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International Human
Rights Committee

Our Purpose

For more information on the International Human Rights Committee, contact:

Chair: Ruth McChesney at rmcchesney@mcchesneykolly.com 

By laws for the International Human Rights Committee of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

(Ver Mas En Español Abajo) Lawyers in the state of Texas whose clients are involved in international business may be confronted more frequently with the human, legal, and reputational risk associated with violations of internationally recognized human rights.  The SBOT International Section’s International Human Rights Committee is charged with providing information and guidance on this topic for practicing lawyers in Texas. Therefore, Committee pursues the following activities:

  • To study the issues that confront practicing lawyers due to violations of international human rights;
  • To develop guidance for lawyers practicing in the international arena on the issues presented by international human rights violations;
  • To provide information on international human rights at the SBOT’s annual meeting, the International Section’s Annual Institute, or at other state or local meetings;
  • To assist law firms and law schools to further address in their training and education programs the issues of internationally recognized human rights and the issues presented in international law practices;
  • To encourage lawyers within the International Section and within the SBOT in general to take a leadership role with regard to addressing violations of internationally recognized human rights;
  • To review the rules of disciplinary procedures of the State Bar of Texas to determine if any amendments would be appropriate in order to further advise and guide the members of the bar on the issue of internationally recognized human rights;
  • To establish a network of lawyers within the state of Texas with experience in international matters and international human rights to provide technical assistance to lawyers confronted with such issues;
  • To discuss with government officials and other stakeholders the importance of addressing issues related to internationally recognized human rights by the legal profession in Texas; and
  • To report to the International Section and the State Bar of Texas on an annual basis on the progress that the Committee has made on each of the goals stated herein.

EN ESPAÑOL

Nuestro Objetivo

Los abogados del Estado de Texas, cuyos clientes estén involucrados en transacciones internacionales, enfrentan con mayor frecuencia riesgos jurídicos, humanos y en su reputación asociados con violaciones a los derechos humanos reconocidos internacionalmente. El SBOT International Sections{ International Human Rights Committee provee información y orientación en estos temas a los abogados en el ejercicio profesional en Texas.

A tal efecto, el Comité realizará las siguientes actividades:

  • Estudiar los temas que confrontan los abogados en su ejercicio profesional como resultado de violaciones al derecho internacional de los derechos humanos;

  • Desarrollar guías para abogados que ejerzan la profesión en el ámbito internacional sobre los temas que puedan presentarse debido a violaciones al derecho internacional de los derechos humanos;

  • Proveer información sobre el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos en las reuniones anuales del SBOT, el International Section’s Annual Institute, o en cualquier otra reunión local o estatal;

  • Asistir a despachos jurídicos y facultades de derecho para que aborden en sus capacitaciones y currículo temas de derechos humanos internacionalmente reconocidos y asuntos que se presenten en la práctica del derecho internacional;

  • Promover que los abogados dentro del Internacional Law Section y, en general, dentro del SBOT, asuman posiciones de liderazgo en la confrontación contra las violaciones a los derechos humanos reconocidos internacionalmente;

  • Revisar anualmente las normas de los procedimientos disciplinarios del SBOT para determinar la necesidad de reformas que permitan un mejor asesoramiento y orientación a los miembros de la barra en asuntos de derechos humanos internacionalmente reconocidos;

  • Establecer una red dentro del Estado de Texas, de abogados con experiencia en asuntos internacionales y en derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, para proveer asistencia técnica a abogados que se enfrentan a este tipo de problemas;

  • Discutir con oficiales del Gobierno y otros actores sobre la importancia que tiene en el ejercicio de la profesional legal en Texas, el trabajar en temas relaciones con los derechos humanos reconocidos internacionalmente; e

  • Informar anualmente a SBOT y a su International Section sobre el progreso que el Comité haya logardo sobre cada uno d elos objetivos aquí señalados.

 

ILS TEXAS

Reference Library

 

Business and Human Rights Principles

  • UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – Read More

Human Rights Standards

Country Specific Information on Human Rights

  • Amnesty International – Read More
  • Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Read More
  • Derechos.org – Read More
  • Human Rights Watch – Read More
  • Oxfam International – Research and Publications – Read More
  • Refworld Country Information Collection – Read More
  • U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports – Read More
  • World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Read More

 

Guidance for Lawyers and Bar Associations

  • ABA on Business and Human Rights – Read More
  • Advocates for International Development: A Guide for the Legal Profession – Read More
  • International Bar Association: Guidelines/Working Group – Read More
  • Texas Bar Journal, Global Thinking – Read More

 

UN Work on Business and Human Rights

  • UN Global Compact – Read More
  • UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Read More
  • UN Working Group on a Business and Human Rights Treaty – Read More
  • UN website on Human Rights and Business – Read More
  • Human Rights Council’s open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIWG): “Zero Draft” Treaty — Read More

