Politico.com has analyzed the global implications of the Lundin trial on corporate accountability within the framework of international law. Under the Rome Statute, states parties are obligated to prosecute international crimes—war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide—within their national courts. The statute also established the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a court of last resort, stepping in only when a state is either unwilling or unable to carry out such prosecutions. With 125 states parties to the Rome Statute, the principle of universal jurisdiction has been affirmed, resulting in the prosecution of hundreds of individuals for crimes committed outside national borders. A notable recent development is the increasing scrutiny of corporate executives, with high-profile cases such as those involving Lundin in Sweden and Lafarge in France leading the way. These are not isolated cases, they profoundly change the risks of doing business in violent and repressive environments. International companies would be prudent to adjust their policies accordingly.
Alex Perry, “From Nuremberg to now: How a war crimes trial in Sweden is changing legal history”, in: Politico, 12 December 2024, is available here.
