SustainabilityFocusHumanRightsIn the last couple of years, more and more jurisdictions impose statutory rules on companies to procure compliance with certain ESG principles and human rights along their supply chains. For instance, the UK has enacted the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, and Germany will see the Supply Chain Protection Act come into effect in 2023. The session will review what risks and chances companies are facing when trying to implement ESG principles and/or to procure compliance with basic human rights along their chain, both on a compulsory and voluntary basis. The session will review risks of liability, effectiveness in promoting social justice, human rights, environmental responsibility and gender equality as well as discuss potential litigation scenarios arising from the announcement and reporting of ESG principles. At last, the session will try to reach a conclusion to what extent companies can be actors of “private enforcement” of human rights and ESG principles.

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS sessions marked as such are part of the IBA Annual Conference 2022 sustainability focus on Tuesday and Thursday, grouping sessions discussing different aspects of ESG and sustainability across the different legal fields.