Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights
The Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights (GCBHR) is the first Human Rights Center at a business school in Europe.
The Center works with companies to identify business models that enable profits and principles to co-exist. We offer companies a safe space to discuss pressing human rights challenges and train future leaders to develop and integrate human rights standards in their respective industry contexts.
The GCBHR collaborates with the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights to promote human rights in business education through the Global Network of Business Schools for Human Rights.
The GCBHR is supported by an Advisory Council, whose members are listed here.
UPCOMING events
Tuesday 2 february 2021
Philanthropy Lunch: How can philanthropy support companies to advance human rights?
What is the role of philanthropy for advancing human rights in business? Prof. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, François Zimeray (Lawyer) and Dr. Giulia Neri-Castracane (Lecturer and Academic fellow of the Geneva Centre for Philanthropy) debate this issue at the University of Geneva's philanthropy lunch. This panel discussion is moderated by Prof. Henry Peter, Head of the GCP.
- Time: 12 am - 2 pm
- Location: Uni Dufour, Rue Général-Dufour 24, Geneva
Invite-only
22-23 Avril 2021
Business and Human Rights Young Researchers Summit
The Young Researchers Summit provides an international platform for young scholars in the field of business and human rights.
The summit is hosted by the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights, the Institute for Business Ethics at the University of St.Gallen, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, and the Business and Human Rights Journal (BHRJ).
The inaugural Young Researchers Summit took place in 2016 in St.Gallen. This 6th edition will take place from 22-33 April 2021 in Geneva.
The call for abstracts is accessible here.
28-31 octobER 2021
TransAtlantic Business Ethics Conference
The 11th TransAtlantic Business Ethics Conference (TABEC) is hosted by the Center for Corporate Governance & Business Ethics of the University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication, on the theme of "The Political Responsibility of Business".
TABEC brings together some of the finest business ethics scholars from North America and Europe to share their ideas on some of the pressing issues in business ethics of our times. The goal of the conference is to encourage dialogue between North American and European scholars in business ethics on topics of current interest and debate in a small, informal but highly efficient setting.
Dorothée Baumann-Pauly speaks at this edition which is held in Vienna.
Invite-only.
PAST events
Thursday 10 DECEMBER - HUman rights day
Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains
It is now broadly acknowledged that companies have a responsibility to respect human rights by conducting human rights due diligence. Yet in practice a number of challenges remain. What does it mean concretely, to implement human rights due diligence in daily business operations and throughout global value chains?
This event is an opportunity to discuss these issues with business practitioners as well as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights on Human Rights Day. It is jointly organised by the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights (GCBHR), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
For more information and to register, please click here.
- Time: 2 - 3:30 pm
- Online
Monday 16 November
Global Business School Network Meeting
The NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, The Business & Human Rights Catalyst at Alliance Manchester Business School and the Geneva School of Economics and Management co-host a meeting that brings together business school scholars interested in expanding human rights teaching and research in business schools. This Fourth Annual Meeting of the Global Network of Business Schools for Human Rights will take place on November 16th 2020.
- Time: 3 – 4:30 pm
- Online
Tuesday 10 November
Responsible business conduct: what challenges lie ahead?
There's a public debate around stricter due diligence duties for international companies and high-risk SMEs, designed to eliminate negative impacts on human rights and the environment in their global supply chains. The Responsible Business Initiative and the counterproposal offer two different paths towards this shared goal. Voters will decide ant the end of November.
This event organized by PwC is an opportunity to raise several topics that are addressed on this theme by Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Anna Bulzomi, Guy Hogge and Gerald Pachoud.
For more information and to register, please click here.
- Time: 10 - 10:45 am
- Online
THUrsday 29 october
Sustainable Finance Forum
The Third day of the Sustainable Finance Forum 2020 focuses on the topic "Financing the transition towards a sustainable future".
On that occasion, Dorothée Baumann-Pauly launches the results of a study and survey that establishes baseline data of the implementation of human rights in financial institutions.
Registration for this event can be done at the bottom of this page.
- Time: 11 - 12:30 am
- Online
Monday 26 october
University Latsis Prizes 2020 - Conference
Mariana Mazzucato, Professor at University College London (UCL) and author of "The Value of Everything" gives a conference on "Rethinking Value Creation for a Post-Covid Recovery that is Inclusive and Sustainable".
This conference is moderated by Prof. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly.
More information is available on this page.
- Time: 6 - 7 pm
- Online
Thursday 1 October
Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence
The online event is jointly organised by Geneva Centre for Business and Human Rights (GCBHR), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Its purpose is to discuss the business aspects and process of human rights due diligence and improve the understanding of its practical implementation for companies that operate in different industry contexts and in light of a changing regulatory landscape.
- Time: 4 pm
- Online
The recording of this event is accessible here.
Friday 19 June
Oxford University - R:ETRO Seminar Series
Dorothée Baumann-Pauly is the guest speaker for a seminar being hosted by Alan Morrison, Professor of Law and Finance, and Rita Mota, Intesa Sanpaolo Research Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, as part of the R:ETRO seminar series - Reputation: Ethics, Trust, and Relationships. The title of her presentation is "Beyond Covid-19: The case for human rights in business":
The Covid-19 crisis illustrates that no actor alone can effectively address global challenges. Corporations play a profound role to support governments and a recent update of the Edelman Trust Barometer even showed that employers are trusted more than governments. This puts a particular responsibility on the private sector. How companies deal with the crisis will determine their business sustainability. In this talk I will make the case that companies with a business model that integrates respect for human rights are more robustly prepared to respond and manage the crisis.
WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE
Right On - Online events series
"Right On" is a new digital initiative that keep the human rights dialogue going during these COVID-19 times.
