Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights' briefing on the UK Govt's position on the UN business & human rights database listing companies involved in settlement-related activities
The UK Government should revise its position of opposing a UN business and human rights database (“UN Database”) which will name companies involved in settlement-related activities that adversely impact Palestinian human rights. The UN Database is expected to be published in early 2018 and may include UK companies.
[C]orporate involvement enables and perpetuates Israel's settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that severely harms the human rights of Palestinians...
[T]he UN Database has significant potential to effectively advance basic public interests of accountability, transparency and corporate respect for human rights...
[A]ctions for the British government to carefully consider in relation to the UN Database:
...begin supporting it, so as to establish necessary coherence with its principled positions supporting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights...
Clarify the action it will be taking against any UK company placed on the UN Database...
...the next iteration of its Overseas Business Risk guidance to companies operating, or planning to operate, in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, should include an express reference to UK companies needing to fully consider and adhere to its human rights responsibilities...