Voices - Conversations on Business and Human Rights from Around the World

IHRB's Salil Tripathi speaks to Anita Ramasastry, Professor of Law at the University of Washington, about whether the UNGPs have been effective at strengthening corporate accountability, and how they might evolve in the years to come.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were adopted 15 years. In this episode, IHRB’s Salil Tripathi speaks to Jane Nelson, the Director of the Corporate Responsibility Initiative at Harvard Kennedy Business School, about whether, in the current climate, the UNGPs are out of touch or more relevant than ever, and how both states and business actors can implement the Principles in th...

IHRB’s Salil Tripathi hears from Froydis Cameron-Johansson, a consultant who has spent nearly 30 years working with oil, gas, and mining companies. In this episode, you’ll hear why it’s so important to treat consultation with communities as an ongoing relationship and why FPIC (Free Prior and Informed Consent) goes far beyond getting a legal permit.

IHRB’s Francesca Fairbairn speaks to Mark Dickinson, outgoing General Secretary of Nautilus International, and Nathan Smith, a ship inspector with the International Transport Workers' Federation, to find out more about dark fleets. Together they examine the weaknesses in international maritime law that allow dark fleets to thrive, and the human cost borne by the seafarers on board.

A recent legal case involving Dyson and 24 migrant workers is being called a landmark moment for business and human rights—but why? After the UK Court of Appeal allowed the case to be heard in the UK, despite the alleged abuses taking place at a supplier factory in Malaysia, big questions are being raised about corporate accountability overseas. In this episode, IHRB's Salil Tripathi is joined by...

In this episode of Voices, IHRB’s Haley St. Dennis brings you closer to the world of agroforestry in Brazil. Haley speaks to Isabel Britez of Belterra, a B Corp working with farmers to turn climate and deforestation risks into real opportunities for resilient business and thriving rural livelihoods.

IHRB’s new CEO Brandee Butler is joined by Michael Clements, the newly appointed CEO of the Business and Human Rights Centre, for a conversation about leadership, and the shifting landscape for business and human rights.

In this episode of Voices, IHRB’s Haley St Dennis and Ainara Fernandez discuss an emerging housing model in Catalonia, which is aligning decarbonisation efforts with solutions to address issues like affordability and extreme temperatures. Can Catalonia’s housing model be a blueprint for just transitions in other housing markets around the world?

Solar power is reshaping life for Gujarat’s salt farmers. Haley St. Dennis talks with SEWA’s Reema Nanavaty about the partnerships and training behind this just transition—and how women like Manguben are moving from debt to becoming solar technicians and community leaders. This episode features an audio story from IHRB’s JUST Stories project.

How can the business and human rights agenda move forward amid the climate crisis, ongoing conflicts, and growing political divides? Join Brandee M. Butler, IHRB’s new CEO, and John Morrison, founding CEO, for a reflective and inspiring conversation about the future of business and human rights.

In a special two-part series , join IHRB’s new CEO, Brandee M. Butler, and outgoing CEO, John Morrison, for a reflective and illuminating conversation on their work to strengthen respect for human rights in the business world - and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

On World Maritime Day, join IHRB’s Francesca Fairbairn and Ben Bailey and Father Stephen Thanapaul from Mission to Seafarers for a discussion on seafarers' rights. What are the most pressing challenges facing seafarers? What protections do they need? What action is needed from the maritime industry? Are there examples of shipping companies getting it right?

Climate change has put a spotlight on our relationship with natural resources, especially water. In many parts of the world, the water scarcity crisis is being intensified by companies.  Salil Tripathi from IHRB speaks to Peter Waldman, a senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, and to Ravi Mariwala, the Founder and Chief Executive of an Indian water management company called Smaart Water. Peter...

How did the business and human rights movement evolve? What important moments and historic cases have helped shape responsible business today? Anita Ramasastry, Professor of Law at the University of Washington and faculty member on IHRB’s Masters course in Business and Human Rights, joins IHRB’s Salil Tripathi to discuss the evolution of the business and human rights movement by exploring the pivo...

IHRB's Vicky Bowman speaks to Giles Bolton from membership body Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI); Natalie Grillon from Open Supply Hub; and Emily Casswell from clothing retailer Bestseller. Together, they explore the role of voluntary standards and reporting to strengthen transparency in global supply chains and how these link to evolving regulatory requirements.

Over 60 million people make a living catching, farming and processing seafood. What are the predominant challenges they face? IHRB’s Francesca Fairbairn explores human rights abuses in the global seafood industry with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ian Urbina, who has just released the second series of The Outlaw Ocean Podcast.

IHRB’s Haley St Dennis sits down with Darcy Gunning, the lead union organiser behind Collie’s transition negotiations, one of the world’s most successful examples of a just transition happening today. They talk about the high and lows so far, as well as insights for managers of transitions - whether working in a company, government department, union, or local community group - to replicate the mos...

In this episode, IHRB’s CEO, John Morrison, and colleague Haley St Dennis, discuss the state of just transitions in 2025, and the urgent need to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges as one, systemic challenge. John shares ideas for how to apply this thinking in practice.

The international architecture that underpins universal human rights is under attack. What does this mean for responsible business? IHRB’s Salil Tripathi, speaks to Kenneth Roth, author, attorney and the former head of international organisation, Human Rights Watch. Ken and Salil discuss progress in corporate responsibility and accountability in recent decades, and what this might mean for the fut...

Has the UK Modern Slavery Act introduced in 2015 been effective in eradicating modern slavery? IHRB’s Head of Migrant Workers Programme, Neill Wilkins, speaks to from Eleanor Lyons, the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. They discuss the effectiveness of the legislation; the importance of corporate accountability in the fight to end modern slavery; and the need for more robust measures to...

IHRB Senior Advisor, Vicky Bowman, speaks to Karina Ufert from the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar. Against the backdrop of the EU's proposed ‘omnibus package’ of sustainability directives, Karina shares how her organisation is helping companies with their human rights due diligence on the ground. Vicky also speaks to IHRB colleague Sarah Mostafa-Kamel to discuss similar work being done by...

The adoption of the UNGPs in 2011 was a seminal moment and acknowledgement of the influence of business on people’s rights. In the years that have passed since then, what have we learned about whether and how companies can respect human rights while pursuing profits? To help answer this question IHRB’s CEO, John Morrison, speaks to Mike Posner, a human rights lawyer, former Assistant Secretary of...

IHRB’s CEO, John Morrison, sits down with three colleagues, Salil Tripathi, Francesca Fairbairn, and Haley St. Dennis, to discuss a wide range of topics, from the backlash to DEI, to the value of international norms and standards, to how a second Trump term could impact just transitions.

The organisations and government bodies responsible for enforcement of labour rights in the UK are fragmented - as they are in many countries around the world. Could proposals to create a single labour enforcement body - a Fair Work Agency - help improve business compliance with labour laws? In this episode, Neill Wilkins (Head of IHRB’s Migrant Workers Programme) delves into UK labour regulation...

40 years since the Bhopal gas disasters, which killed thousands and injured millions more, what have been the lessons for corporate accountability? IHRB’s Salil Tripathi speaks to survivor, Tahira Sultan, as well as Dr Usha Ramanathan,  a human rights and legal scholar who has studied and worked on the Bhopal case extensively.