This web chat titled "Business, the economy, and livelihoods in a COVID-19 world" discusses the human rights responsibilities of businesses and governments during global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the responsibilities of governments and businesses to provide a safe working environment before employees return? Have some businesses been taking advantage of furlough schemes to cut costs? Are governments doing enough to ensure that economic recovery strategies are ‘rights-based’ and will allow states to ‘build back better’ and construct better and more socially-just societies? Here are some of the questions that are raised during this discussion moderated by Marc Limon (Universal Rights Group), which includes Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Michael K. Addo (London Global Gateway), Jean-Yves Art (Microsoft) and Elin Wrzoncki (Danish Institute for Human Rights).
- Time: 3 pm
- Online seminar
To register, please follow this link.
Tuesday 5 MAY
John D. Gerhart Center Webinar on Business and Human Rights
Session #4 for GC webinar Series features Prof. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly. The title of this session is "Post-COVID-19: Managing business sustainability with human rights":
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments are suffering. In many companies, CSR departments lack funding and top-level support. During Covid-19, some CSR departments have been drastically reduced or shut down altogether. This shows that CSR has remained an organizational appendix that can be cut off easily in times of crisis. At the same time, companies increasingly realize that they are expected to step up to support governments to effectively address global challenges. Yet, company responses to Covid-19 vary greatly, from well-intentioned charity to strategic 'coronawashing'.
Post-pandemic, these company responses will come under scrutiny. Companies that had already aligned their business model to integrate respect for human rights into core business operations will be better positioned to retain the trust of consumers, business partners, and suppliers in their supply chains. Companies with embedded Business and Human Rights (BHR) are not engaging in human rights only because they consider respect for human rights as a moral imperative but because they present a compelling long-term business rationale, particularly in a post Covid-19 world that asks for more than a modification of business as usual.
- Time: 2 pm - 3 pm
- Online
The video of this webinar is available here.
The powerpoint presentation is available here.
2-3 Avril
Business and Human Rights Young Researchers Summit
Le Young Researchers Summit provides an international platform for young scholars in the field of business and human rights.
The summit is hosted by the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights, the Institute for Business Ethics at the University of St.Gallen, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, and the Business and Human Rights Journal (BHRJ).
The inaugural Young Researchers Summit took place in 2016 in St.Gallen. This 5th edition will take place from 2-3 April 2020 in Geneva.
The welcome package is accessible here.
26-27 March
Online Technologies and Respect for Human Rights in Conflict and High-Risk Areas
- Time: 8 am - 5 pm
- Online workshop
Saturday 14 March
FIFDH 2.0 Panel Discussion - Economy and Climate: Two Irreconcilable Realities?
- Time: 6:30 pm
- Location: Espace Pitoëff - Théâtre (Rue de Carouge 52, Geneva)
Sold out
Video accessible here.
10-11 March
FIFDH Hackathon - CANCELLED
Tuesday 3 March
Afterwork in Geneva - CANCELLED
- Time: 6:00 pm
- Location: Le Scandale, Rue de Lausanne 24, 1201 Geneva
Tuesday 10 december
Human Rights in the Finance Industry
What is the human rights component of sustainable finance? We would like to invite you on International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10th, 2019, to discuss the role of human rights for the finance industry. The event is organized by the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights at the Geneva School of Economics and Management (UNIGE) in collaboration with the University of Sydney and Sustainable Finance Geneva.
We will introduce our research project on the development of human rights benchmarks for the finance industry, and look forward to a conversation with you about human rights practices and challenges in this industry in Switzerland. A cocktail reception will follow.
Please find the invitation here.
For more information about the event, the research project, and the research team please click here.
- Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
- Location: Jura Room, Warwick Hotel, Rue de Lausanne 14, 1201 Genève
Monday 25 November
Global Business School Network for Human Rights
The NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, The Business & Human Rights Catalyst at Alliance Manchester Business School and the Geneva School of Economics and Management co-host a meeting that brings together business school scholars interested in expanding human rights teaching and research in business schools. This Third Annual Meeting of the Global Network of Business Schools for Human Rights will take place on November 25th 2019.
- Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Location: World Meteorology Organization (WMO), 7bis Avenue de la Paix, Geneva
Monday 25 November
Launch of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights
The Geneva School of Economics and Management organizes a Cocktail Reception to launch the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights.
- Time: 6pm to 7.30pm
- Location: Uni Dufour (Ground floor), Rue Général-Dufour 24, Geneva
THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Book Launch and Expert Panel on Modern Slavery
Justine Nolan, co-author of the book Addressing Modern Slavery (2019) discusses business strategies to identify, analyze and resolve risks for modern slavery in global supply chains.
The expert panel is moderated by Professor Dorothée Baumann-Pauly and it will include Professor Justine Nolan (UNSW), Cindy Berman (ETI), Auret van Heerden (NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights) and Luiz Antonio Machado (ILO).
This event is organized in collaboration with the Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Geneva Academy).
- Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm
- Location: Uni Mail, Third Floor, Room 3250
The full video of this event is available here.
Wednesday 13 November
Speed-Debating: Human Rights in everyday life
As part of the Human Rights Week organized by the University of Geneva, Dorothée Baumann-Pauly is one of the speakers at a speed-debating on the theme of human rights in everyday life, with the cartoonist Barrigue, Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed and Yusra Suedi.
- Time: 6:30pm
- Location: Uni Mail, Room MS 180
Monday 11 November
Opening Panel of the Human Rights Week
Dorothée Baumann-Pauly participates in the opening panel of the Human Rights Week on the theme of the tension between duty and morality, alongside Jean Ziegler, Carola Rackete and Darius Rochebin.
- Time: 6:30pm
- Location: Uni Dufour, Room U 600
The full video of this event is accessible here.
More information about all events available from Pascale Chavaz ()