 

  • Apparel & Footwear

    • KnowTheChain: 2018 Apparel and Footwear Benchmark — Read More
    • World Report 2018: Transparency in the Apparel Industry (Human Rights Watch) — Read More

     

    Banking/Investment

    • Equator Principles — Read More
    • International Financial Corporation — Read More
    • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Guidance on banking sector – Read More
    • Worldbank.org: The Environmental and Social Framework — Read More

  • Construction

    • Guidelines for a Better Construction Industry in the GCC: A Code of Conduct for Construction Companies (Human Rights Watch) — Read More
    • Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: Construction — Read More

     

    Extractives

    • OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas – Read More
    • International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA): Human Rights Training Toolkit for the Oil and Gas Industry — Read More
    • Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative — Read More

     

    Information & Communications Technology

    • BSR Primer: 10 Human Rights Priorities for the Information and Communications Technology Sector — Read More
    • Ethical Operating System Guide and Toolkit – Read More
    • KnowTheChain: 2018 Information and Communications Technology Benchmark — Read More
    • Ranking Digital Rights 2018 Corporate Accountability Index — Read More

  • Trucking & Human Trafficking – Read More 

 

  • Accountability/Tracking Implementation

    • Corporate Human Rights Benchmark – Read More
    • Human Rights First. Campaign: Bankrupt Slavery: Dismantling the Business of Human Trafficking. – Read More

  • Due Diligence

     

    Grievance Mechanisms

    • Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) – Read More
    • OECD Guidelines: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – Read More
    • International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA): Community grievance mechanisms in the oil and gas industry – Read More

  • Modern Slavery

     

    Non-Financial Reporting

    • European Union Directive 2014/95/EU – Read More
    • Global Reporting Initiative – Read More
    • Integrated Reporting – Read More
    • OECD Responsible Business Conduct: OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – Read More
    • UN Global Compact – Read More

     

    Remedies – Access to Justice

    • Issues related to EU companies, Human Rights in Business – Read More

     

    Specific Groups

      – Children

    • ECPAT – A Global Network to Protect Children against Commercial Sexual Exploitation – Read More
    • Children’s Defense Fund – Read More
    • OECD Practical actions for companies to identify and address the worst forms of child labour in mineral supply chains – Read More
    • United National Convention on the Rights of the Child – Read More

     

      – Indigenous Peoples

    • UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Read More
    • Native American Rights Fund – Read More
    • UN Global Compact: Guide for Businesses – Read More

     

    – Women

    • UN Commission on the Status of Women – Read More
    • UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women – Read More
    • UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences – Read More
    • UN Women – Read More
    • UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice  – Read More

     

    Supply Chains

    • OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas – Read More
    • The United Nations Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – Read More

 

  • Government Materials, Generally
  • US Government Materials
    • Advisory on Sanctions Risks for Businesses w/Supply Chain Links to North Korea – Read More
    • FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Section 408, Training on Human Trafficking Training for Certain Staff – Read More
    • Overseas Private Investment Corporation: Office of Accountability — Read More
    • State.gov: A Guide to the U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises — Read More
    • Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000– Read More
    • U.S. Department of State: Trafficking in Persons Report, 2018. – Read More
  • Organization of American States
    • Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
      • Annual Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights – Read More
      • Resolution 1/18 on Human Rights and Corruption – Read More
      • Report on Indigenous Peoples, Communities of African Descent: Extractive Industries – Read More
      • Report on Poverty and Human Rights (with references to businesses) – Read More
    • Inter-American Court of Human Rights
      • Case of the Kaliña y Lokono Peoples v. Suriname, Merits, Reparations, and Costs. Judgment of November 25, 2015 Series C No. 309, para. 224. – Read More
      • Advisory Opinion The Environment and Human Rights (State obligations in relation to the environment in the context of the protection and guarantee of the rights to life and to personal integrity – interpretation and scope of Articles 4(1) and 5(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights). – Read More
      • Advisory Opinion OC-23/17 of November 15, 2017. Series A No. 23. (Only in Spanish). – Read More

 

  • S.H.E. is Freedom: Domestic Minor Trafficking (Waco) – Read More
  • The Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition (Central Texas) – Read More
  • Colibri Center for Human Rights: South Texas Human Rights Center – Read More
  • Texas Coalition for Human Rights – Read More
  • Human Rights Initiative of North Texas – Read More
  • Texas Commission on Human Rights Act – Read More
  • Human Trafficking by the Numbers: The Initial Benchmark of Prevalence and Economic Impact for Texas. Austin, TX: Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the University of Texas at Austin. Busch-Armendariz, N.B., Nale, N.L. Kammer-Kerwick, M., Kellison, B., M.I.M., Cook Heffon, L., Nehme, J. (2016). – Read More
  • Texas Education Agency (TEA): Training on Sex Trafficking in Schools – Read More
  • Border Network for Human Rights – Read More

