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Corporate Complicity in International Crimes: Implications of the Lafarge Jurisprudence for the Arms Industry

Julie Février & Sarra Dajean

Business and Human Rights Journal2026https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2025.9article
AJG 1ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

In the Lafarge decision of 7 September 2021, the French Cour de cassation resolved a long-standing unclarity about the interpretation of French criminal law on complicity in the context of multinational corporations’ involvement in international crimes. The court found that complicity in crimes against humanity can be characterized as soon as a business actor is aware that its actions can facilitate the criminal activities of the main perpetrator, without sharing their specific intent to commit the crime. With this ruling, France’s highest criminal court asserted that the transfer of money from multinational cement company Lafarge to the Islamic State (ISIS) to maintain its industrial activity in northern Syria could trigger its liability for complicity in crimes against humanity. This article summarizes this case from a French and international criminal law perspective, focusing on the charge of complicity in crimes against humanity, and assessing the potential implications of this jurisprudence to the arms industry.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2025.9

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@article{julie2026,
  title        = {{Corporate Complicity in International Crimes: Implications of the Lafarge Jurisprudence for the Arms Industry}},
  author       = {Julie Février & Sarra Dajean},
  journal      = {Business and Human Rights Journal},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2025.9},
}

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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