Embarking on a Journey with ELSA Portugal

by Juliana Dias, Cluster Success Manager

During the years 2021 and 2022, I was fortunate to be part of a remarkable research endeavor as a student pursuing my Master's degree in International and European Law at NOVA University of Lisbon. This incredible journey led me to join the ELSA Portugal Legal Research Group, focusing on the vital intersection of Business and Human Rights.?

ELSA, The European Law Students Association, stands as a robust European network, comprising 44 National Groups, over 375 local chapters, and a membership exceeding 50,000. ELSA Portugal, a non-profit organization, unites law students and young jurists with a shared mission: applying their knowledge to serve society, empowering themselves and their community through active participation. ELSA Portugal's presence spans 13 Law Faculties across the country, boasting over 1000 dedicated associates.?

In 2021, ELSA Portugal celebrated the inception of its inaugural Legal Research Group (LRG) on Business and Human Rights. The prospect of involvement was truly exhilarating, offering me, as a law student, a unique opportunity to immerse myself in genuine research, sharpen my legal research and writing skills, and deepen my understanding of Business and Human Rights.?

Fortunately, I was selected to partake in this exceptional journey. Throughout the research year, we had the privilege of contributing to the development of policies within Portugal, guided by Professors Claire Bright and Laura í?igo álvarez.?

The collective efforts of our group bore fruit in the form of a remarkable achievement: an official report containing recommendations for the forthcoming Portuguese National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, destined for the relevant Portuguese authorities. This groundbreaking report, unveiled in February, seeks to provide valuable guidance to the Portuguese Government in shaping the Portuguese NAP on Business and Human Rights. It does so by presenting specific recommendations regarding both the plan's structure and content.?

Our research methodology involved exhaustive desk-based research and a comparative analysis of existing National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights, as well as a comprehensive examination of relevant soft law instruments, standards, guidance, policies, and laws at international, European, and national levels. As a scientific researcher, it was profoundly gratifying to witness our contributions enriching the understanding of pertinent legislation and soft law instruments in the realm of Business and Human Rights within Portugal.?

Even more impressively, our report received an official presentation to the Portuguese Government in the context of the 'Policy Roundtable on the proposed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.' This event was organized by the NOVA Centre on Business, Human Rights, and the Environment, Instituto Marquês de Valle Fl?r, and Oxfam at Centro Cultural de Belém. The Policy Roundtable featured contributions from notable figures, including Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament; B?rbel Kofler, Parliamentary Secretary of State of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and?Development; Maria Manuel Leit?o Marques, Portuguese MEP from the S&D group; and Dominique Potier, Member of the French Parliament. The event also saw participation from representatives of the private sector, civil society, academia, and youth ambassadors.?

Certainly, it was an incredibly fulfilling and enriching journey from the initial stages of extensive research to the publication of the final report. If you're interested, you can explore the official publication here.?

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