Skip to main content

Çiğdem is a qualified lawyer and a BHR expert with a PhD in public law with thesis on “A Right-Based Approach to Companies’ Human Rights Responsibility: Human Rights Due Diligence”

Education

2014 - 2020
Ph.D., Public Law, Istanbul Bilgi University
2011- 2012
Advanced LL.M., European and International Business Law, University Leiden
2004 - 2008
LL.B., Bilkent University

Dr. Çiğdem Çımrın is Minerva BHR’s co-founder and chairperson, establishing the organization after serving as country manager of the Centre for Child Rights and Business and a history of international business law and human rights law. Currently she leads Minerva BHR’s organizational strategy and work by engaging public, private and civil society actors with the purpose of advancing corporate responsibility to respect human rights.

In recent years, Dr. Çımrın has focused on responsible business conduct in supply chains where she has been deeply engaged in human rights compliance related issues including child rights, modern slavery, forced labour & human trafficking, occupational health and safety, seasonal migrant work, union rights and fair wage in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors in Türkiye. She works with companies to develop and improve their human rights risk management systems, embed relevant policies, design human rights due diligence processes, conduct human rights risk assessments, and contemplate and implement remedial actions.

Dr. Çımrın is currently serving as a Business and Human Rights Expert with UNDP Türkiye. She is responsible for providing expertise on business and human rights to public and private stakeholders by equipping them with tools necessary to implementing relevant laws as well as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She also teaches “Right to Food and Sustainability in Agriculture Supply Chains” at Bahcesehir University Law Faculty.

Dr. Çımrın previously practiced corporate law at international law firms, where she advised international companies on cross-border business transactions, public-private-partnership projects and risk management.

She has Ph.D. from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Bilgi University with a thesis titled “A Right-Based Approach to Companies’ Human Rights Responsibility: Human Rights Due Diligence”, as well as an LL.M. degree from Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands.

Selected Project Roles

2022 - Present
Business and Human Rights Expert of UNDP Türkiye for the "Business and Human Rights: Promoting Responsible Business Behaviours in Türkiye Project"
2022 - Present
Business and Human Rights Consultant of Global Compact Türkiye Network
2022 - Present
Consultant of UNICEF Turkey for the “Analysis of Child Labour and Child Rights and Business Principles in Turkish Garment Sector”
2021 - Present
Training Expert on “Business and Human Rights” for the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey within the Monitoring Human Rights Situation and Advocating for Compliance with International Human Rights Framework.
2021
External Collaborator of International Labour Organization (ILO) for the research project regarding the “Preliminary Assessment of the Regulatory Framework on Responsible Business Conduct in Turkey under the ILO-UNDP Collaboration on Responsible Business Practices and Human Rights”.
2021
Senior Project Manager in the “Children’s Rights Risk Assessment and Childcare Support in the Rose Supply Chain in Turkey Project” funded by an European cosmetic company.
2020 - 2021
Senior Project Manager in the “Pilot of a business-driven model to enable child labor prevention, remediation and child protection beyond compliance in Lidl’s hazelnut supply chain in Turkey” funded by GIZ and a German international retail company.
2019 - 2020
National Short-Term Independent Expert regarding Legal Advisory for the Syrian Civil Society Organizations Operating in Turkey in “Qualification Initiative for Local Administration and Civil Society II” implemented by GIZ.
2017 - 2018
National Consultant at “Giving Refugees a Voice Project” funded by C&A Foundation. The project goal was to show that the use of Syrian workers in the Turkish apparel industry is systemic and to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including brands and their associated-suppliers, MSIs, business associations, NGOs, trade unions, government to implement changes in workplace conditions.