زهرا مشرف جوادی - PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University. All websites accessed ۲۵ April ۲۰۲۱

On ۳۰ January ۲۰۲۰, the World Health Organization referred to the COVID-۱۹ outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. Since then, many governments have been trying to set rules to control the situation. However, it was clear from the outset that they would fail to tackle this problem if non-state actors such as businesses or companies did not take appropriate measures in that respect. Nevertheless, many businesses have either refused to comply with the relevant restrictions or sought to change them. If a company does not provide the facilities required for this situation or submits a false report concerning the essential measures, the world may face a chain of events impacts of which would be global. Therefore, the international community might consider specific responsibilities that should be shouldered by these actors. This challenge raises profound questions about the role that corporates, as non-state actors, may play in cooperating with states and international organizations. This article argues that, under these circumstances, these non-state actors bear responsibility for their failure to implement the required measures.

social responsibility, Due Diligence, corporates, Non-state actors, COVID-۱۹