Upcoming  blog symposium co-organised by NOVA BHRE and OECD Watch

2023 is a momentous year in the corporate accountability world. In June, not only did the OECD adopt key revisions to the newly renamed ‘OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct’ (OECD Guidelines), but the European Parliament also agreed on its position on the proposed directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (‘CSDDD’). In recognition of these important events, NOVA BHRE and OECD Watch are co-hosting a blog symposium focused on the updated OECD Guidelines in the context of the current corporate accountability landscape.

Aims

The symposium is intended to facilitate a platform for knowledge exchange and discussion on the updated Guidelines and its connection to – and coherence with – legislative initiatives focused on corporate accountability across the globe.

The following key issues will be explored:

  • Analysis of the updated OECD Guidelines, including any improved or notable new text.
  • Interaction and alignment between the updated OECD Guidelines and the EU CSDDD.
  • Interaction and alignment between the updated OECD Guidelines and other corporate accountability (due diligence) initiatives across the globe, including gaps in the OECD Guidelines and/or CSDDD compared to these initiatives
  • The role, function, and strengths and weaknesses of NCPs.

Logistics

This blog symposium will occur throughout October-November 2023. Academics and civil society actors in the business and human rights field have been invited to contribute to the symposium. Blogs will be published on both NOVA BHRE’s blog platform and OECD Watch’s website.

Organisers

The blog symposium is co-organised by NOVA School of Law and OECD Watch.

NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment is a multidisciplinary academic centre within NOVA School of Law. The centre has made significant interdisciplinary research contributions regarding business and human rights initiatives, which aims to cultivate conscientious business practices that prioritise the protection of human rights, decent work and environmental integrity across worldwide value chains.

OECD Watch is a global network comprising of more than 130 civil society network organisations in over 50 countries. OECD Watch works towards the implementation and effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines through strengthened global coordination, advocacy with OECD member states and international institutions, and by providing case support and capacity building to civil society.