Subsequent to the formal inauguration of the event by Professor Heinz W. Engl, Rector of the University of Vienna, and Dean Professor Paul Oberhammer, Professor Marc-Philippe Weller moderated a panel discussion on the overarching topic of the conference. In this context, Professor Bruno Simma shared some remarks on the Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration, while Dr. Miriam Saage-Maaß elaborated upon the representation of injured parties before civil courts and Dr. Christian Leitz presented some thoughts on corporate responsibility from the corporate perspective. The opening day concluded with a cocktail reception hosted by the Mayor of Vienna in the “Wappensaal”-hall at the Viennese city hall.

Over the course of the three-day conference, questions pertaining to jurisdiction, substantive requirements for facilitating corporate responsibility, measures for the effective enforcement of human and workers rights as well as the position of corporations in the context of investment arbitration (under particular consideration of problems related to corruption), were discussed both from a public and private international law perspective following presentations by Tanja Domej, Oliver Dörr, Anatol Dutta, Peter Hilpold, Stefan Huber, Nico Krisch, Giesela Rühl and Silja Vöneky.

Upon invitation of the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, the participants concluded the event with a reception at the Foreign Office located at Vienna’s Minoritenplatz.