The United Nations and BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions): Modern Antisemitism

Human Rights Council

Plenary


Resolutions

  • July 14, 2023: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: “Implementation of Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36,” A/HRC/RES/53/25

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    Reaffirming also that Human Rights Council mandates should be implemented and adequately funded without interference of any kind, Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 of 24 March 2016, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

    1. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate the financial and human resources and expertise necessary to enhance the capacity of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the mandate given by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 31/36 is fully implemented, and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the yearly updates of the database include addition and removal of companies, and to present the database on an annual basis to the Council starting from its fifty-seventh session;

    2. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

    Adopted by a vote of 31 in favor, 3 against (Czechia, United Kingdom, and United States), and 13 abstentions (Benin, Cameroon, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Malawi, Montenegro, Nepal, Paraguay, Romania, and Ukraine).
  • March 24, 2021: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/46/26

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    11. Calls upon all States:
    (a) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in these territories with regard to, inter alia, the issue of trade with settlements, consistent with their obligations under international law;
    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing, contributing to, enabling or benefiting from the human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking appropriate steps in view of the immitigable nature of the adverse impact of their activities on human rights;
    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses and the abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, the importation of settlement products, procurements, loans, the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    ...
    12. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights, and to avoid contributing to the establishment, maintenance, development or consolidation of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    13. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;"

    Adopted by a vote of 36 in favor, 3 against (Czech Republic, Marshall Islands, and United Kingdom), and 8 abstentions (Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Malawi, Togo, and Ukraine).
  • June 22, 2020: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/43/31

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    12. Calls upon all States:
    (a) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in these territories with regard to, inter alia, the issue of trade with settlements, consistent with their obligations under international law;
    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing, contributing to, enabling or benefiting from the human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking appropriate steps in view of the immitigable nature of the adverse impact of their activities on human rights;
    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses and the abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements, loans, the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    (d) To increase monitoring of settler violence with a view to promoting accountability;
    13. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights, and to avoid contributing to the establishment, maintenance, development or consolidation of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    ...
    15. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;"

    Adopted by a vote of 36 in favor, 2 against (Australia, Marshall Islands), and 9 abstentions (Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Slovakia, Togo, Ukraine).
  • March 22, 2019: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/40/24

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    12. Calls upon all States:
    (a) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in these territories with regard to, inter alia, the issue of trade with settlements, consistent with their obligations under international law;
    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing, contributing to, enabling or benefiting from the human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking appropriate steps in view of the immitigable nature of the adverse impact of their activities on human rights;
    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses and the abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements, loans, the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    (d) To increase monitoring of settler violence with a view to promoting accountability;
    13. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights, and to avoid contributing to the establishment, maintenance, development or consolidation of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    ...
    15. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    16. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution at its forty-third session,..."

    Adopted by a vote of 32 in favor, 5 against (Australia, Denmark, Hungary, Togo, United Kingdom), and 10 abstentions (Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Slovakia, Ukraine).
  • March 23, 2018: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/37/36

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    12. Calls upon all States:
    (a) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in these territories with regard to, inter alia, the issue of trade with settlements, consistent with their obligations under international law;
    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing, contributing to, enabling or benefiting from the human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking appropriate steps in view of the immitigable nature of the adverse impact of their activities on human rights;
    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses and the abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements, loans, the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    (d) To increase monitoring of settler violence, with a view to promoting accountability;
    13. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights, and to avoid contributing to the establishment, maintenance, development or consolidation of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    ...
    15. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    16. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution, at its fortieth session, on the human rights consequences of the establishment, maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements, and to recommend, at the same session, ways for States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and to fulfil their obligation to ensure respect for international humanitarian law;..."

    Adopted by a vote of 34 in favor, 4 against (Australia, Hungary, Togo, United States), 8 abstentions (Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Panama, Rwanda, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom)
  • March 24, 2017: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/34/31

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    13. Calls upon all States:
    (a) (a) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, including not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in these territories with regard to, inter alia, the issue of trade, consistent with their obligations under international law;
    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing, contributing to, enabling or benefiting from the human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking appropriate steps in view of the immitigable nature of the adverse impact of their activities on human rights;
    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses and the abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements, loans, the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    ...
    14. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to avoid contributing to the establishment, maintenance, development or consolidation of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    ...
    16. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    17. Takes note of the statement of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises in follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 22/29;

    18.Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-seventh session;..."

