Release from the International Commission of Jurists - Today, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) made public the final report of the Expert Legal Panel on Corporate Complicity in International Crimes it set up in 2006 to explore when companies and their officials could be held legally responsible under criminal and/or civil law when they are involved with other actors in gross human rights abuses. The report, comprising three volumes, addresses corporate complicity from the angles of criminal law, the law of civil responsibility and public policy.

The report is part of a global effort to advance the rule of law and the respect of human rights in the ambit of business and corporate activities. The report finds that there is a growing body of international criminal law and domestic criminal law establishing liability for corporate officials or corporations. It also finds that many countries use the law of civil responsibility to impose civil liability on legal entities when these engage in conduct that harms human rights interests. Volume 1 of the report, moving from legal to public policy analysis, provides guidance about the grounds and scope of possible corporate liability to assist prudent companies in avoiding the risk of legal liability.

“The three volumes are expected to make a bold contribution to current global debate and actual efforts to hold companies accountable for involvement in gross human rights abuses”, said the ICJ.