Historical precedents for holding corporations responsible for violations of international law and human rights

Abstract

There are no specific historical precedents for holding corporations responsible for violations of international law and human rights. This brief report, however, outlines some historical precedents which demonstrate that corporations and other business enterprises may be regarded as subjects of international law as opposed to objects. For that reason, it concludes that there are no grounds in international law for any corporation, including Private Military and Security Contractors (PMSCs), to avoid accountability for international law contraventions, in particular violations of human rights and, where applicable, international humanitarian law. Nevertheless, international law has not yet developed to a stage whereby PMSCs can be held responsible for internationally wrongful acts.