As part of the “Polytechnical School’s Week of Science” initiated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Research, our colleagues from the programme line NEWS held a multi-hour workshop at the “Polytechnische Schule/Fachmittelschule 3 der Stadt Wien” on 4 June 2024, in which they introduced students to the fundamentals of their research.

The beginning of the workshop was all about getting to know each other and establishing rules for a fruitful workshop experience together with the students. The introduction to the topic of human and children’s rights consisted of a rather playful approach. Camilla Haake, PostDoc at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR), gave a presentation on the international human rights system and the opportunities and problems that arise when companies are to be embedded in this system. Interested students asked questions during the presentation and contributed with their knowledge.

Subsequently, the students participated in a panel discussion, during which they had the opportunity to debate opposing ideas and opinions regarding business and human rights. Camilla Haake provided guidance to them that was tailored to their age through thoughtful and encouraging moderation. To prepare for this interactive part of the workshop, the students had received handouts on the topic of business and human rights. These materials set out the perspectives of a range of stakeholders on the issue, such as trading unions, companies, non-governmental organizations and different governments, which the students studied in small groups.

Stephen Rabenlehner, researcher at the LBI-GMR, concluded by presenting current developments in the area of corporate human rights due diligence. The aim was to provide the students with a basic understanding of the process that led to the adoption of the new EU Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence as well as its possible implications (see also the research project “Audits and certifications in supply/value chains” and the contribution by Camilla Haake in the LBG format “Good question!” on the topic “What does the new EU Supply Chain Directive have to do with our human rights?”). “Good lessons, very enjoyable,” commented the students, who were delighted with the scientists’ clear explanations.

Our colleague Helmut Sax, child rights expert and senior researcher at the LBI-GMR, also gave insights into his research work as part of the “Polytechnical School’s Week of Science”.