On June 17-18, the CARO Centre had the honor of participating in a conference titled: “Human Rights and Environmentally responsible practices in the light of foreign investments - Human Rights and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices”.

Organized in Yerevan, Armenia, by the Council of Europe, Grant Thornton Armenia, and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), this two-day conference offered the CARO Centre - represented by Secretary General Marie-Camille Pitton - an opportunity to present its innovative Conflict Management Committee (CMC) service.

Marie-Camille Pitton also contributed to an in-depth discussion on the need to balance investor protection with human rights defense in the context of investment disputes.

The event provided a comprehensive overview of both national and international landscapes, showcasing best practices and innovations aimed at improving human rights standards in the mining sector.

Marie-Camille Pitton participated in two roundtables:

1) Protecting Human Rights in Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Alongside Stéphane Brabant, a lawyer specializing in infrastructure projects and transactions - particularly in Africa's mining and energy sectors - she discussed the historical tension between foreign investment and human rights. The conversation emphasized how arbitration tribunals are increasingly considering human rights concerns, though the current progress remains insufficient. States must renegotiate their investment agreements to better include human rights protection.

2) The Role of Mediation and Arbitration Centres in Environmental and Human Rights Disputes

Marie-Camille Pitton, together with Elise Groulx Diggs, highlighted the untapped potential of arbitration and mediation centres to develop targeted and innovative services that support sustainable development objectives - including the protection of human rights and the environment. They presented the CMC framework, which integrates environmental and social protection into the responsibilities of CMC members tasked with preventing disputes in infrastructure projects.

The event brought together stakeholders from across sectors - legal professionals, government representatives, business leaders, NGOs, academics, activists, and civil society - for strategic discussions on CSR and human rights.

It also fostered the development of new frameworks and solutions to the challenges facing economic actors.

Learn more about the CARO Centre's CMC service: https://www.carohadac.org/services.html

More about the Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/fr/web/portal

More about Grant Thornton Armenia: https://www.grantthornton.am

More about IRMA: https://responsiblemining.net

For more information, contact the CARO Centre: secretariat@carohadac.org