What does meaningful Human Rights Due Diligence look like in practice? Join a hands-on workshop tackling real challenges beyond “tick-the-box” compliance. Explore how the UNGPs’ risk-based approach compares to the legal compliance requirements of the CSDDD.
Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) is rapidly evolving from a voluntary standard into a legal obligation under frameworks such as the CSDDD. This workshop at Erasmus University Rotterdam explores how HRDD can remain a meaningful, risk-based process, rather than a purely compliance-driven exercise.
What You Will Gain:
- Practical insights into HRDD processes
- Engage with real-world case studies
- Learn from leading experts
- Exchange perspectives across academia and practice.
What You Will Explore:
- The shift from UNGPs to mandatory HRDD frameworks (CSDDD) and the interactions between these two frameworks
- Risks of a “tick-the-box” compliance approach
- Practical challenges across global value chains
- How to implement effective, risk-based due diligence
Format & Method
The workshop is structured as a full-day (in-person only), interactive programme combining expert insights and hands-on engagement:
The programme includes:
- Morning: Keynote presentations and thematic panel sessions on upstream and downstream HRDD challenges
- lunch
- Afternoon: Interactive workshop based on two case studies (upstream & downstream), working in mixed groups of researchers and practitioners
- Upstream: forced labour in the garment sector
- Downstream: complicity through product use in conflict-affected areas
- Closing: Roundtable discussion to synthesise key insights
- Post-event drinks for speakers and participants
Confirmed Speakers & Panellists:
- Andrea Shemberg
- Nadia Bernaz
- Daniel Schönfelder
- Céline da Graça Pires
- Chiara Macchi
- James Harrison
- Rachel Cowburn-Walden
25 spots available:
- Researchers (50%)
- Practitioners (50%)
Deadline for application: 5 May
- Participation free of charge
- Catering (lunch & refreshments) is provided
- Post-event drinks included
Limited financial assistance for travel/accommodation may be available
Event of the BHR Working Group of the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research
The workshop is supported by the small grants scheme of the research initiative on Rebalancing Public & Private Interests and Erasmus Center of Empirical Legal Studies of Erasmus School of Law and the sector plan for law funding of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research
Event organisers: Silvia Ciacchi (EUR), Eva Meyermans Spelmans (EUR), and Nicky Touw (VU)
Registration Form
- More information
Interested? Further information or registration can be sent to: meyermansspelmans@law.eur.nl
