Earlier this year, two of the largest weapons manufacturing companies held their annual shareholder meetings and voted on proposals meant to address human rights. General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, whose tanks, missile systems, and other products have been used in conflicts around the world, were pressed to adopt shareholder proposals highlighting a need for due diligence and human rights impact assessment procedures to better address the damage their weapons cause.
While these shareholder initiatives did not pass at these meetings, both proposals received a significant amount of shareholder support, signaling that the approach offers promise to prevent — or at least make more difficult — the funneling of weapons to irresponsible actors or those that harm civilians.
Read the full op-ed, published August 10, 2022, in InkStick.