    Adopted by a vote of 36 in favor (Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, China, Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela), 2 against (Togo, United States), 9 abstentions (Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Panama, Paraguay, Rwanda, United Kingdom)
  • March 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

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    Recalling also the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which place responsibilities on all business enterprises to respect human rights by, inter alia, refraining from contributing to human rights abuses arising from conflict, and call upon States to provide adequate assistance to business enterprises to assess and address the heightened risks of abuses in conflict-affected areas, including by ensuring that their current policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures are effective in addressing the risk of business involvement in gross human rights abuses, Noting that, in situations of armed conflict, business enterprises should respect the standards of international humanitarian law, and concerned that some business enterprises have, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
    ...
    Calling upon all States not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan,

    Emphasizing the importance for States to act in accordance with their own national legislation on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law with regard to business activities that result in human rights abuses,

    Concerned that economic activities facilitate the expansion and entrenchment of settlements, and aware that the conditions of harvesting and production for products made in settlements involve the breach of applicable legal norms, inter alia, the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calling upon all States to respect their legal obligations in this regard,

    Aware that products wholly or partially produced in settlements have been labelled as originating from Israel, Aware also of the role of private individuals, associations and charities in third States that are involved in providing funding to Israeli settlements and settlement-based entities, contributing to the maintenance and expansion of settlements,
    ...
    9. Welcomes the adoption of the European Union Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the European Union since 2014;

    10. Encourages all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies that ensure respect of their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements;
    ...
    11. Reminds all States of their legal obligations as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004 on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall, not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction, and to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949;

    12. Urges all States:

    (a) To ensure that they are not taking actions that either recognize or assist the expansion of settlements or the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including with regard to the issue of trading with settlements, consistent with their obligations under international law;

    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help to ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing or contributing to gross human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards, by taking all necessary steps;

    (c) To provide guidance to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, including the possibility of liability for corporate involvement in gross human rights abuses, and abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including through financial transactions, investments, purchases, procurements, loans and the provision of services, and other economic and financial activities in or benefiting Israeli settlements, to inform businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to ensure that their policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures effectively address the heightened risks of operating a business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
    ...
    13. Calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights and to avoid contributing to the establishment or maintenance of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
    ...
    15. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011, on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure theimplementation of the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    16. Takes note of the statement of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises in follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 22/29;

    17. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in close consultation with the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, in follow-up to the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,1 and as a necessary step for the implementation of the recommendation contained in paragraph 117 thereof, to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the afore-mentioned report, to be updated annually, and to transmit the data therein in the form of a report to the Council at its thirty-fourth session;

    18. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution, with particular emphasis on the human rights and international law violations involved in the production of settlement goods and the relationship between trade in these goods and the maintenance and economic growth of settlements, at its thirty-fourth session;..."

    Adopted by a vote of 32 in favour (Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam), 0 against, 15 abstentions (Albania, Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Latvia, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United Kingdom)

  • March 27, 2015: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/28/26

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    Recalling also the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which place responsibilities on all business enterprises to respect human rights by, inter alia, refraining from contributing to human rights abuses arising from conflict, and call upon States to provide adequate assistance to business enterprises to assess and address the heightened risks of abuses in conflict-affected areas, including by ensuring that their current policies, legislation, regulations and enforcement measures are effective in addressing the risk of business involvement in gross human rights abuses,

    Noting that, in situations of armed conflict, business enterprises should respect the standards of international humanitarian law, and concerned that some business enterprises have enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

    Reaffirming the fact that the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War undertook to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and that States should not recognize an unlawful situation arising from breaches of peremptory norms of international law,

    Calling upon all States not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan,

    Emphasizing the importance for States to act in accordance with their own national legislation on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law with regard to business activities that result in human rights abuses,

    Concerned about economic activities that allow the expansion and entrenchment of settlements, and aware that the conditions of harvesting and production for products made in settlements involve, inter alia, the exploitation of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
    ...
    9. Welcomes the adoption of the European Union Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the European Union from 2014 onwards;

    10. Encourages all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies that ensure respect of their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements;
    ...
    12. Urges all States:

    (a) To ensure that they are not taking actions that either recognize or assist the expansion of settlements or construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to take appropriate measures to help ensure that businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, refrain from committing or contributing to gross human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards;

    (c) To provide information to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks and the possible abuses of the rights of individuals of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including economic and financial activities, the provision of services in settlements and the purchasing of property, and to consider informing businesses of these risks in the formulation of their national action plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

    13. Encourages business enterprises to take transparent action to comply with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights with respect to their activities relating to Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid contributing to the establishment or maintenance of Israeli settlements or the exploitation of natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory;..."

