Responsible Exit from Russia: Business and Human Rights in a Global Governance Gap

Description

This is a two-part blog series. In Part 1 Dr Irene Pietropaoli discusses whether foreign companies have a responsibility under international law to leave Russia. In Part 2, Dr. Irene Pietrapaoli and Dr. Daniel Aguirre discuss responsible exits from Russia.

Hundreds of multinational companies have left Russia since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. While this voluntary divestment - most are not subject to sanctions - may be an effective economic weapon in response to Russia's illegal war, it is an ad hoc response by businesses to crisis, potential liability, sanctions, and other operational risks rather than responsible exit. Human rights are linked vaguely to corporate social responsibility (CSR) or environmental and social governance (ESG) policies and are not the priority. This large scale, uncoordinated divestment will have important positive and negative impacts on the conflict, human rights and on the future of the rules based international legal order.

Estimated audience numbers (if applicable)

200

Period	22 Mar 2022
Held at	British Institute of International and Comparative Law , United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	International