Due diligence and corporate liability of the defence industry: Arms exports, end use and corporate responsibility

This report t analyses the due diligence and related liability of businesses which export military items and technologies. The report is guided by the following research questions:

• What does the concept of due diligence entail? How does it relate to other concepts and practices such as ‘corporate social responsibility’ and ‘internal compliance programmes’?
• To what extent can companies be held liable for violations of obligations under international law, such as international human rights law and international humanitarian law, regarding exported weapons and their components?
• What are the opportunities for the defence industry to exercise due diligence and the challenges the industry faces in exercising it?