    45 in favour, 1 against (United States), and 1 abstention (Paraguay)

  • March 28, 2014: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/25/28

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    Recalling also the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which place responsibilities on all business enterprises to respect human rights by, inter alia, refraining from contributing to human rights abuses arising from conflict, and urge States to provide adequate assistance to business enterprises to assess and address the heightened risks of abuses in conflict-affected areas,

    Reaffirming the fact that the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War undertook to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and that States should not recognize an unlawful situation arising from breaches of peremptory norms of international law, Emphasizing the importance for States to act in accordance with their own national legislation on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law with regard to business activities that result in human rights abuses,
    ...
    9. Welcomes the adoption of the European Union Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the European Union from 2014 onwards;

    10. Encourages all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies that ensure respect of their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements;

    11. Urges all States:

    (a) To ensure that they are not taking actions that assist the expansion of settlements or construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    (b) To implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to take appropriate measures to encourage businesses domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, and to refrain from committing or contributing to gross human rights abuses of Palestinians, in accordance with the expected standard of conduct in the Guiding Principles and relevant international laws and standards;

    (c) To provide information to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, as well as the possible abuses of the rights of individuals, of becoming involved in settlement-related activities, including economic and financial activities, the provision of services in settlements and the purchasing of property;..."

    Adopted by a vote of 46 in favor, 1 against (United States), 0 abstentions

  • March 22, 2013: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Follow-up to the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, A/HRC/RES/22/29

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    2. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to take all necessary measures and actions within their mandates to ensure full respect for and compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 17/4 on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international laws and standards, and to ensure the implementation of the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, which provides a global standard for upholding human rights in relation to business activities that are connected with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

    3. Requests the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, including in consultation with relevant special procedures mandate holders, to fulfil its mandate accordingly;

    4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report detailing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the independent international fact-finding mission on the implications of Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian People throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in East Jerusalem, to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-fifth session..."

    Adopted by a vote of 45 in favor, 1 against (United States), 0 abstentions

  • March 22, 2012: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, A/HRC/RES/19/17

    "The Human Rights Council,
    ...
    9. Decides to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, with a mandate ending on submission of a report to the Council...;"

    Adopted by a vote of 36 in favor, 1 against (United States), 10 abstentions (Cameroon, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain)

  • June 16, 2011: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, A/HRC/RES/17/4

    "The Human Rights Council
    ...
    1....endorses the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework...

    6. Decides to establish a Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, consisting of five independent experts, of balanced geographical representation, for a period of three years, to be appointed by the Human Rights Council at its eighteenth session, and requests the Working Group:

    (a) To promote the effective and comprehensive dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles;

    (b) To identify, exchange and promote good practices and lessons learned on the implementation of the Guiding Principle and to assess and make recommendations thereon and, in that context, to seek and receive information from all relevant sources, including Governments, transnational corporations and other business enterprises, national human rights institutions, civil society and rights-holders;
    ...
    (d) To conduct country visits and to respond promptly to invitations from States;"

    Adopted without a vote

  • June 18, 2008: UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, A/HRC/RES/8/7

    "The Human Rights Council
    ...
    1. Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative and in particular the identification, through the process of consultations, studies and analysis, of a framework based on three overarching principles of the State duty to protect all human rights from abuses by, or involving, transnational corporations and other business enterprises, the corporate responsibility to respect all human rights, and the need for access to effective remedies, including through appropriate judicial or non-judicial mechanisms;"

    Adopted without a vote

Reports


  • February 12, 2020: THE BLACKLIST
  • February 7, 2013: Report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people, A/HRC/22/63

    "1. In its resolution 19/17, the Human Rights Council decided to establish an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
    ...
    C. Impact of businesses
    96. Information gathered by the mission showed that business enterprises have, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements. In addition to the previously mentioned violations of Palestinian worker rights, the mission identified a number of business activities and related issues that raise particular human rights violations concerns. They include:

    • The supply of equipment and materials facilitating the construction and the expansion of settlements and the wall, and associated infrastructures

    • The supply of surveillance and identification equipment for settlements, the wall and checkpoints directly linked with settlements

    • The supply of equipment for the demolition of housing and property, the destruction of agricultural farms, greenhouses, olives groves and crops

    • The supply of security services, equipment and materials to enterprises operating in settlements

    • The provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport

    • Banking and financial operations helping to develop, expand or maintain settlements and their activities, including loans for housing and the development of businesses

    • The use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes

    • Pollution, and the dumping of waste in or its transfer to Palestinian villages

    • Captivity of the Palestinian financial and economic markets, as well as practices that disadvantage Palestinian enterprises, including through restrictions on movement, administrative and legal constraints

    • Use of benefits and reinvestments of enterprises owned totally or partially by settlers for developing, expanding and maintaining the settlements
    ...
    98. The mission noted that some enterprises had withdrawn from settlements because it harmed their image and might entail legal consequences.
    ...
    VI. Recommendations
    ...
    117. Private companies must assess the human rights impact of their activities and take all necessary steps – including by terminating their business interests in the settlements – to ensure that they do not have an adverse impact on the human rights of the Palestinian people, in conformity with international law as well as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The mission calls upon all Member States to take appropriate measures to ensure that business enterprises domiciled in their territory and/or under their jurisdiction, including those owned or controlled by them, that conduct activities in or related to the settlements respect human rights throughout their operations. The mission recommends that the Working Group on Business and Human Rights be seized of this matter."

