Sorgfaltspflichtverstöße aus kriminologischer Perspektive

Der Fall Volkswagen AG: Käufer kobalthaltiger Lithium-Ionen-Batterien aus Konfliktzonen und die Auswirkungen auf die Menschenrechte

Abstract

The following paper deals with the due diligence violations of transnational companies based in Germany, prior to the introduction of the Supply Chain Act, which came into force on 1 January 2023. The main focus of this case study is on the German car manufacturer VW, a buyer of lithium-ion batteries, which contain the conflict raw material cobalt. This purchase indirectly perpetuates human rights violations in conflict countries. First, the existence of deviant behavior in the case of due diligence violations is clarified on the basis of criminological definitions. Further, the motives for this behavior are identified and explained by the criminological theory of rational choice.