In a recent ruling, France’s highest court has determined that corporations can be held accountable for complicity in crimes against humanity as it pertains to their management of foreign subsidiaries. The monumental ruling, delivered on January 16, is particularly relevant for the French cement firm Lafarge. The company has been facing scrutiny since 2016 over its operations in Syria during the nation’s civil war which began in 2011.
This procedural judgement represents a significant step towards delineating the legal basis for proceeding with investigations connected to such actions. However, as the original article is behind a paywall, further details of the ruling are limited.