 

Academic Centers on Human Rights

  • Derechos Humanos – Human Rights Links – Read More
  • HURISEARCH – Read More
  • International Justice Resource Center – Thematic Research Guides – Read More
  • International Justice Resource Center – Online Research Hub – Read More
  • New York University – Center for Business and Human Rights – Read More
  • United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) Library – Read More
  • University of Minnesota – Human Rights Library – Read More
  • University of Ottawa – Human Rights Research and Education Centre – Read More
  • Washington College of Law – Human Rights in Business Program – Read More

 

Business and Human Rights Organizations/Sources

  • Amnesty International section on Corporations – Read More
  • Business & Human Rights Resources Centre — Read More
  • Center for International Environmental Law –  Read More
  • Coalition for Human Rights in Development  – Read More
  • The Danish Institute on Human Rights – Read More
  • EarthRights International  – Read More
  • The Global Business Initiative on Human Rights’ (GBI) – Read More
  • Human Rights Watch section on Business – Read More
  • The Institute for Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Integrity – Read More
  • Institute on Human Rights and Business (Think tank) – Read More
  • International Commission of Jurists, section on Business and Human Rights – Read More
  • International Corporate Accountability Roundtable — Read More /  List of Members — Read More
  • International Justice Resource Center – Read More

Bibliography

  1. Prof John Vernon, et al., SMU Dedman School of Law, The Declaration of Human Rights and the Texas Business Lawyer available at

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:5e7c7b17-6ee3-4553-bc21-aa64f534c0d2

  1. Business Entity Responsibility to Respect HR & Exercise Due Diligence. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/publications/reference-publications/guiding-principles-business-and-human-rights
  2. International Bill of Human Rights available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights

  3. International Labor Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work available at https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/ILO_1998_Declaration_EN.pdf

  4. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties available at https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/1_1_1969.pdf

  5. IBA Guidance for Bar Associations (2024) available at https://www.ibanet.org/LPRU/Guidance-on-Business-and-Human-Rights-for-Bar-Associations

  6. IBA Practical Guide on Business and Human Rights for Business Lawyers (2016) available at https://www.ibanet.org/MediaHandler?id=d6306c84-e2f8-4c82-a86f-93940d6736c4 & Reference Annex (2016) available at https://www.ibanet.org/document?id=Business%20and%20Human%20Rights%20-%20Reference%20Annex & IBA Updated Guide for Business Lawyers and Human Rights (2024) available at https://www.ibanet.org/Updated-business-and-human-rights-changing-role-of-lawyers

  7. FIFA Legal: Rules & Reports: FIFA Statutes|Regulations|Circulars available at https://inside.fifa.com/legal/documents?filterId=1Ik5980rsO4CRiqjqrlXUS & FIFA Human Rights Strategy available at https://inside.fifa.com/human-rights/strategy

  8. Evaluations of Houston|Dallas Human Rights Stakeholder Engagement Submissions to FIFA (2022) available at https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:1c6bb441-abe7-4917-8649-c4f43cc28060

  9. Government Contract HR Obligations|Remedies: Host City-FIFA Default Contract: City of Los Angeles available at https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40318-025-00314-y.pdf

  10. Embedded U.S. Domestic System: Human Rights Protections & Remedies for Citizen and/or Non-Citizen Complainants

    Example:

    -US Constitution, U.S. Bill of Rights and other Amendments|Cases available at https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/ & Federal and State Procedural and Substantive Laws|Cases embedded U.S. Domestic Human Rights System

  11. Regional and International Remedies. When Remedy Gaps|Inadequacies|Failures in Domestic  U.S. Human Rights Protections

    -Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

    Example: Post U.S.Supreme Court Decision Town of Castle Rock vs Gonzales available at http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/decisions/2011/USPU12626EN.doc

    -UN Human Rights Commission

    Note: U.S. Suspended it’s Participation via Executive Order (1.7.2026)

  12. Prof Ariel Dulitsky, et al., UT School of Law Human Rights Clinic (2026) “Human Rights at Play” available at https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:600a7b26-9d07-4a69-a438-7486a2bc7756

  13. Link to Ariel Dulitzky’s Video

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gDqHqgfu7oLHRpjZjv6DamRK9LgwwMAG/view?ts=69bae5c1

  14. Amnesty International Report on World Cup 2026

    https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ior10/0837/2026/en/

  15. Human Rights Action Plan 2026 – Houston

    https://www.fwc26houston.com/human-rights-plan

  16. Human Rights Action Plan 2026 – Dallas

    https://www.dallasfwc26.com/dallas-2026/human-rights/

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