UN launch for human rights book by CityU scholar

A book on business-related human rights by a law professor at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) was launched at the United Nations in Geneva on 2 December.

Human Rights Obligations of Business: Beyond the Corporate Responsibility to Respect? was co-edited by Dr Surya Deva, Associate Professor of the School of Law (SLW), and the launch was part of a panel discussion co-organised by the UN, the International Commission of Jurists, and SLW.

Other panelists included Mr Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and Mr Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations Office in Geneva. The book was published by Cambridge University Press.

“It is very satisfying to get a book published by Cambridge University Press. We went through a rigorous review process, but finally got a green light because of the cutting edge theme of the book,” said Dr Deva, who edited the book with Professor David Bilchitz from the Faculty of Law of University of Johannesburg.

The publication is based on a collection of revised papers first presented at a conference that Dr Deva co-organised in Johannesburg in January 2012.

In addition to the launch, Dr Deva shared his insights as a panel speaker at the Second Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva from 2 to 4 December on the role and relevance of corporate law in promoting socially responsible business.

The panelists included Professor David Bilchitz, and Professor Charlotte Villiers, University of Bristol Law School, among others.