Best Scholarly Article of 2020
Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: A Business Ethical Assessment
Authors: Alexander Kriebitz, Research Associate at the Chair of Business Ethics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany and Christoph Lütge, Chair Holder and Full Professor at the Chair of Business Ethics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
The article examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) within the larger business and human rights debate. The analysis of ethical impacts offers a timely interdisciplinary assessment that the selection committee feels could have a significant impact on the field. In addition, the importance of the topic and the relative lack of engagement with these two issues – AI and business and human rights – stands out. The authors were able to draw on the theoretical foundations of human rights while still ensuring the topic was accessible to readers, allowing readers to engage with these important issues in new ways. In short, the article captures what the 21st century approach to business and human rights could be.
Selection Committee (all members of the editorial board)
Jena Martin, West Virginia University, USA
Ken McPhail, University of Manchester, UK
Humberto Cantú Rivera, Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico
Best Developments in the Field Article of 2020
The First International Standard on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work
Author: Makbule Sahan, Legal Director at the International Trade Union Confederation, Belgium
The article describes the first international labour standard defining violence and harassment in the workplace. (ILO Convention No. 190, Recommendation No. 206) Well-written and timely, the piece has the potential to raise awareness of the urgent, often overlooked, gender dimension of labour and other human rights standards. The author connects the features of the new ILO standard with efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles, and highlights steps companies can take to combat violence and harassment throughout their operations and activities. By sending “a clear signal from the international community . . . acknowledging the pervasiveness and unacceptability of violence and harassment,” the new international standard can serve as the basis for further action by governments, businesses, and civil society.
Selection Committee (all members of the DiF Panel)
Anthony Ewing, Co-Director, Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum, Columbia University, USA
Juana Kweitel, Conectas Human Rights, Brazil
Ron Popper, Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, Switzerland
*****
Best Scholarly Article of 2019
Exploring Migrant Employees’ ‘Rights-Talk’ in the British Hospitality Sector
Author: Samentha Goethals, Assistant Professor of Business and Society, SKEMA Business School, Sophia Antipolis, France
This article by Samantha Goethals examines issues at the intersection of business and human rights from the perspective of migrant employees in the British hospitality sector. Goethals adopts an innovative and interdisciplinary lens to introduce readers to the concept of ‘rights-talk’ as an analytical tool to explore the use of human rights language in the workplace. This bottom-up perspective provides unique insights into the use and relevance of the language of rights in employment and will make a valuable contribution to business and human rights literature.
Selection Committee (all members of the editorial board)
Justine Nolan, University of New South Wales, USA
David Hess, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, USA
Björn Fasterling, EDHEC Business School, France
Best Developments in the Field Article of 2019
Authors: Joana Nabuco, Researcher at the Business and Human Rights Centre at FGV, formerly Development and Socio-Envirmmental Rights Officer, Conectas Human Rights (Brazil)
Leticia Aleixo, Supervising Attorney, Human Rights Clinic, Federal University of Minais Getais
This article examines an unexplored but crucial area of remedy related to administration and implementation of large-scale remediation programs. The article shows how securing a commitment to remedy is not the end of the road as there can be many challenges in the actual administration and implementation of compensation and other reparation measures. It is very useful for other cases of large-scale industrial/environmental disasters. The article is clear and strong as a case-study on the benefits of meaningful community consultation from which other companies with similar situations should be able to learn. It was important at the time of writing but also now as companies are grappling with how to address remediation in times of crisis
Selection Committee (all members of the DiF Panel)
Gabriela Quijano, Business and Human Rights Consultant, UK
Salil Tripathi, Institute for Human Rights and Business, UK
Vanessa Zimmerman, Pillar Two, Australia