In conversation with Surya Deva: Business, human rights and development: Do we need a course correction?

The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) is delighted to present Business, human rights and development: Do we need a course correction? with Surya Deva, Professor at the Macquarie Law School and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law at Macquarie University. He is also the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development and a Co-Director of the Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum. 

Surya Deva

Surya Deva is a Professor at the Macquarie Law School and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law at Macquarie University. He is also the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development and a Co-Director of the Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum. Deva is an internationally recognised scholar in the field of business and human rights. He served as a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2016-22). Deva has advised UN agencies, governments, national human rights institutions, multinational corporations, trade unions and civil society organisations on issues related to his expertise. He researches in the areas of business and human rights, comparative constitutional law, international human rights law, sustainable development, climate change, and gender equality. Deva is one of the founding Editors-in-Chief of the Business and Human Rights Journal, and is an elected Vice President of the International Association of Constitutional Law (2022-26).

Business, human rights and development: Do we need a course correction?

Businesses are expected to respect all human rights. However, there is little evidence that human rights abuses-linked to businesses are on the decline despite the evolution of plethora of standards. Businesses are also expected to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023, the world is seriously offtrack to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and businesses have again not done enough to fight global challenges such as poverty, inequalities, child labour, hunger or climate change.
 
What should businesses do differently in future? Building on his first thematic report (A/78/160) to the UN General Assembly as the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Professor Deva will argue that a fundamental shift is required in the current role and place of business in society. There is a need to reorient the purpose of business, change irresponsible business models and go beyond the ‘do no harm’ approach. By doing so, businesses will be able to make a meaningful contribution not only to achieving inclusive and sustainable development but also to building a human rights economy.

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For any inquiries, please contact chrgj@nyu.edu. 

Thank you!