This report describes the questions a Dutch civil court will ask in assessing the liability of a Dutch company for involvement in the violation of fundamental, internationally recognised rights. It focuses more specifically on the liability of a Dutch legal person for a subsidiary operating abroad, but also looks into liability for suppliers. The report was commissioned by the Minister for Foreign Trade of the Netherlands and is intended to serve as a basis for debate on: • the conclusions of a study to be commissioned by the European Commission into the legal framework on human rights and the environment, applicable to European enterprises operating outside the EU; • the framework put forward by [UN Special Representative] John Ruggie... [refers to cases brought by Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) & members of Nigerian Oruma community in Netherlands against Shell]