Introduction to the IBA Business Human Rights Committee e-Bulletin (continued)
Sarah Ellington
Newsletter Officer, IBA Business Human Rights Committee
IBA Annual Conference
It was great to see so many of you at the IBA Annual Conference in Toronto in early November. The IBA Business Human Rights Committee continued our tradition of collaborating with other committees, hosting sessions on corporate environmental and human rights due diligence, AI (in conjunction with the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU)), ESG disclosures in capital markets transactions (jointly with the IBA Securities and Capital Markets Committee), making the business case for corporate accountability and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) (in conjunction with the LPRU and the IBA’s Human Rights Institute) and opportunities and challenges for companies seeking both profits and purpose (in conjunction with the IBA Closely Held Companies Committee, the IBA Corporate Law Section and the IBA Corporate and M&A Law Committee).
Support for wider IBA initiatives
The Business Human Rights Committee has continued to support a number of other IBA initiatives. Highlights include its Committee Vice-Chair Clara Pacce Pinto Serva presenting at an official side event at the UNFCCC COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil on 20 November 2025, convened by the IBA, the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association and the American Bar Association, on ‘Practitioners of law advancing climate mitigation & adaptation through pro bono & beyond’. Clara joined legal experts from around the globe to explore how law firms, law associations and others can advance effective implementation of government and corporate climate mitigation and adaptation goals; the roles of pro bono and strategic litigation in advancing accountability; challenges facing lawyers representing climate-affected communities; and more. More information about the event is available at: www.ibanet.org/LPRU/IBA-at-UNFCCC.
In October, Clara also presented at a webinar convened by the IBA Oil & Gas Committee and supported by the IBA Business Human Rights Committee, the IBA Power Law Committee, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL), the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum, the IBA African Regional Forum and the LPRU examining the advisory opinions issued by the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on climate change for corporations in different jurisdictions.
Contributing to public consultations
Harnessing the expertise of members, the Business Human Rights Committee has contributed to a number of public consultations on relevant issues, including to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights both on a standalone basis and in conjunction with other relevant committees. If you are interested in joining the working group on submissions, please contact emily.morison@int-bar.org.
Keeping in touch and up-to-date
In September this year, for the first time, we held two all-of-committee calls to help members stay updated on the latest business and human rights trends and the Committee’s work. We will aim to do them twice a year in 2026 as well, so watch out for further details coming soon.
The Business Human Rights Committee also hosts a quarterly BHR & Climate Café, the next session of which will be in late January. If you would like to be added to the invitation for this Café and/or have a suggested subject on which you would like to lead discussion, please get in contact with Sarah Ellington (sellington@wfw.com).