The Law and Policy of Business and Human Rights

Welcome to join the course “The Law and Policy of Business and Human Rights”. The course explores how human rights law regulates business actors.

We also offer the course “Human Rights in Doing Business”, that explores how companies can understand, address and manage their human rights impact. We recommend taking both courses, as they provide complementary perspectives. Both are 2 ECTS micro-credential courses.

Business has a huge impact on peoples’ lives. Companies bring benefits to society through creating employment opportunities, technological advancement, tax revenues and investment. Business activities can also create risks and have an adverse impact on employees as well as the wider community in which the company acts. Well documented examples include for example work in harmful or dangerous environments, child labour, trafficking, and exploitation of migrants. At the same time all activities of companies are regulated by a set of laws and rules at the international, regional and domestic levels.

The aim of the module “The Law and Policy of Business and Human Rights” is to provide an insight into the protection of human rights in the dynamic regulatory environment in which corporations act. The evolving mix of regulatory measures in the field has raised questions on the nature and content of corporate responsibility, but also on the effective implementation of human rights into the corporate context and how violations may be claimed and enforced in practice. The module offers knowledge of existing legal and policy tools, and discusses the merits and demerits with various approaches.

Module content

The aim of the module is to give an overview and understanding of the emerging regulatory framework of business and human rights. The module will address international human rights law as well as soft law initiatives and corporate self-regulatory measures. The module will also cover the changing roles of various actors including the role of the corporation as active participant in the process of norm setting.

Schedule

Course duration: 13.1–27.01.2026.

Tuesday 13.01.2026 14:30–16:00 Astra 0065 Sven, Course kick-off + lecture.

Tuesday 20.01.2026 14:30–16:00 Astra 0065 Sven, lecture.

Tuesday 27.01.2026 14:30–16:30 Astra 0065 Sven, workshop (attendance required!).

ÅAU external students can participate online. Link will be provided to enrolled students.

Learning goals

After a completed course the learner can:

• Describe the regulatory field in which business is done and position international human rights law in this field. 
• Understand the conceptual and normative differences between corporate social responsibility and human rights responsibility.
• Utilize appropriate frameworks to analyze human rights impact on business operations.

Teaching methods and examination

Teaching methods: lectures + workshop.

Examination:

The examination consists of three parts, all of which need to be completed in order to pass the course:

• Participation in an online discussion
• Submission of key learning note
• Participation in groupwork during the workshop (physically or online)

Teachers and contact

Senior University Lecturer, Law: Viljam Engström (viljam.engstrom@abo.fi).

Project Coordinator, Institute for Human Rights: Elina Sagne-Ollikainen.

Enrol here

Payment is due upon registration. Your registration is binding and payments are non-refundable.

You might also be interested in: