On 29 June 2021, a joint oral intervention was delivered on behalf of 65 Palestinian, regional and international organizations (listed below) on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), during 47th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

As we mark the tenth anniversary of the UNGPs we reiterate the importance of the UN database of businesses involved in Israel’s settlement enterprise as an important tool to strengthen the implementation of the UNGPs in situations of conflict and occupation.

As we continue to observe systematic and widespread violations of international law against the Palestinian people, and apparent war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid, Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise thrives, further undermining Palestinian inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and control over Palestinian wealth and resources.

While the international community has consistently condemned the construction and expansion of Israeli colonial settlements, Israel continues to create and consolidate demographic facts on the ground. Business involvement incentivizes the creation, expansion, and maintenance of illegal settlements. 

In 2016, through resolution 31/36, the HRC established the UN Database to address corporate involvement in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise. The database represents a practical and effective transparency tool to ensure that corporations do not continue to benefit from a situation of prolonged occupation and violations of human rights. 

Although the resolution establishing the database clearly provides for its annual updating, it is currently the only Council mandate we know of whose fulfillment has been indefinitely delayed due to “budgetary” concerns.   

Such challenges must be overcome to ensure the implementation of all mandates entrusted to OHCHR, in line with the principles of independence and impartiality. 

The HRC and its Member States must ensure the independence and ability of the Office of the High Commissioner to carry out, in a timely manner, the 2021 annual update of the UN database. It is also important that the High Commissioner provides information with regards to the next steps being taken to address the budgetary challenges identified so that the mandate set out in resolution 31/36 can be fully discharged.

Organizations with ECOSOC status: 

1.         Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies 

2.         Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man

3.         Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights

4.         Habitat International Coalition

5.         International Trade Union Confederation

6.         Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling

7.         Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)

8.         Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

9.         Human Rights & Democratic Participation Center "SHAMS"

10.       International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)

11.       International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

12.       The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy - MIFTAH

Organizations without ECOSOC status: 

13.       Mwatana for Human Rights

14.       European Legal Support Center

15.       Bytes For All, Pakistan

16.       Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem

17.       Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – UK

18.       Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

19.       Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)

20.       Center for Defense of Liberties & Civil Rights "Hurryyat"

21.       Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste

22.       Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

23.       Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)

24.       Oakville Palestinian Rights Association

25.       Viva Salud

26.       American Muslims for Palestine

27.       The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy

28.       Pax Christi Flanders

29.       Association Switzerland-Palestine

30.       11.11.11

31.       SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

32.       Irish Congress of Trade Unions

33.       CNCD-11.11.11

34.       CIG (Confederación Intersindical Galega)

35.       European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine

36.       Finnish-Arab Friendship Society

37.       ALTSEAN-Burma

38.       ECCP - European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine

39.       Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees – Fagforbundet

40.       STEILAS (SINDICATO DE LA ENSEÑANZA de Euskal HerriaeUSKAL hERRIA),

41.       Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid

42.       Agriculture Development Association (PARC)

43.       Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

44.       Defence for Children International/ Palestine

45.       Scottish Palestinian Forum

46.       Palestinian Human Rights Organization

47.       Who Profits Research Center

48.       Palestine amputee Football Association

49.       Al-Fokhari Association for Rural Development

50.       Al Tawasol Forum Society

51.       Remedial Education Center - REC

52.       Basma Society for Culture and Arts

53.       AISHA Association for Woman and Child Protection

54.       Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights

55.       Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society

56.       Association France Palestine Solidarité 

57.       Union of Health Care Committees

58.       Al Ataa' Charitable Society

59.       Palestinian Crescent Society for Relief and Development 

60.       Fares Al Arab for development and charity works

61.       The Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem

62.       Beit Lahia Youth Association 

63.       Association for the rights of journalists

64.       Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)

65.       Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)