Ethics Talk Live: The link between Human Rights and Corruption
DECEMBER 9 · Virtual from HELSINKI
15-16 EEST
In the Nordics we are accustomed to a life where we do not face rampant corruption in our daily lives. Our societies are founded upon a certain level of trust and mutual respect – a respect for individuals and equality. We may not truly understand the impact corruption have on societies and individuals. In the corporate world some may even argue that corruption is a victimless crime, and that it is only about “money”. In this talk we want to shed light on the link between corruption and human rights.
We argue that poor governance is the root cause for many (most ?) of the issues that we see in our world today. Bad leadership and lack of transparency is a breeding ground for corruption, which in turn hinders the development of strong societies where individuals and equality are respected.
Is not a corruption free society a basic human right? How can we ensure that we, as consumers and representatives for corporations and organisations, understand the wider implications of our decisions? What are the similarities and differences relating to anti-corruption and human rights compliance work?
AGENDA
14:45 Registration to the virtual seminar
15:00 Welcome from the moderators – Anna Romberg & Niina Ratsula, NBE Founders
A few words to dive into the topic and introducing the Ethics Talk LIVE partners and guests
15:10 Discussion
The moderators will also take in questions from the audience, which can be presented during the Ethics Talk via chat.
15:45 Q&A with the audience
16:00 Closing
Time zone is on EET (Helsinki)
Hayaat Ibrahim is the Secretary-General of the Swedish Anti-Corruption Institute. She previously joined from a leading Swedish law firm providing advice to companies in the area of Corporate Crime & Compliance.
Her area of expertise includes anti-bribery and corruption business and human rights as well as internal investigations.
Hayaat is passionate about sustainable business, anti-corruption and human rights and has previously been recognized as Swedish Super Talent, Top Leaders under 35 and one of Sweden’s Most Powerful within Sustainability.
Heidi Platou has worked as a business ethics and anti-corruption specialist since 2014 covering the South-East Europe and South Asia region of the Norwegian renewable energy producer, Statkraft. Her work included spending one year in New Delhi at the company’s country office. She has also headed the compliance team before taking on a new role on human rights. Her current responsibilities include building up the company’s efforts in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the new Transparency act entering into force in Norway in July 2022, with a particular focus on the identified salient issues within community investments and social license, and decent work in the supply chain.
What sparked her interest in the compliance area was the six years long engagement as a corporate lawyer in Selmer law firm in Oslo, working on one of the largest bankruptcy estates in Norway. It included an investigation into the company’s role in a major case of alleged securities fraud involving a large US investment bank in the aftermath of the credit crises.
Sarah Ellington is widely recognised for her expertise on disputes relating to environmental, social and human rights issues. She is described in Chambers Global 2021 as a “very skilful litigator” and “a forward-looking lawyer” and is highlighted for her “pioneering mediation expertise in the field of business and human rights”. She is also recognised for ESG in the Legal 500 ranking for Commercial Disputes – Premium.
She is one of only a few lawyers to combine experience on complex and high-profile group litigation with advising on complaints to non-judicial mechanisms, such as OECD National Contact points, UN Special Procedures mandates and private, sector-based accountability mechanisms. She also has experience drafting and developing novel mechanisms in this field.
Sarah is a co-creator with Legal Innovation for Sustainable Investments (LISI), focusing on stakeholder management issues within impact investment. Sarah led DLA Piper’s gender-balance network in the UK for nearly 10 years setting strategy and overseeing implementation, and leading the firm to win the Best Diversity Initiative for an International Firm at the Euromoney Women in Business Law (Europe) Awards for 5 years running. She was shortlisted for the Chambers Diversity and Inclusion Europe Awards 2019.