CPLR & RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre co-organised the 2021 Asia-Oceania Business and Human Rights Doctoral Symposium on Shaping the Business and Human Agenda of the Next Decade
On 3, 4 and 9 February 2021, the Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRIGHT) at College of Business and Law, RMIT University and the Public Law and Human Rights Forum (CPLR) at School of Law, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) organised the three-day online Symposium for nurturing the next generation of business and human rights doctoral scholars in Asia and Oceania. It provided an international learning platform for the participants in the fields of business ethics, business and human rights, corporate accountability and sustainable enterprises. Twenty-six PhD students from Asia-Oceania participated in this Symposium.
Dr. Shelley Marshall (left) and Dr. Surya Deva (right) delivered the welcome speech and introduced the purpose of this Symposium.
On the first day, the Symposium started with welcoming remarks by Dr. Shelley Marshall (BHRIGHT Director, College of Business and Law, RMIT University) and Dr. Surya Deva (CPLR Associate Director, School of Law, CityU). They first greeted and thanked all the doctoral participants for joining the Symposium. Dr. Shelley Marshall then explained the purpose and format of this Symposium to the participants.
The introduction was followed by the “Research presentations in groups with Commentators” session. During the first two days of the Symposium, PhD scholars were divided into small groups with commentators, presenting their existing research to peers and selected experts while receiving constructive feedback from them. On 3 February 2021, commentators included Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan (Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore), Dr. Joanna Kyriakakis (Faculty of Law, Monash University), Prof. Fiona Haines (School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne), and Dr. Jonathan Kolieb (Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University). On 4 February 2021, commentators included Dr. Kate Grosser (School of Management, RMIT University), Prof. Sang Soo Lee (School of Law, Sogang University), Dr. Surya Deva, Prof. Alan Lowe (School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University), and Prof. Jolyon Ford (Associate Dean (International) of ANU College of Law, Australian National University).
Dr. Andy Hall (left) and Ms. Poonsap Tulaphan (right) shared their working experience in promoting business and human rights with local organisations.
The second session was the parallel “Training Session” with selected experts. Training Session One was the “Using Social Media for influencing”. Dr. Andy Hall (Human Rights Defender and Migrant Worker Rights Specialist) shared his experience in linking research and practice, collaborating with local organisations in Thailand, and using social media to amplify research findings. Training Session Two was the “Collaboration and networking”. Ms. Poonsap Tulaphan (Manager, Foundation for Labour and Employment Promotion (HomeNet Thailand)) and Dr. Shelley Marshall shared their experiences in working with the government and public sector organisations, and bringing people together with different interests.
Dr. Surya Deva (left) and Dr. Usha Ramanathan (right) shared their views on the future of business and human rights.
The last session of the first day was “Exchange with Thought Leaders”. This open session attracted around 45 participants. Dr. Usha Ramanathan (Independent Lawyer and Legal Researcher) emphasised that social movement is important in the business and human rights field. Where COVID-19 showed technology would be the “master” in the future, people should pay attention to protect their privacy (in particular where smartphones have put under surveillance by states and companies). Dr. Surya Deva was worried that business and human rights might end up becoming a next type of corporate social responsibility (i.e., “the business of human rights” rather than “business and human rights”). Over the past 35 years, the progress in promoting business respect for human rights has been slow. Where the UN has endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, they are yet not having a real impact on the ground. Most states have failed in establishing and enforcing binding regulations in securing workers’ rights and regulating corporate conduct. In their views, everyone has a role to play in protecting human rights, and states bear the most responsibility in doing so. Where companies have used people’s data for business purposes and invaded privacy, states should be most culpable as well. It is the government’s duty to protect its people and regulate companies’ actions. If a government makes law for its people, the law should apply to the government itself as well.
Prof. Fiona McGaughey (left) and Prof. Justine Nolan (right) were giving the parallel training session to the PhD participants.
The second day of Symposium started with the parallel “Training Session”. Training Session Three was on “Publishing”. Prof. Fiona McGaughey (UWA Law School, University of Western Australia) shared her experience in publishing as a journal editor (Third Sector Review), co-editor of the Edward Elgar Research Handbook on Art and Law, and a former PhD student. Training Session Four was “Influencing Law and Policy Reform”. Prof. Justine Nolan (Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales) shared her experience in brining law and policy reforms. To get your voice heard and carry out reforms, it would be better to do it in groups rather than alone.
In the last session, “Exchange with Thought Leaders”, of the second day symposium, Ms. Kalpona Akter (Founder and Executive Director, Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity) shared her experience in campaigning for worker safety, fair wages and the right to join and organize in labour unions. Dr. Kate Macdonald (School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne) shared her experience in conducting research, and linking research and practice.
The last day of the symposium was started with the “Group Presentations on Problems” and “5-minute Pitches on Collaborative Articles with group” sessions. All the PhD students were given case studies and divided into small groups. They were required to prepare videos to make presentations (for understanding how to use social media to share research messages with people outside the academic world). These sessions aimed at developing participants’ soft skills.
The last session was “Final Exchange with Thought Leader”. Dr. James Fitzgerald (UNSW Law School, and Strategy Lead, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility) shared his experience working in the legal and academic fields, and collaborating with governments and different organisations.
On behalf of the CPLR and the BHRIGHT, Dr. Shelley Marshall thanked all PhD students, speakers and commentators for contributing to the symposium.
