banner image
blurred banner image

Legal Engagement

The Center seeks to influence critical and contemporary IBHR issues in a variety of ways, including by participating in leading multi-stakeholder initiatives involving the energy and extractive sectors and ICT companies, by engaging with international mechanisms, including the United Nation's human rights machinery, by sharing its expertise at international and academic conferences, and by offering training programs for private sector lawyers.

Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives

Global Network Initiative: In December 2016, Professor Aswad was admitted as an academic participant in the Global Network Initiative. The Center seeks to provide academic support to the GNI.

Pictured: Alumni of the International Business and Human Rights course, 3Ls Abby Henderson and Jason Bollinger, attend a GNI event in Washington, D.C. in June 2017. 

International Mechanisms

UN Engagement: In October 2016, the Center responded to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression’s request for contributions regarding his Study on Telecommunications and Internet Access Sector. The Center's letter can be read here.

Corporate Public Comment Processes

Facebook: In May 2019, the Center submitted comments to Facebook about its Oversight Board. Facebook requested comments here and our submission can be found here here.

International Conferences

Freedom Online Coalition Annual Meeting: In October 2016, Professor Aswad was invited to Costa Rica to serve as a panelist at the Freedom Online Coalition’s annual conference. Professor Aswad shared her research regarding the recent European Code of Conduct on speech during the panel titled, “Addressing Hate Speech and Harassment on Social Media while Protecting Freedom of Expression.”

RightsCon 2018: In May 2018, Professor Aswad was invited to Toronto to serve as a panelist for the panel titled, "The Global Digital Platform and the Nation State: Roles, Responsibilities, and Interactions to Optimize Human Rights in the Digital Space."

Pictured: Center staff, Honors Fellow and LLM Candidate Rebeca West and 3L Brooke Hamilton, attend the Annual Global Online Coalition Meeting in Costa Rica in 2016. 

Academic Conferences

Stanford University Law School: In October 2016, Professor Aswad was invited to the Law, Borders, and Speech Conference hosted by the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School to address representatives of ICT companies, non-governmental organizations, and academics about how to apply IBHR frameworks to the activities of U.S. ICT companies operating abroad.

Stanford University: In March 2018, Professor Aswad was invited to Stanford University’s Global Digital Policy Incubator to discuss freedom of expression, business and human rights, and the future of democracy.

Thank you for your interest in applying to OU Law

Please select your program of interest to learn more about the application process.

J.D. ProgramM.L.S. ProgramLL.M. ProgramLegal Assistant Education Not sure? Learn more about admissions at OU Law