8th Business and Human Rights Young Researchers Summit

10-12 August 2023

New York City

The Business and Human Rights (BHR) Young Researchers Summit provides an international platform for young scholars in the field of BHR. It brings together 10-15 excellent Ph.D. students and early post-doc researchers (cut-off is one year after graduation) who engage in research in the business and human rights field. The objective is for participants to present their research project in an interdisciplinary, collaborative workshop setting. Scholars from all disciplines are invited to apply including ethics, law, business and global affairs. Submissions from non-law disciplines are particularly welcome.

The focus is on paper development. Therefore, papers should outline research-in-progress, be single-authored, and must not be under consideration for publication at the time of presentation. We encourage submissions from all parts of the world and we strive for gender balance in our selection.

Lodging and meals will be provided for the duration of the Summit. Some travel stipends will be offered for participants travelling from outside of the United States and on an as needed basis.

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).

This 8th edition of the YRS takes place from 10-12 August 2023 in New York City.

The call for abstracts (PDF) is available.

Selected Participants

  • Alessio Salviato (Philosophy) - Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan
    To withdraw or not to withdraw. Respecting Human Rights in the Russo-Ukrainian War
  • Alexandre Mortelette (Political Science) - University of Luxembourg
    When civil society shapes human rights. Civil society participation in the elaboration of human rights standards: Case study of due diligence initiatives in Europe
  • Andrea Biswas Tortajada (Business Governance and Human Rights) - Geneva Graduate Institute
    Accountable-ish: Corporate human rights narratives and the (re)definition of business accountability
  • Bonheur Minzoto (Law) - University of Manchester
    For Right’s Sake! A Defence of Normative Damages in Corporate Human Rights Claims
  • Caroline Lichuma (Public International Law) - University of Göttingen
    Risky Business: Some TWAIL Reflections on the Sources of Information for Risk Analysis Under the German Supply Chain Law - Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG)
  • Catherine McDonald (Organization and Culture) - University of St Gallen
    Proactive Political Engagement on Business & Human Rights Issues Past and Present: A Case Study of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
  • Daniela Arantes Prata (Law) - London School of Economics
    Corporate environmental behaviour, regulation, and compliance: a Latin American perspective
  • Danilo Barbosa Garrido Alves (Law) - University of Oxford
    Multilateral Development Banks as corporate actors: rethinking accountability for human rights violations and environmental harm in development financing
  • Katherine McDonnell (Political Science and Sociology) - University of Galway
    Looking beyond power imbalances: applying concepts of discursive power to examine barriers to remedy through non-judicial grievance mechanisms
  • Nora Wolters (Business Ethics) - University of Hamburg
    Business, human rights and transnational governance – Putting corporate norm entrepreneurship to the test
  • Suzanne Varrall (International Law) - University of New South Wales
    Arms Companies, Accountability and Atrocity: the Business and Human Rights Context
  • Xiangyu Luo (Accounting and Finance) - University of Glasgow
    Accountability and issue politics: a case of shale gas extraction in a Chinese province
  • Zulay Buchs (Management) - University of Technology Sydney
    Cross-sector Partnerships to Address Forced Labour: Including Stakeholders’ Voices Towards Remedy and Empowerment

YRS Call for Abstracts

YRS Call for abstracts

Blog post: Empowering Voices (PDF)

First page of the blogpost including the title

Written by Andrea Biswas-Tortajada, Zulay Buchs, Catherine McDonald & Suzanne Varrall