Designing with rights in mind: New perspectives on ETI Human Rights Essentials

Arvind Patil, Head of Design at Bengaluru-based Good Business Lab (GBL)

For Arvind Patil, Head of Design at Bengaluru-based Good Business Lab (GBL), the ETI Human Rights Essentials course was a valuable opportunity to deepen his rights-based approach to improving workers’ lives in global supply chains.

GBL, a labour research and innovation non-profit, tackles the challenges workers face – particularly women – by developing and testing practical solutions, from grievance mechanisms to behavioural change tools. 

The course helped sharpen the rights lens that guides this work and strengthened Arvind’s ability to design interventions that deliver benefits for both workers and businesses.

Why ETI Essentials?

Despite having over eight years’ experience in this field, Arvind recognised a gap in his toolkit:

“That theoretical understanding was missing. The global perspective was missing. And looking at issues from a rights perspective is super important as a design practice.”

One phrase from the course especially resonated with him: Workers as rightsholders.

“When we say stakeholder, we often assume an equal say in the process, but that’s not the reality for workers. There’s a power dynamic. The course reinforced why rights-based thinking is critical.”

Delivered by Inherently Human in collaboration with the Ethical Trading Initiative, ETI Human Rights Essentials brings together expert facilitators and a diverse, global cohort of participants. 

The course is organised into four day-long modules that blend theory with practical application. It begins with the foundations of human rights in business, covering the origins of rights, relevant legislation, and ETI’s role. The second module explores supply chain transparency, helping participants identify human rights risks and engage effectively with stakeholders. The third focuses on managing risks and measuring impact, from audits to purchasing practices, while the final module addresses remedy, including the design of effective grievance mechanisms.

Rooted in internationally recognised standards, the course equips participants with knowledge and practical tools they can immediately apply to real-world supply chain challenges, enabling them to drive meaningful change in their organisations.

Deep expertise and global dialogue

Arvind had long been aware of ETI’s work through GBL’s engagement with global supply chains. When he saw the course promoted on LinkedIn, he immediately enrolled.

He describes the sessions as highly interactive, led by experienced trainers who combined deep expertise with genuine curiosity:

“Each session was six to seven hours, which in my time zone fell at the end of the working day, but not once did I feel I needed a break. The discussions were engaging, and facilitators shared valuable resources. It wasn’t a one-way lecture; it was a group discussion where everyone contributed their stories and workplace experiences.”

As the only participant in this cohort based outside Europe, Arvind brought perspectives shaped by work across diverse supply chains in Asia and Latin America, adding depth and richness to the conversations. 

One of his strongest takeaways was the openness participants showed in acknowledging gaps in current practices.

“That honesty resonated with our work at GBL. We’re not here to prove something is right or wrong – we want to know what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve it. When businesses openly acknowledge challenges, it’s easier to address them.”

Tools to take forward

ETI Human Rights Essentials gave Arvind knowledge he could apply immediately, alongside practical tools to help strengthen his work.

“It gave me perspectives I couldn’t have accessed elsewhere. I now have at least half a dozen ideas I want to test within GBL’s context.”

He has already shared details of the October intake with his team and peers, confident that others will benefit too.

“Anyone with an interest in worker rights should attend this course. The content is superb, the facilitators are excellent, and the discussions are enriching. If you’re seeking to deepen your understanding of business and human rights, it’s the right place to be.”

To book your place, contact: 

training@inherentlyhuman.co.uk or +44 (0)7813 150855.

ETI's blog covers issues at the intersection of business and human rights. We feature posts by, for and from our members and allies; we do not accept or offer payment for posts or publish content outside of these criteria. We welcome a range of insights and opinions from our guest bloggers, though don't necessarily agree with everything they say.