  • March 21, 2011: Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations: Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the UN "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, A/HRC/17/31

Statements


States
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Iraq, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We stress the importance of keeping item 7 on the agenda of the Human Rights Council and to update the database with regard to the companies working in the settlements."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Pakistan, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We are deeply concerned over the involvement of Israeli and multinational corporations in perpetuating illegal settlements. We urge the OHCHR to fulfill its mandate, in line with HRC Resolution 31/36, and publish the database of all such business entities."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Maldives, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We also welcome the report of the database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory by the OHCHR, and that the database will be updated annually in accordance with HRC Resolution 31/36."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Algeria, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "Algeria is looking forward to the publication of the update of the database on enterprises conducting activities in the illegal settlements, under the relevant Security Council resolution."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Lebanon, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We call for the publication of a database of companies that work in the Israeli settlements. We call for an update on an ongoing basis of that database."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Yemen, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome also the database presented by the OHCHR in March 2030 on activities by multilateral enterprises in settlement, and we call for updating this database."
  • March 18, 2021: Oral statement by Turkey, UN Human Rights Council, 46th session, Agenda Item 7

    "We once again urge the Israeli government to cease its settlement activities and not to proceed with its illegal annexation plans. In this regard, we welcome the release of the database of companies involved in settlement activities and reiterate that OHCHR has to continue fulfilling the mandate and to ensure that the public database is annually updated."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the release of the database of companies operating in the illegal Israeli settlements, and we look forward to the annual update by the OHCHR of the database of companies, as mandated in HRC Resolution 31/36."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Tunisia on behalf of the Arab Group, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the publishing of the database of all business enterprises involved with the activities detailed in Paragraph 96 of the Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to Investigate the Implications of the Israeli Settlement on the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the Palestinian People throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. We look forward to the updated version of the database, and urge the Office to remain seized with the matter."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Pakistan, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the publication by the High Commissioner of the databank on the commercial activities of companies working in the Israeli settlements, and this is in step with the international position condemning those settlements. We call for an annual update of that database to be submitted to the OHCHR."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Qatar, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the recent release of the database of businesses contributing to sustaining illegal Israeli settlements in oPts, and see it as a bold step to hold businesses accountable for the role they play in sustaining human rights abuses. We thank OHCHR for fulfilling its mandate. Further, we call on the Office to ensure that the database is regularly updated and it remain a valid tool for business accountability, transparency, and dissuasion of rights abuses."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Libya, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the publication of the database, and we hope that that database will be annually updated, pursuant to Resolution 31/36."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Bangladesh, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the publication of the database on business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in oPt. It is an important step towards ensuring protection of the legitimate rights for self-determination, control of land, and destiny of the Palestinians. All the business enterprises contributing to the consolidation of Israeli occupation and illegal settlement policies should stop their activities immediately. So we reiterate the importance of annual update of the database and fulfilling the mandate of Resolution 31/36 in its entirety."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Namibia, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "Namibia further supports the calls for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to annually update the UN database of businesses involved in Israeli settlement enterprise, in accordance with HRC Resolution 31/36."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Sudan, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the publication of the database containing the names of businesses which carry out trade in the Israeli settlements, and we call for the implementation of the mandate of the High Commissioner in terms of updating this database annually under Resolution 31/36."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Venezuela, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "The database of companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements is an important tool that helps guarantee accountability, but needs to be updated in terms of companies that are clearly complicit in the Israeli settlement activities. In its Resolution 3136, the Human Rights Council asked the OHCHR to annually update the database of those companies without the need for a new Council decision."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Senegal, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "Senegal, as the President of the Committee of the United Nations for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, calls upon the United Nations to publish an updated list each year of the database of multinational enterprises involved in specific settlement activities or working in the occupied territories."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Malaysia, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We support and commend the High Commissioner for the long-awaited public release of the database on business enterprises involved in Israeli settlements. The database must be updated annually. Also, it should be released to the public, as mandated in HRC Resolution 31/36. Member States concerned must take necessary actions against the companies listed."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by the Maldives, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "The Maldives welcomes OHCHR's release of the database of business enterprises involved with illegal Israeli settlements in the oPt. These 100-plus multinational companies must be held accountable for their actions as they are conducting business with a regime that blatantly violates the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people without regard to international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We look forward to seeing the database updated annually as mandated by the Council."
  • June 15, 2020: Oral statement by Iran, UN Human Rights Council, 43rd session, Agenda Item 7

    "We welcome the release of database on the activities of businesses connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and urge the UN to continue its efforts to reverse any consolidation of occupation. We urge countries with companies who are active in the occupied territories to shoulder their moral and legal responsibility and end any engagement that might contribute to sustainment of the occupying power's wrongful policies."