The past decade has witnessed the spread of internal and international conflict and political instability worldwide, with armed confrontation in Europe, military coups in Myanmar and several West African states, growth in the influence of violent criminal organisations in several Latin American countries, and the dramatic escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The ICRC has indicated that in 2024 there are more than 120 armed conflicts around the world, involving more than 60 different states and 120 non-state armed groups as parties to those conflicts.

As a result, companies, investors and, indeed, consumers are increasingly linked to armed conflict and global instability worldwide. Whether through the metals and minerals required for the energy transition, through consumer staples such as sugar, cacao, coffee and cotton or through social media and travel platforms – amongst other goods and services – our lives are increasingly interconnected with, and at risk of causing, exacerbating or sustaining violent conflict. This places both companies and investors in a critical position: if responsible companies and investors were to leave conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs) this would have a devastating impact on international peace and security; at the same time, if responsible companies with business activities in CAHRAs were to consistently and meaningfully implement heightened human rights due diligence (hHRDD), it would contribute to a substantive reduction in levels of violent and armed conflict.

A thorough understanding of responsible business in CAHRAs is more critical now than ever before. This Brief – the second in our Responsible Business in Conflict series – covers the following four questions:

1. What is hHRDD? 2. Why do hHRDD?  3. Why do hHRDD well? 4. How to do hHRDD well?