Professor Chiara Giaccari begins her Human Rights and Business class by sharing newspaper articles on real cases of human rights violations, covering both social and environmental issues. Students are challenged to act as advisors, encouraging companies to integrate human rights into every aspect of their operations. This exercise fosters a dual perspective, as it teaches balancing profitability with ethical and humanitarian concerns. Students see that respecting human rights is not just corporate goodwill, but a core responsibility. They explore the question “How can we address human rights abuses in business?”
As part of a rapidly evolving field, Professor Giaccari introduces students to the foundational elements of business and human rights, including key sources of international law, voluntary principles, legal standards, emerging legislation, and the analysis of real-world case studies. Students explore common violations in business operations and supply chains, such as child and forced labor, exploitation, discrimination, and environmental harm. These are analyzed through factory-level practices and their ripple effects on communities. By examining case studies, students reflect critically and uncover collaborative, creative solutions to systemic issues — even for the most entrenched issues.
As the course progresses, students engage with international legal frameworks to understand the expectations placed on multinational corporations (MNCs). They learn that MCNs are responsible not only for their actions but also for their suppliers. This expands their focus to contractual obligations, geographic risk factors, and strategies to prevent abuses. A key emphasis is placed on business operations in conflict-affected areas, where violations are often intensified. Through case analysis, students identify human rights concerns, evaluate company responses, and propose practical solutions.
Professor Giaccari brings her deep professional experience into the classroom. As a consultant for NGOs, corporations, and governments, she offers students practical insights into the application of human rights standards. “Learning about an emerging field that will have a big influence in the future is one of the greatest opportunities a student can have,” she said, emphasizing how corporate decisions impact real lives.
The Student Perspective
Charlie Massa, an International Affairs major minoring in Gender Studies and Legal Studies, said: “This course was the first crucial step in broadening my understanding of human rights and how they relate to every aspect of our lives. I will probably want to continue this path for graduate school. I felt inspired by Professor Giaccari; she is a practitioner, so she was able to give us a perspective that went beyond mere theory and even a possible goal to achieve. As a person who will be a worker in the future, I feel more knowledgeable about my rights.”
Katarina Kierkegaard, a Political Science major minoring in Legal Studies and Psychology, shared: “Professor Giaccari did a lovely job of intertwining case studies from across the world and utilizing her own personal experience. The class is highly prevalent to today’s world.”
Edoardo Grandi, an Economics and Finance major minoring in Legal Studies, said: “I felt that every single day in the classroom I was learning the actual methods used by professionals to prevent and mitigate human rights issues. I learned valuable concepts that I will apply in the future, as I aim to develop venues and projects in sports and entertainment. Thanks to Professor Giaccari, I interpret the world with a stronger vision and awareness to build sustainable projects that will last in time due to the foundations of respecting and implementing human rights in the work environment.”
Gemma Granato, an International Affairs major minoring in Legal Studies, shared: “Today, I see the world through a more critical lens. This course pushed me to rethink what kind of professional I want to become. I know for sure that I want to keep studying this field because human rights are not just about laws, they’re about people’s lives too often ignored. This was a key lesson for me.”
