IBHR Center | OU College of Law

About IBHR

In 2016, the University of Oklahoma College of Law made history by establishing the first International Business and Human Rights (IBHR) Center at a U.S. law school. The IBHR Center, led by Evelyn Aswad, the Herman G. Kaiser Chair in International Law, is located at OU Law in Norman, Oklahoma.

We were founded to train future legal leaders and contribute to IBHR research. We host awareness-raising events, participate in legal engagement on contemporary IBHR issues, offer cutting-edge courses, and produce relevant scholarships.

Our Mission

We aim to provide:

OU Law students with academic training, networking, and practical experience in this emerging field will equip them to be leaders in this space and train the greater legal community and others in IBHR issues.
An academic think tank that supports international business and human rights issues, focusing on the energy/extractive sector and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies.

We fulfill this mission by involving awareness-raising events, legal engagement, coursework, and scholarship. We use a forward-looking approach by helping stakeholders move forward in a positive way rather than a litigation-oriented approach to business and human rights issues.

Our Focus Areas

We focus on scholarships, legal activities, events, and courses related to energy, extractive sectors, and Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. In our legal engagement, we prioritize providing academic support to multi-stakeholder initiatives in these areas.

We closely follow the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, initiated over fifteen years ago by the United States and the United Kingdom. This collaborative effort involves companies, NGOs, and governments. Its goal is to assist energy and extractive sector companies in ensuring the security of their operations without harming the human rights of local populations.

Learn how U.S. businesses navigate the evolving landscape of human rights and corporate responsibility. Discover strategies for responsible global engagement from UN Guiding Principles to OECD Guidelines.

International Human Rights Norms, Due Diligence, and Avoiding Human Rights Infringements

U.S. companies often operate in countries with weak rule of law and human rights concerns. The U.S. Government now expects them to follow international human rights norms, conduct due diligence, and avoid infringing on human rights. This shift from corporate philanthropy to "business and human rights" focuses on ensuring that companies respect human rights in their operations.

The U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights serve as a foundation for U.S. companies, emphasizing the importance of avoiding harm to human rights. If avoidance is not possible, companies should provide remedies. To implement these principles, companies engage in human rights due diligence, examining potential negative impacts on international human rights and working to prevent such effects. As defined in the UN GPs, human rights align with key United Nations human rights instruments. This process involves non-traditional legal and factual research and collaboration with external stakeholders like non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises offer recommendations on responsible business conduct, including human rights. The U.S. government supports these guidelines and provides a National Contact Point to implement them. This approach aims to guide multinational enterprises in conducting business responsibly.

We provide the best IBHR law curriculum and overall experiences across U.S. law schools. In addition to general international course offerings, we offer specialized courses and unique internship and externship opportunities. Learn more about the IBHR courses and how to apply for our internships and externships.

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International Business and Human Rights (3 Hours)

This course will focus primarily on the human rights issues facing companies operating abroad in the energy and ICT sectors.

We will examine the United Nations (UN) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines for business and human rights and the UN's decision to draft a treaty on this topic.
We will explore international voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives that have emerged in the energy and ICT sectors, such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (which includes corporate participants such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips) as well as the Global Network Initiative (which provides for participants such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook).
We will also analyze human rights litigation in U.S. courts involving energy and ICT companies for complicity in human rights violations abroad and new laws and regulations passed by the U.S. government to enforce corporate due diligence on human rights matters in their foreign operations.
Students will prepare a paper as if they are general counsel for a particular energy or ICT company. They will assess the company's specific human rights challenges in its foreign operations, discuss the relevant international standards, and propose ways forward to its CEO. We will engage with NGOs, businesses, and the State Department leaders. International Human Rights Law is recommended but not required. This paper may be used to meet the graduation writing requirement.

To apply, please email Professor Evelyn Aswad a one-paragraph statement of interest with a resume and transcript.

Human Rights Practicum (3 Hours)

This advanced human rights and rule of law course will involve substantial international legal research, analysis, and writing.

Students will engage in legal research and writing that include issues of international human rights law, regional human rights law, and comparative domestic law.
Students will also reach out to, among others, State Department officials, NGOs (both in the U.S. and abroad), and sometimes foreign government officials to ensure consideration of various viewpoints and that the best available information is included in their work products.

This is a substantive course focused on real-world, cutting-edge legal issues and a skills course focused on advanced international legal research, analysis, and writing. To apply, please email Professor Evelyn Aswad a one-paragraph statement of interest with a resume and transcript.

Taking International Human Rights Law is recommended but not required.

Applying For Internships and Externships

We accept applications for internships and externships on a rolling basis for the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Priority is given to students who have taken the relevant coursework, including International Law Foundations, International Business & Human Rights, Human Rights Law, and Human Rights Practicum. Applications should include a short statement of interest, resume, and transcript and be sent to Professor Evelyn Aswad.

We seek to influence critical and contemporary IBHR issues, including leading multi-stakeholder initiatives and engaging with international mechanisms, including the United Nations's human rights machinery. We're honored to share our expertise at international and academic conferences and offer training programs for private-sector lawyers. Check out some of the engagements we've attended over the years.

Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives

Global Network Initiative

In December 2016, Professor Aswad was admitted as an academic participant in the Global Network Initiative. We seek to provide educational support to the GNI.

International Mechanisms

UN Engagement

In October 2016, we responded to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression's request for contributions regarding his study on the Telecommunications and Internet Access Sector.

Corporate Public Comment Processes

In May 2019, we submitted comments to Facebook about its Oversight Board.

Freedom Online Coalition Annual Meeting

In October 2016, Professor Aswad was invited to Costa Rica 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 as a panelist for "The Global Digital Platform and the Nation State: Roles, Responsibilities, and Interactions to Optimize Human Rights in the Digital Space."

Stanford University and Their Law School

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.

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 the U.S. ICT companies operating abroad.

From our Pro Bono Council to our Advisory Board, meet the people who contribute their knowledge and passion to the Center for International Business and Human Rights.

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Our Team

Evelyn Mary Aswad

Director & Professor of Law

Herman G. Kaiser Chair in International Law

Contact Information

Rebeca Joy West

Legal & Policy Associate at the Center for International Business & Human Rights

Center for International Business & Human Rights

Charting New Frontiers: The Center for International Business and Human Rights (IBHR)

About IBHR

Our Mission

Our Focus Areas

The Intersection of International Business & Human Rights

International Human Rights Norms, Due Diligence, and Avoiding Human Rights Infringements

The U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

IBHR Courses and Real-World Experiences

Influencing Change on A Global Level: IBHR Initiatives

Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives

International Mechanisms

Corporate Public Comment Processes

Freedom Online Coalition Annual Meeting

RightsCon 2018

Stanford University and Their Law School

Navigating The IBHR Network

Help Make a Difference

Global Perspectives: IBHR Events