abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

2 Jun 2006

Author:
Ethical Corporation

Divestment Campaigns: Can investor activism have any effect on Sudan?

Public and private pension funds are increasingly pulling their investments out of Sudan. But can another divestment movement influence Khartoum and turn the tide in Darfur?... The central purpose of divestment campaigns must be to force complicit companies to suspend all business with Khartoum until the genocide in Darfur ends and a lasting peace agreement is signed and implemented, says Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College in Massachusetts... But some critics of divestment say pulling investments out of the region does more to hurt the people on the ground than it does to help. A spokesman for ABB...says the human rights specialists and non-governmental organisations it has consulted have encouraged the company to stay in Sudan to help build the infrastructure it believes will foster economic and social development. Siemens agrees and says that although it takes concerns for the Darfur region very seriously, it believes “engagement is more beneficial for the country than disengagement”. [also refers to China Petroleum and Chemical (Sinopec), PetroChina, Tatneft, Petronas, Shell, Total, Alcatel, Talisman, Premier Oil]