Expert meeting on Business and Human Rights Arbitration

Since their launch in 2019 at the Peace Palace the Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration (Hague Rules) have been acknowledged as a possible valuable contribution to the Remedy Pilar of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and served already as model for a range of sectoral business and human rights arbitration rules. 

On 12 April 2022, the Asser Institute will host an expert meeting on business and human rights arbitration convened with the support of the Working Group on the Hague Rules (WG).

The main objective of the meeting is to bring together a wide range of key stakeholders to discuss the potential of arbitration in business and human rights disputes in a variety of constellations such as ad hoc direct business-rightsholder issues or in a contractual relations context, the way in which such arbitration would need to be structured in terms of process and institutions, as well as the mechanisms that would incentivize both corporations and rightsholders to have recourse to it. 

The meeting will be divided in three sessions. In the first, the WG will provide a brief introduction to the background, drafting process and salient aspects of the Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration. In the second session, a diverse set of invited speakers will share short reflections on the advantages and drawbacks of arbitration in the BHR context. In the final round-table, the discussion will be focused on the implementation of the Hague Rules, starting with a presentation from the WG members on the main achievements and challenges so far. It will be followed by an exchange of views with the invited participants on the future potential of the Hague Rules and their limits.

Agenda of the meeting

• 13:00 – Opening and introductions
• 13:15 – The Hague Rules, background, drafting process and salient issues (Prof. Martijn Scheltema, Prof. Jan Eijsbouts)
• 13.45 – Round-table 1 – Business and Human Rights Arbitration: Pros and Cons
• 15.15  Coffee Break
• 15:45 – Round-table 2 – Towards the implementation of the Hague Rules: Opportunities and Challenges

If you wish to join the meeting, please send an email to Dr. Antoine Duval (a.duval@asser.nl) explaining your motivation. External attendance will be in-person only.