What Can Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights Assessments Teach to International Arbitration? 

WAW’s panel on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights Assessments will discuss how due diligence in these areas can contribute to international arbitration. The panel will consider the increasing number of CSR related clauses in international investment treaties and national legislation, and the implications of making those assessments mandatory for multinational companies and foreign investors. Particularly, the panel will address: 

• What are the qualitative differences between CSR and human rights assessments? Should either be favored and why? 
• Whether these assessments should be of a discretionary or mandatory nature. Also, the effects this could have upon investors decisions. 
• Up to what extent should States broaden their national legislation regarding CSR and human rights assessments?  
• Could failure to comply with CSR and human rights assessments contained in domestic law raise an issue of legality of the investment for future arbitral tribunals?