Genocide - an introduction

Below are select introductory materials on business and genocide.  Further reports from a wide range of sources are in the "Genocide" section of our site.

Key international standards

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: article 27

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: articles 5, 6, 25

Key reports & guidance

Business and International Crimes: Assessing the Liability of Business Entities for Grave Violations of International Law, Fafo [Norway], Sep 2006

Human Rights Watch Speech [PDF]. Gary Steel, Head of Human Resources & Executive Committee member, ABB Group, 3 Mar 2008 [scroll to section 2, page 3]

Commerce, Crime and Conflict: Legal Remedies for Private Sector Liability for Grave Breaches of International Law - A Survey of Sixteen Countries [PDF], Anita Ramasastry and Robert C. Thompson, for Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies (AIS), Sep 2006

Investors Against Genocide:
- How to Divest from Sudan
- Genocide-Free Investing

Concerns, company responses & non-responses

The Resource Centre invites companies to respond to allegations of misconduct.  Below are examples of allegations and company responses regarding genocide.  We also indicate when a company has not responded.

Sudan: Divest Sudan campaign calls on companies to withdraw from Sudan to avoid complicity in abuses, Apr 2006.  Responses from ABB, Alcatel, CNPC/PetroChina.  No response from Siemens, Tatneft. 

Sudan: Olympic Dream for Darfur calls on Olympic corporate sponsors to raise Sudan concerns with Chinese Govt., Nov 2007.  Reponses from: adidas, Anheuser-Busch, Atos Origin, Coca-Cola, Eastman Kodak, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Lenovo, McDonald's, Microsoft, Panasonic (part of Matsushita), Samsung, Staples, Swatch, Visa, Volkswagen.  No response received from BHP Billiton, Manulife, UPS. 

USA/Armenia: Companies including BAE, Chevron, Northrop Grumman, Goodrich, Raytheon, UTC "likely lobbied" against US bill to name Turkey's killing of Armenians in early 1900s genocide, Jun 2009. Response from UTC, No response from BAE, Chevron, Goodrich, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon.

Positive steps by companies

Global: Barclays Global Investors to develop genocide-free exchange-traded fund

Rwanda: Macy's partners with women widowed in genocide, in basket-making project to foster economic development & reconciliation. 

Sudan: Dream for Darfur gives higher marks to Adidas, McDonald's, Kodak for publicly urging action on Darfur.

Sudan: Google adds images of Darfur atrocities to Google Earth to raise awareness & help press for action.

Lawsuits regarding genocide

Freeport McMoRan lawsuits (re West Papua)

German companies lawsuit (by Hereros - Namibia)

Talisman lawsuit (re Sudan)