University Human Rights Obligations in Procurement and Investment

Published June 2026

By Wouter Vandenhole

There are multiple reasons why universities should make their procurement and investment human rights compliant. This is not just a matter of making the business case. Above all, and that is the premise of this paper, they have a human rights responsibility to do so. Universities are emerging human rights duty-bearers. This means that institutional neutrality is not an option. Universities must assume human rights responsibility, at a minimum in light of their moral responsibility to respect human rights, and often in light of their legal obligations to protect and fulfil human rights in their sphere of influence.

With regard to procurement and investment, universities primarily function as economic actors. Universities must as a minimum therefore respect human rights in procurement and investment.