Firms operating in violent environments face a variety of challenges and opportunities; they may worsen the conditions that sustain violence but they also can contribute to peace and security. This paper proposes a normative, analytical and instrumental framework that identifies such challenges and maps the global initiatives and instruments that socially responsible firms may consider when operating in violent, unsafe environments. While these instruments seem to have the potential to contribute to sustainable peace, the empirical evidence on their effectiveness is still weak and some of them may lack the bite to make a difference. Scrutiny from governments, international organisations and civil societies are necessary conditions for such instruments to be effective.