030238 SE Seminar in International Law: International Investment Law and Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2025W)
for undergraduate and graduate students
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from We 10.09.2025 00:01 to Tu 30.09.2025 23:59
- Deregistration possible until We 15.10.2025 23:59
Details
max. 20 participants
Language: German, English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
-
Wednesday
15.10.
16:00 - 18:00
Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG
Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG (Kickoff Class) - N Tuesday 13.01. 09:30 - 18:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
- Wednesday 14.01. 09:30 - 18:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
This seminar is devoted to discuss basic concepts of international investment law taking into account the rights of indigenous peoples.This involves, on the one hand, scrutinizing the protection standards, such as fair and equitable treatment, full protection and security, non-discrimination as well as the guarantee against uncompensated expropriation, and, on the other hand, the question whether general interests and in particular the rights of indigenous peoples are sufficiently taken into account by international investment law, in general, and investment arbitration, in particular.Participants are requested to take inspiration from the list below for choosing their paper topic.
Assessment and permitted materials
Seminar paper, presentation of the paper and participation in the discussion during the seminar sessions.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Seminar paper consisting of 50,000 characters roughly 20 pages (70%), oral presentation of the paper and active participation during the seminar sessions (30%). This seminar requires regular attendance.
Examination topics
The topics of the seminar papers are discussed and assigned in the preliminary meeting.Topics
• National resources: Investment protection v. state regulation?
• Submission of amicus curiae briefs in ICSID proceedings in general and for indigenous peoples in particular.
• Relation between (human) rights of indigenous peoples and the international legal order.
• Interpretation of BITs in the light of international human rights? The supremacy of human rights?
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
• Protection of indigenous peoples in domestic legal systems and their impact on international law.
• Indigenous peoples’ property rights and environmental protection in investment disputes.
• The impact of natural resource extraction and mining concessions on indigenous rights.
• Cultural heritage rights of indigenous peoples and international investment law.Examples of relevant case law:
o Aguas del Tunari, S.A. v. Republic of Bolivia, ICSID Case No. ARB/02/3.
o Almaden Minerals Ltd. and Almadex Minerals Ltd. v. United Mexican States, ICSID Case No. ARB/24/23 (claimants’ memorial on the merits, 20 March 2025).
o Álvarez y Marín Corporación S.A. and Others v. Republic of Panama, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/14, Award (12 October 2018).
o Bear Creek Mining v. Peru, ICSID Case ARB/14/21, Award (30 November 2017) (see also Amicus Curiae (9 May 2016) and Partial Dissenting Opinion (12 September 2017)).
o Bernhard von Pezold and Others v. Republic of Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/15.
o Biwater Gauff (Tanzania) Ltd. v. United Republic of Tanzania, ICSID Case No. ARB/05/22.
o Border Timbers Limited, Border Timbers International (Private) Limited, and Hangani Development Co. (Private) Limited v. Republic of Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/25.
o Burlington Resources Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/5 (particularly Decision on Reconsideration and Award (7 February 2017)).
o Chevron Corporation and Texaco Petroleum Corporation v. The Republic of Ecuador, UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2009-23 (particularly Claimants’ Notice of Arbitration (23 September 2009)).
o Glamis Gold Ltd v. United States of America, UNCITRAL, Award (8 June 2009).
o Glencore International A.G v. Republic of Colombia (III), ICSID Case No ARB/21/30 (particularly regarding Amicus Curiae and summary of claimant’s position, 15 August 2024).
o Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd., et al. v. United States of America, UNCITRAL.
o Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku v. Ecuador, IACtHR Series C No 245 (27 June 2012) (regarding resource extraction, development and the Chevron case)
o Methanex Corporation v. United States of America, UNCITRAL.
o Red Eagle Exploration Limited v. Republic of Colombia, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/12, Award (28 February 2024).
o South American Silver Limited v. Plurinational State of Bolivia, PCA Case No 2013- 15, Award (22 November 2018).
• National resources: Investment protection v. state regulation?
• Submission of amicus curiae briefs in ICSID proceedings in general and for indigenous peoples in particular.
• Relation between (human) rights of indigenous peoples and the international legal order.
• Interpretation of BITs in the light of international human rights? The supremacy of human rights?
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
• Protection of indigenous peoples in domestic legal systems and their impact on international law.
• Indigenous peoples’ property rights and environmental protection in investment disputes.
