2008, forms a point of departure, with the understanding that the Report and the extensive consultative process leading to it provide a detailed and well researched basis and recommendations for future approaches, but that these may also be open to discussion. It is understood that CSR and Business Responsibilities for Human Rights are not necessarily the same, but that the two influence each other in several ways.

Format
The conference is an opportunity for researchers and practitioners within law and business to get together and share views on the future directions, challenges and potential of the voluntary or mandatory character of CSR and Business Responsibilities for Human Rights, and international law as a possible avenue for informing and regulating both. The conference is a two day conference and will include plenary sessions as well as thematic track sessions.

Key note speakers
Mads Øvlisen, member of the board of the UN Global Compact and former CEO of Novo Nordisk (confirmed); and Chris Sidoti, former director, ISHR (International Service for Human Rights), Geneva and former Human Rights Commissioner of Australia (confirmed)

For inspirational reading and background information concerning the SRSG mandate, process and other developments concerning human rights responsibilities of business, please consult the following websites:

UN Special Representative on business & human rights

UN Special Representative on business & human rights - John Ruggie report

The conference will take place at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, with some sessions at the nearby campus of Copenhagen Business School (CBS).