Business and Human Rights Clinic
The Business and Human Rights Clinic seeks to contribute to cases and projects that advance human rights, to address the consequences of the global economy on human rights (specifically on economic and social rights) and to engage in corporate accountability efforts that address the human rights impact of business activities.
In the Business and Human Rights Clinic, students are given the opportunity to work on cases and projects that address the impact the globalized economy may have, or has had, on human rights. In the current global economy, many corporations operate transnationally. As a consequence, clinic projects are cross boundary: they often touch on different jurisdictions and require an interdisciplinary approach.
The Business and Human Rights Clinic’s projects see to complex legal questions with a public interest character. Students analyse corporate activities against, among others, the existing business and human rights framework to protect, respect and promote.
In the clinic, a critical approach is taken towards the law and the current economic system, addressing the power balance between corporations and workers, communities and the environment. Students get to work in a collaborative manner with individuals, communities and organizations, based on a trust relationship.
“My clinic experience at the UVA taught me practical skills such as drafting a project methodology with a timeline, organizational skills like managing short-term deadlines with long-term objectives as well as communication skills by receiving and providing feedback to my teammates, all very useful for my future career.”
Clinical work
During the clinic, you will combine theory and practice. You will conduct legal research and provide pro bono legal advice to private individuals, non-governmental organizations, and international governmental organizations. Clinical work consists of projects undertaken for, amongst others, clients and non-governmental organizations. Students work in teams of 3-5 students under close supervision of staff members. Part of the clinical work are regular meetings between the student, the supervisor and the clients. Emphasis is placed on professionalism, high quality work, teamwork, and respect for confidentiality.
“The feedback and advice helped me improve my research skills and gave me a lot of confidence for my future career. The law clinic experience was definitely a key experience for obtaining my current trainee position and I am very grateful for it.”
Upcoming projects
In the second semester of the academic year 2024/2025, the Business and Human Rights Clinic will work on multiple projects. In a project for Amnesty International, students will do research into the possibilities for host state litigation, to create an insight for future litigation.
In a project for Clean Clothes Campaign & Global Justice Campaign students will explore the possibilities for holding fashion brands liable for the harmful impacts of heat stress on workers in their supply chains under the upcoming new legislation following the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Knowledge of Dutch law is an asset for this project.
In a third project, for Frontline Defenders, students will explore the possibility of filing a complaint under the OECD Guidelines before the Dutch National Contact Point against companies that are importing, processing, exporting and using palm oil linked to severe human rights violations in the producing country. The goal of the project is to assess if an NCP complaint against companies based in the Netherlands is a viable option to be pursued by the client. For this, students will, amongst other tasks: conduct factual research on the human rights violations; research and analyse the palm oil supply chain; map the relevant dutch-based actors and their linkage with the violations occurring in the palm cultivation sector and, ultimately, advise the client about the feasibility of an NCP complaint. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset for this project.
Prior projects
- Research for Migrant Justice into the judicial and non-judicial strategies in the Netherlands regarding human rights violations in the supply chain of Ahold Delhaize.
- A project for SOMO (the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) where research was carried out into the possibility of developing an extensive regulatory framework explicitly concerning the auditing & certification industry.
- Research into structural discrimination of Muslims by banks and financial institutions. For more information on the topic, see the following Dutch news item.
- Working on a draft complaint to be filed before the OECD National Contact Point in the Netherlands regarding damages linked to multinational corporations in Brazil.
- Since 2021, students have worked on projects in conjunction with the Clínica Jurídica en Derecho y Territorio of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. One of these projects entailed factual and legal research into the activities of a multinational corporation in Latin America causing environmental damage. Another involved researching the legal responsibility of a multinational for partial responsibility in the commission of war crimes. In the context of this transnational cooperation an amicus curiae brief regarding fracking pilot projects in Colombia was presented before the Colombian Constitutional Court. Click here for more information about the case and the amicus curiae brief.
- Research for a trade union into the application of labour laws to unfair practices in companies' supply chains.
- Researching the possibilities of legally challenging arms exports to countries engaged in armed conflict and involved in the commission of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. In this project students worked together with investigative journalists.
- In the academic year 2019-2020, students from the Business and Human Rights Clinic have been conducting a multi-jurisdictional research on the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in Europe. SLAPPs are used by companies or private individuals to sue public watchdogs as a means of legal intimidation. For this project, students have been conducting numerous interviews with lawyers, activists and civil society organizations throughout Europe, as well as analysing the applicable legal framework.
- The assisting of two NGOs on a case regarding two Dutch corporations that traded goods derived from the occupied territory of Western-Sahara. The clinic analysed the legal implications of the trade. To provide a comprehensive legal analysis the students researched the law on occupied territories, provisions of International Humanitarian Law, Dutch civil procedural law and EU consumer protection laws.
Publications:
Post-sale services in the arms trade: overlooked and underregulated?
State actors in the post-sale arms industry: Are the regulated doing the regulating? hallo
Opportunity for internship at the Asser Institute
The Asser Institute offers students who are enrolled in the Business and Human Rights Clinic the opportunity to intern at the Institute. The internship could be combined with thesis writing. Asser will assess Business and Human Rights Clinic enrollment as an asset in the selection process for the internships. Internships start each year in February and enrollment at the University during the internship is required. Credits can be obtained if certain conditions are met. Read more about these conditions.
Contact us
For any questions regarding the Business and Human Rights Clinic, please email us or contact Carolijn Terwindt.
Requirements, eligibility and application
The Business and Human Rights Clinic is in principle open for all Master's students of the Amsterdam Law School.
Further requirements are:
- You are available at least 10 hours per week
- You have a strong work ethic, excellent communication and English-writing skills, and a genuine interest in business and human rights and human rights law.
Check out the specifics on how to apply.
Contact former clinic students
If you're interested in more hands-on information about the clinic and experiences from former Business and Human Rights Clinic students, you can contact any of the following former students. Send us an e-mail and we will provide you with the relevant contact information.