Human Rights Voices
  • Home
  • What's New
  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Who
  • Contact
  • DONATE

September 25, 2017

UN-sponsored BDS promoted at UN "Human Rights" Council

United Nations in Geneva
The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement to isolate and delegitimize Israel was given a boost at the UN Human Rights Council during its recent anti-Israel session. During the meeting held in Geneva on September 25, 2017, multiple states and non-governmental organizations pushed for the publication of a "database" of all companies that conduct business - directly or indirectly - relating to Israeli "settlements" in Arab-claimed territories. The blacklist was authorized in a March 2016 Human Rights Council and is expected to be released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in December 2017.

Promotion of the BDS database included the following:
  • Palestinian representative: "I would like to recall that all those who import the products produced by settlements is an accomplice of these violations, which are gross violations of international humanitarian law which amount to crimes of war, and we are awaiting the establishment of a database for enterprises operating in these settlements by the end of this year, in accordance with the Security Council resolution."
  • Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): "The OIC condemns the involvement of Israeli and multi-national corporations in illegal settlements, which results in corporate complicity and war crimes. We look forward to the online publication by the OHCHR of the database of companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements before the end of the year."
  • Indonesia: "Mr. Vice-President, on a final note, while we wait for the publication by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the database of companies involved in illegal settlements, we encourage all Member States to cease any forms of cooperation which may have the potential to prolong and aggravate the Palestinian people's suffering."
  • Gulf Cooperation Council: "We await the database that gives information on businesses participating directly or indirectly in the construction of settlements, and we hope that this will be available in the near future."
  • Al-Haq: "Israeli companies like Mekerot and international businesses profit from and help facilitate Israel's unlawful settlement enterprise. Al-Haq welcomes actions by the Human Rights Council, including the establishment of the database listing businesses involved in the settlement enterprise. This is one step towards accountability and ensuring that the occupation via the unlawful exploitation of Palestinian resources is no longer profitable."
  • Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies: "Supporting a strong database on businesses involved unlawfully in Israeli occupation would constitute much needed and overdue action by this Council."
Date
September 25, 2017
Title
UN-sponsored BDS promoted at UN “Human Rights” Council, UN Human Rights Council
Original Source
http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/human-rights-council/watch/item7-general-debate-28th-meeting-36th-regular-session-human-rights-council-/5587951181001
Note
The continuation of the meeting can be seen here

Related Documents

Date Title
3/24/2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan,” A/HRC/RES/31/36
  • Print this Page
Back to Top
  • © Copyright 2012-2025, Human Rights Voices and respective authors. All Rights Reserved.
  • RSS

Source: