Professor Tara Van Ho: Business, Human Rights, and International Law

About this episode

Today we are joined by Professor Tara Van Ho, a leading scholar in the field of business and human rights whose work examines the growing intersection of corporate power, economic inequality, international law, and human dignity.

Tara is a Professor of Law and Director of the International Legal Studies Program at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Prior to joining St. Mary’s, she taught at the University of Essex School of Law and worked closely with the Essex Human Rights Centre, one of the most influential institutions in the development of modern international human rights law. Her scholarship and advocacy have focused on corporate accountability, climate justice, investor-state dispute settlement, and the responsibilities of multinational corporations under international law.

This conversation also carries a special connection for us personally. Tara is a fellow Ohioan from Cleveland, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and a former fellow of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Throughout the episode, we reflect not only on the evolution of the business and human rights movement, but also on the importance of mentorship, community, and the shaping the next generation of human rights scholars and advocates.

We dive into growing legal and moral questions surrounding climate accountability, and why business and human rights has become one of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of international law today.

Tara also shares insights into her own path into the field, her experience studying under pioneers of human rights law, and how legal education can help students think critically about systems of power, governance, and justice in an increasingly interconnected world.

SHOW NOTES

Episode Transcript Here

Professor Tara Van Ho: St. Mary’s University School of Law Faculty Profile

Academic Journal Article

George, E., Martin, J. and Van Ho, T., (2021). Reckoning: A Dialogue about Racism, AntiRacists, and Business & Human Rights

Human Rights Quarterly: Defining the Relationships: "Cause, Contribute, and Directly Linked to" in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by Tara Van Ho

Resources

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

Essex University: Human Rights Centre

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice - University of Cincinnati