在2021年2月3、4和9日，皇家墨爾本理工大學商業與人權中心(BHRIGHT)以及香港城市大學法律學院公法與人權論壇(CPLR) 舉辦了為期3天的網上研討會，以培養亞洲和大洋洲的下一代商業與人權博士學者。是次研討會吸引了26名來自亞洲和大洋洲 (研究領域為商業道德，商業與人權，企業責任和可持續企業) 博士生，為他們提供一個國際學習平台。
在研討會第1天，Shelley Marshall副教授（皇家墨爾本理工大學BHRIGHT主任）和Surya Deva副教授（香港城市大學法律學院CPLR副主任）首先致歡迎辭，感謝參與的博士生。 Shelley Marshall副教授隨後向與博士生解釋本次研討會的目的和形式。
Shelley Marshall副教授 (左) 及Surya Deva 副教授(右) 致歡迎辭並介紹了本次研討會的目的。
本次研討會第1天第1節及第2天第2節為“小組研究介紹”，博士生被分成9個小組，向其他博士生及評論員介紹他們現有的研究成果，同時獲得他們的建設性反饋。此環節共邀9名學者擔任評論員，包括（排明不分先後）: Vasanthi Srinivasan教授（印度管理學院班加羅爾分校）、Joanna Kyriakakis高級講師（蒙納士大學法律學院）、Fiona Haines教授（墨爾本大學社會及政治科學學院）、Jonathan Kolieb高級講師（皇家墨爾本理工大學商業與法學研究院）、Kate Grosser高級講師（皇家墨爾本理工大學管理學院 ）、Sang Soo Lee教授（西江大學法律學院）、Surya Deva副教授、Alan Lowe教授（皇家墨爾本理工大學會計、信息系統與供應鏈學院），以及Jolyon Ford教授（澳洲國立大學法律學院副院長（國際事務））。
Andy Hall 博士(左) 及Poonsap Tulaphan 女士(右) 分享他們與當地組織共同促進與當地組織的商業與人權的經驗。
第1天第2節為“並行培訓課程”，分別由Andy Hall博士及Poonsap Tulaphan女士主持。在“使用社交媒體影響” 環節中，Andy Hall博士（人權及移民工人權利捍衛者）分享了他將研究實踐化、與泰國當地組織合作，以及利用社交媒體推廣和擴大研究結果方面的經驗。在另一個同時進行的“合作和網絡” 環節中，Poonsap Tulaphan女士（勞工和就業促進基金會（泰國HomeNet）經理）和Shelley Marshall副教授分享了她們與政府和公共部門組織合作的經驗，讓博士生了解如何將立場不同、利益關係不同的人凝聚在一起。
Surya Deva 副教授 (左) 和 Usha Ramanathan 博士(右) 分享他們對商業與人權未來發展的看法。
第1天的最後1節為“與思想領袖的交流”。此環節為本次網上研討會唯一的公開環節，吸引了約45人參與。Usha Ramanathan博士（獨立律師和法律研究員） 強調，社會運動在商業和人權領域非常重要。在新型冠狀病毒疫情下，反應出科技化及數碼化趨勢，市民應保護自己的隱私，尤其國家和企業已經通過智能手機監視人們的一舉一動。Surya Deva副教授擔心，商業與人權最終可能會成為下一個 “企業社會責任”（意味著“商業與人權”會變成“商業下的人權”）。在過去的35年，商業與人權發展緩慢。很多國家沒有建立和執行具有約束力的法規以保障工人的權利和規範企業行為，聯合國所提倡的《聯合國工商業與人權指導原則》未有得到廣泛應用。Usha Ramanathan博士和Surya Deva副教授均認為，每個人都可以在保護人權方面發揮作用，而國家在這一方面有最大責任。當企業出於商業目的監控及使用個人數據，侵犯用戶隱私，政府有責任保護其人民的權利並規範企業的行為。如果政府為保障商業與人權制定法律，政府也應遵守該法律。
Fiona McGaughey 教授 (左) 與Justine Nolan 教授 (右) 為參加者進行培訓。
研討會第2天第1節為“並行培訓課程”，分別由Fiona McGaughey教授及Justine Nolan教授主持。在“出版” 環節中，Fiona McGaughey教授（西澳大學法律學院）分享了她作為期刊編輯（Third Sector Review）、共同編輯（Edward Elgar Research Handbook on Art and Law）和前博士生的出版經驗。在另一個同時進行的“影響法律和政策改革” 環節中，Justine Nolan教授（新南威爾斯大學法律學院）分享了她在推動法律和政策改革方面的經驗，她認為在群體力量在推動改革非常重要 。
第2天最後1節為“與思想領袖的交流”。Kalpona Akter女士（孟加拉工人團結中心創辦人兼執行董事）分享了她在爭取工人安全、合理工資和參與工會的權利等方面的經驗。Kate Macdonald副教授（墨爾本大學社會及政治科學學院）則分享了她進行研究並將研究實踐化的經驗。
研討會最後1天以“小組案例研究報告”及“5分鐘小組演講”環節開始。所有的參加者被分成小組，利用視頻演示研究成果。這兩個環節旨在培養博士生的軟技巧，讓他們了解如何使用社交媒體分享研究成果，把信息傳遞給社會大眾。
研討會最後1節為“與思想領袖的交流”。James Fitzgerald先生（新南威爾斯大學法律學院副教授及澳洲企業責任中心戰略負責人）分享了他在法律和學術領域，以及與政府和不同組織合作的工作經驗。
最後，Shelley Marshall副教授代表CPLR和BHRIGHT感謝所有參與研討會的博士生、演講者和評論員為本次研討會做出貢獻。