WHAT WE DO

ACTIVITIES

Business and Human Rights

The existing unbalance between social-economic systems is one of the current obstacle to an effective enforcement of human rights worldwide. Businesses – and more in particular multinational enterprises – play an economic and contractual role in this field, able to affect the protection of human rights.

 

The human rights implementation process is thus strictly linked to a possible engagement of companies. On one side, the endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in 2011 has signed an important step towards the emergence of corporate responsibility for alleged human rights violations. On the other side, the increasing number of cases involving companies at global scale confirm the tendency of public opinion and judiciary to hold companies directly or indirectly responsible for human rights abuses.

 

With the aim to prevent, reduce and address the risk connected with human rights violations, enterprises are requested to apply the so-called Human Rights Due Diligence process, as provided by the 2nd pillar of the UNGPs.

 

Against this background, and according to the objectives listed in our Statute, HRIC promotes many activities, such as:

 

Raising the awareness on the content and implementation of the UNGPs;

Organizing conferences, workshops and seminars open to experts and non-experts;

Carrying on advocacy activities towards governmental institutions;

Consulting and supporting the enterprises in conducting and applying non-financial reporting (NFR) and Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD);

Guaranteeing to victims of corporate-related human rights violations their access to remedy (judicial and non-judicial mechanisms)

 

If you need any additional information on our activities in this field, please contact:

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Marta Bordignon: bordignon.hric@gmail.com​

Giacomo Maria Cremonesi: cremonesi.hric@gmail.com​

Beatrice Pesce: pesce.hric@gmail.com​

Bianca Colette Mizzi: mizzi.hric@gmail.com

Martina Rogato: rogato.hric@gmail.com

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Compliance With Law Decree 231/2001

According to the Italian law on “administrative liability of legal entities” - introduced by Legislative Decree N. 231 of June 8th, 2001 - legal entities might be held liable for unlawful acts related to criminal and administrative offences committed in their interest or for their benefit and consequently be condemned to be highly fined.

Legal entities might avoid such liability - eventually excluding or reducing the related fine - only if they prove that they have adopted and effectively enacted the so-called Organizational, Management and Control Model.

Thanks to these provisions, Law Decree N. 231/2001 has raised the awareness among Italian companies of preventing measures, in line with the objectives of the so-called Human Rights Due Diligence. To this regard, the Italian National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights – adopted by the Italian Government in December 2016 – provides for a “comprehensive study” of Law Decree 231/2001, finalized at assessing a possible extension of its scope in the light of the UNGPs.

Against this background, and according to the objectives listed in our Statute, HRIC promotes many activities, such as:

 

• analyzing of Law Decree 231/2001, with the aim of evaluating the possible extension of its objectives and scope in relation to administrative liability of legal entities for alleged human rights violations;

• organizing conferences, workshops and seminars open to experts and non-experts in this field;

• carrying on advocacy activities towards governmental institutions;

• consulting and supporting the enterprises in drafting and adopting the Organizational, Management and Control Models;

• Guaranteeing to victims of corporate-related human rights violations their access to remedy (judicial and non-judicial mechanisms)

 

If you need any additional information on our activities in this field, please contact:

 

Maria Francesca Cucchiara: cucchiara.hric@gmail.com

Giacomo Maria Cremonesi: cremonesi.hric@gmail.com

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Human Rights Litigation

HRIC attorneys have developed specific competences and expertise in representing individuals and legal entities who suffered human rights violations, assisting them in filling complaints before domestic and international courts of justice, including the European Court of Human Rights.

Among the most relevant fields addressed by HRIC: anti-discrimination, workers’ rights, rights to health and to a safe environment, right to a family and private life.

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HRIC professionals approach human rights litigation strategically. Indeed, in our opinion litigating a human rights case, reaffirming the protection and safeguard of human rights, might be the first step for achieving global social justice.

If you need any additional information on our activities in this field, please contact:

 

Giacomo Maria Cremonesi: cremonesi.hric@gmail.com​

Maria Francesca Cucchiara: cucchiara.hric@gmail.com

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Immigration Law

Immigration Law is one of the most sensitive sectors in the human rights field, since it expresses the right to a free and decent life. However, the respect to human dignity is often questioned by economic and political interests.

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Even in this field, the human rights implementation process is thus strictly linked to a possible engagement of companies. In this perspective, among the national priorities listed by the Italian National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights – adopted by the Italian Government in December 2016 – the tackle to ‘caporalato’ and other forms of forced and irregular labor, with a particular focus on migrants and victims of human trafficking.

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If you need any additional information on our activities in this field, please contact:

 

Maria Francesca Cucchiara: cucchiara.hric@gmail.com

Beatrice Pesce: pesce.hric@gmail.com