Very soon the Supreme Court will decide if corporations can be sued in US Courts for involvement in human rights abuses overseas.
The specific case under reconsideration is Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell Oil). Shell is accused of complicity in the Nigeria military regime’s murder and torture of peaceful protesters in the Ogoni region of Niger Delta.
Not only will the Court decide if the Alien Tort Statute - which allows US Courts to address violations of international law - applies to this case with Shell, but to any case outside the US.
Shell claims it’s exempt because of Citizens United. This very controversial decision, made by the same judges who’ll hear this case, allows corporations to donate unlimited funds to election campaigns.
This case with Shell could result in striking down “all international ATS cases,“ including “wiping out human rights cases against individuals, too,“ says TooBigToPunish.
Tell the Supreme Court to make sure corporations pay for Human Rights Abuses abroad.
To the Honorable Chief Justice and other Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court:
Just as Nuremberg ensured that corporations were held accountable for their complicity in Holocaust-era crimes, the US Supreme Court should ensure that corporations like Shell continue to be held accountable for human rights violations, even when they occur outside the U.S.
Shell’s attempt to now interpret Citizens United as justification for corporate misdeeds, such as torture and murder abroad, cannot be allowed or even taken seriously by our highest court.
We request that the Court reject Shell’s attempt to avoid responsibility for its complicity in human rights abuses in Nigeria and also ensure citizens, worldwide, that no corporation, either now or in the future, is exempt from facing charges for such abuse.
Thank you for your consideration of this very serious request.
