The College of Law and Public Policy (CLPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will host a colloquium, Arbitrating Business and Human Rights Disputes: A New Way Forward, on April 17. 

Guest speaker, Steven R. Ratner, the Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, will lead the colloquium, which aims to highlight the efforts of the Business and Human Rights Arbitration Working Group of the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) in The Hague. 

The working group, of which Ratner is a member, provides an avenue for dispute resolution involving business and human rights issues. It seeks to fill the judicial remedy gap set forth in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, dean of CLPP, said: “Professor Ratner’s wealth of expertise in the area of corporate accountability for human right violations will undoubtedly contribute to an insightful session, providing attendees with an opportunity to glean valuable information on this developing branch of the law. HBKU continuously seeks opportunities to leverage synergies with key international partners and build capacity and knowledge in Qatar and the region, while ensuring an inclusive, high-quality research and education ecosystem.”

Professor Ratner’s teachings and research focus on public international law and a range of legal challenges including territorial disputes, counter-terrorism strategies, ethnic conflict, state and corporate duties regarding foreign investment, and accountability for human rights violations.

He began his legal career as an attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the United States Department of State, and has advised governments, NGOs, and international organizations on numerous international law issues. 

CLPP takes a multidisciplinary approach to legal education, equipping its students with the skills to navigate complex civil law, common law and Sharia systems. The college's Juris Doctor (JD) program is the first and only graduate law degree of its kind in the region.

The colloquium will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 4pm – 6pm at Conference Room 1, Minaretein (College of Islamic Studies Building) in Education City. 

For more information, and to register to attend, please visit HBKU’s website.