Special Issue 2012

Business and Human Rights

The special issue will contribute to the discussion on responsibilities of businesses and states in light of the relationship between business and human rights. The EHRR welcomes articles and book reviews examining the relationship and responsibilities for its 2012 Special Issue.

Papers might reflect on

• The impact of business activities on national, regional and international human rights issues, such as water privatization, activities of pharmaceutical companies or the resource curse.
• State obligations to regulate and constrain business activities. Articles might assess the future application of the Guiding Principles submitted by UNSRSG John Ruggie in 2010.
• The impact of investment treaties and/or contracts on human rights (e.g. stabilization clauses).
• The legal structure of corporations and its potential impact on human rights (e.g. legal separation between parent companies and subsidiaries).
• Privatisation of public obligations of the welfare state (e.g. regarding housing, or security and policing services).
• The roles of international organisations in addressing human rights violations resulting from business activities.
• The rights and obligations of businesses, as assessed through cases at international and domestic courts (e.g. Financial Times v UK (ECtHR, 2010) or cases under the ATCA).
• Human rights in the face of globalising industry and growing interdependency between and among economic, social and environmental actors.
• The potential of the UN Convention Against Corruption to affect the impact of business on human rights

Submissions must follow the EHRR Submission Guidelines and the EHRR Style Sheet, please click the link provided for each. The issue is expected to be published in the autumn of 2012.

For enquiries about or submissions to this Special Issue, please email the Executive Editor for Special Issues at: editor@ehrr.org.

Deadlines for submission:

• Abstract submission: 1st February 2012
• Full paper submission: 29th February 2012

Open Call for Papers

The Essex Human Rights Review publishes original scholarly works addressing contemporary issues and debates in human rights. We encourage submissions from a broad range of disciplines, including law, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology and economics.

Contributions from academics, practitioners and postgraduate students are welcome. The EHRR accepts academic articles, conference reports, book reviews and edited transcripts of interviews with key figures in the field of human rights. We also encourage the submission of short notes and commentaries on recent developments, on-going cases, current initiatives and research relevant to human rights protection (1000 words maximum).

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and must be in electronic form. Articles submitted to the EHRR should be original, previously unpublished material and should not be under consideration for any other publication at the same time.

All submissions, including cover letters and other materials, should be in English. Submissions must adhere to the EHRR Submission Guidelines and the EHRR Style Sheet.