This week there was a call for input for the report of the Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory to the Human Rights Council 58th session. The deadline is 30 November 2024.
The purpose is a report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 to the Human Rights Council 58th session.
The report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Ms. Francesca Albanese, to the Human Rights Council in March 2025 will be part of a broader investigation into the involvement of business enterprises, including financial institutions such as banks, pension funds, insurance companies, universities, as well as private military and security companies (PMSC) and weapons manufacturers (WM) (hereinafter all together referred to as “private sector”), in the commission of international crimes connected to Israel’s unlawful occupation, racial segregation and apartheid regime in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
In June, thanks to 30+ Volunteers, over 700 companies were submitted for consideration for the UN database update! We are very pleased to see the broadened definition in this current call! While it does not seem to be broadened to include the public sector, such as public charities or perhaps public pensions, it is a move in the right direction, and very important in regard to the ICJ Advisory Opinion naming the occupation illegal.
As the call indicates:
The report will particularly consider the higher due diligence imposed on the private sector after the start of the International Criminal Court investigation in the situation in Palestine (2014), the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since 26 January 2024, the ICJ’s reminder to states in its order of 30 April 2024 in Nicaragua v Germany, and the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024.
Practices, policies and relationships of private entities in the oPt will be assessed against relevant provisions of international law, including the Arms Trade Treaty and the Guiding Principles of Businesses and Human Rights.
Thanks to the 30+ volunteers who came forward to work with Just Peace Advocates in June 2024, we were able prepare over 700 submissions regarding companies complicit in war crimes. Using verified sources, submissions were submitted for the UN database update. This was the first time that the UN has opened up submissions for consideration since the database was put in place in 2020. Thanks to all those who joined with Just Peace Advocates to hold businesses and the UN accountable. Now with a new call, that has a broader scope, we are asking volunteers again to come forward to work specifically on submissions, both enhancing submissions made in June and new ones.
Along with companies, the submissions in June, we did submit close to a 100 financial institutions including the major Canadian banks, as well as several Israel based NGOs and Canadian “charity” conduits.
The call is asking how the private sector is linked to, invests in and contributes to Israel’s unlawful occupation, racial segregation and apartheid regime in the oPt and the military/security industry underpinning it.
Among the questions asked is whether international mechanisms (e.g. Human Council resolution 55/L.30, OHCHR Database) addressed the potential negative involvement and impact of the private sector in the oPt? If not, why?
Read more about earlier submissions:
WSP Global: updated submission to the UN database
We would welcome volunteers to join with Just Peace Advocates doing specific research and writing to make submissions specific to this call, including detailed research regarding financial institutions, pensions, insurance companies, universities, weapons and security companies, private charitable foundations and other.
Be in touch to indicate your interest. We will also be reaching out to others who volunteered earlier.
With respect to non-profit or non-governmental organizations, States must carefully review any organization that is financially or politically supporting the unlawful occupation. States shall not give support to these organizations, for example through allowing the organization to have tax-exempt status or providing tax deductibility for donations to the organization and must ensure that financial contributions to support the unlawful occupation, including settlements and settlers, cease
From Position Paper of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel Legal analysis and recommendations on implementation of the International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
18 October 2024
