As global standards tighten, companies are increasingly expected to respect human rights throughout their operations and supply chains. This course provides professionals with a clear understanding of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, human rights due diligence, and emerging legal and ESG requirements. Drawing on real-world case studies, it offers practical tools to identify, mitigate, and manage human rights risks — including in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Join us for a twelve-hour course, held over six days.
When and where?
23 to 25 February and 2 to 4 March 2026 (Mondays to Wednesdays for two weeks), 15:00 to 17:00 SAST
This course will be held remotely, most likely on Zoom - exact details will be sent to registered participants a few days before the course.
Course outline
Businesses today face growing scrutiny for their human rights impacts — from supply chain abuses to environmental harm and community displacement. This postgraduate-level course offers participants a deep and practical understanding of the business and human rights (BHR) agenda and its relevance for corporate governance, sustainability, and compliance.
Grounded in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the course explores the responsibilities of states and companies to prevent, mitigate, and remedy harm. It examines how human rights due diligence is conducted, how grievance mechanisms can strengthen accountability, and how emerging laws — including the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive — are changing expectations of business conduct.
Participants will also consider specialised issues such as gender impacts, operating in conflict-affected areas, and integrating BHR approaches into climate and ESG frameworks. Through case studies and interactive exercises, they will learn how to apply these concepts in practice.
The course is designed for lawyers, ESG professionals, development practitioners, and others seeking to understand or implement human rights standards in business operations.
Who will benefit from this course?
Corporate executives and managers, legal and compliance professionals, lawyers, NGO and development actors engaging with private sector actors and academics.
Presenter
Dr Orly Stern is a human rights lawyer, researcher and consultant, with two decades of experience working across the African continent. Orly has consulted for international organizations, companies, governments, research institutions and NGOs, and has published extensively in her field.
Orly holds a PhD in international humanitarian law from London School of Economics, and a Masters in international human rights law from Harvard Law School. She has served as a visiting fellow of practice with the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, and has held a senior fellowship with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard School for Public Health. She has taught international criminal law at the University of Cape Town.
Her book, Gender, Conflict and International Humanitarian Law: A Critique of the Principle of Distinction, was awarded the International Committee of the Red Cross’ inaugural prize for best published work on international humanitarian law in Africa. Her most recent book on Women and War Economies was published in April 2025.
How much?
R6,600 per person
Certificate
A digital certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full course.
Please note that the digital certificate can only be viewed on a secure portal. It cannot be downloaded or printed. You will have the option of ordering a hard copy of the certificate at your own cost, including the cost of the courier fee. More information is available here.
No certificate will be issued without the full course fee having been received. Please allow up to three weeks after the end of the course for certificates to be processed.
How to sign up
Complete and submit the registration form. You will then be given the payment information. Please note that registrations will not be considered complete until payment has been made.
One or two days before the course, we will send you the Zoom link. You will need to register and use a password to access the course.
Registrations close three days before the course starts.
Download the brochure.