• The impact of natural resource extraction and mining concessions on indigenous rights.
• Cultural heritage rights of indigenous peoples and international investment law.Examples of relevant case law:
o Aguas del Tunari, S.A. v. Republic of Bolivia, ICSID Case No. ARB/02/3.
o Almaden Minerals Ltd. and Almadex Minerals Ltd. v. United Mexican States, ICSID Case No. ARB/24/23 (claimants’ memorial on the merits, 20 March 2025).
o Álvarez y Marín Corporación S.A. and Others v. Republic of Panama, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/14, Award (12 October 2018).
o Bear Creek Mining v. Peru, ICSID Case ARB/14/21, Award (30 November 2017) (see also Amicus Curiae (9 May 2016) and Partial Dissenting Opinion (12 September 2017)).
o Bernhard von Pezold and Others v. Republic of Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/15.
o Biwater Gauff (Tanzania) Ltd. v. United Republic of Tanzania, ICSID Case No. ARB/05/22.
o Border Timbers Limited, Border Timbers International (Private) Limited, and Hangani Development Co. (Private) Limited v. Republic of Zimbabwe, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/25.
o Burlington Resources Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/5 (particularly Decision on Reconsideration and Award (7 February 2017)).
o Chevron Corporation and Texaco Petroleum Corporation v. The Republic of Ecuador, UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2009-23 (particularly Claimants’ Notice of Arbitration (23 September 2009)).
o Glamis Gold Ltd v. United States of America, UNCITRAL, Award (8 June 2009).
o Glencore International A.G v. Republic of Colombia (III), ICSID Case No ARB/21/30 (particularly regarding Amicus Curiae and summary of claimant’s position, 15 August 2024).
o Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd., et al. v. United States of America, UNCITRAL.
o Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Kichwa Indigenous People of Sarayaku v. Ecuador, IACtHR Series C No 245 (27 June 2012) (regarding resource extraction, development and the Chevron case)
o Methanex Corporation v. United States of America, UNCITRAL.
o Red Eagle Exploration Limited v. Republic of Colombia, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/12, Award (28 February 2024).
o South American Silver Limited v. Plurinational State of Bolivia, PCA Case No 2013- 15, Award (22 November 2018).
Reading list
Preliminary BibliographyBoisson de Chazournes, L. and Baruti, R., ‘Human rights, international investment law and transparency’, in Y. Radi (ed), Research Handbook on Human Rights and Investment (Edward Elgar Publishing 2018), 37-157.Davitti, D., ‘Proportionality and Human Rights Protection in International Investment Arbitration: What’s Left Hanging in the Balance?’, Nordic Journal of International Law, Vol. 89(3-4) (2020) 343-363.Dupuy, P.-M., Petersmann, E.-U. and Francioni, F. (eds.), Human Rights in International Investment Law and Arbitration (Oxford University Press 2014).Jacob, M. and Schill, SW., ‘Fair and Equitable Treatment: Content, Practice, Method’, in M. Bungenberg, J. Griebel, S. Hobe and A. Reinisch (eds.), International Investment Law. A Handbook (Beck – Nomos – Hart 2015) 700-763.Perez, J., Gistelinck, M. and Karbala, D., ‘Sleeping Lions: International investment treaties, state-investor disputes and access to food, land and water’, Oxfam (2011).Reinisch, A., ‘The Rule of Law in International Investment Arbitration’, in P. Pazartzis, M. Gavouneli et al. (eds.), Reconceptualising the Rule of Law in Global Governance, Resources, Investment and Trade (Hart 2016) 291-307.Sattorova, M., ‘International Investment Treaties and the Promise of Good Governance: Norm and Institutional Design, Internalisation, and Domestic Rule-Making’, in A. Reinisch, M. Footer and C. Binder (eds.), International Law and… Select Proceedings of the European Society of International Law (Hart 2016) 131-147.Schill, S.W., Tams, C.J. and Hofmann, R. (eds.), International Investment Law and Development: Bridging the Gap (Edward Elgar Publishing 2015).Treifus, S., ‘The UNGPs and ISDS: Should Businesses Assess the Human Rights Impacts of Investor-State Arbitration?’, Business and Human Rights Journal, Vol. 8(3) (2023) 329-351.Waibel, M. et al (eds.), The Backlash against Investment Arbitration: Perceptions and Reality (Kluwer Law International 2010).
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 15.09.2025 17:25