The Business and Human Rights Clinic - A Toolkit for Business Schools

Berit Knaak & Dorothée Baumann-Pauly

September 2024

The Toolkit (PDF) introduces the concept of business and human rights (BHR) clinics and is designed to support business schools in integrating human rights into their curricula through experiential learning. BHR clinics are well established in the law school context, in particular in the US. Launching the first BHR clinic at a business school in 2021, the Geneva School of Economics and Management has set a new standard for bridging theory and practice.

The toolkit draws on the lessons learned from four BHR clinics between 2021-24, offering a step-by-step guide to help business schools create their own BHR clinics. Working on a real-world business challenges, clinics provide students with hands-on experience in managing human rights issues in a corporate environment under the guidance of experienced academic supervisors. The challenges for the clinic can include addressing labor rights in global supply chains, addressing the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, or ensuring that businesses respect human rights in relation to security services or in conflict-affected regions.

With this toolkit, educators at business schools will gain insights into how to design, implement, and deliver on a BHR clinic. This resource aims to inspire collaboration between students, companies, and academic institutions, with the goal of shaping a new generation of business leaders who are equipped to navigate the growing legal and societal expectations around corporate responsibility for human rights.