Kung Fu nuns aren’t the first thing you’d expect to see in central London, but the Trust Conference made it happen. Buddhist nun Jigme Wangchuk of the Drukna Order featured on a panel at the event to explain the work the nuns do to challenge gender roles and teach women the art of self-defence.

“Most people think nuns just sit and pray, but we do more,”Jigme says. “We walk the talk so that young women will realize that, if nuns can do it, so can we.”

“The conference has evolved over the years to a focus on modern slavery and human trafficking, but it has always had a common theme of women’s empowerment and the rule of law.” JACQUI MACLENNAN

By teaching Kung Fu, the nuns hope young women will become stronger and more confident and able to protect themselves against physical abuse and sexual assault. And the Kung Fu nuns are not alone in their passion to break boundaries and social taboos. Their story was among several inspiring testimonies shared at the annual Trust Conference, which ran from 15-16 November at the QEII Centre, London.

As headline sponsors for the second year running, the Firm is a strong supporter of the event.

Brussels Partner and Global Pro Bono Practice Leader Jacqui MacLennan explains: “The conference has evolved over the years to a focus on modern slavery and human trafficking, but it has always had a common theme of women’s empowerment and the rule of law.

“The event is on the cutting edge of human rights issues, showcasing innovative and impactful projects – some of which we are privileged to be involved in, through our pro bono work.”

The Trust Conference is organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which also runs the highly influential TrustLaw project – an international pro bono clearing house serving more than 800 law firms worldwide.

Human rights: the business perspective

The Firm hosted a private lunch on the second day of the conference, highlighting the role business plays in protecting human rights.

“This lunch was an important dialogue with companies who are very focused on issues in this area.” CLARE CONNELLAN

Led by Jacqui and London Partner Clare Connellan, and Head of Social Responsibility Jo Weiss, representatives from a wide range of industries attended, including several White & Case client companies. Consumer products, financial services, hospitality, travel, media, and retail companies were represented, as well as the European Investment Bank and several NGOs.

Jacqui says: “We’re reaching a point where soft law, such as the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, is increasingly becoming enshrined in hard law.

“The lunch gave us the chance to raise awareness of this and to share examples of how companies are dealing with this challenge.  It was a good opportunity to show we understand the challenges they face, and to talk about the Firm-wide training course we introduced last year for all our lawyers on the emerging area of business and human rights.”

Clare, a partner in the disputes practice, who also helped to develop the Firm’s training and served as faculty, says: “This lunch was an important dialogue with companies who are very focused on issues in this area.

“It is clear that businesses are increasingly recognizing their role to play in respecting human rights, from partnering with NGOs to eradicate forced labor in their supply chains, to addressing the financial crimes associated with human trafficking.  We were able to demonstrate that White & Case understands these issues and can help them on this journey.”

To take the training on Business & Human Rights, click on the relevant link for your region: Americas, Asia and EMEA, which include corresponding slides. The training sessions focus on the foundations of business and human rights, providing a review of some existing business practices, introducing relevant legislation and case law, and discussing mock legal and ethical problems.