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LPHR requests specific UK government action in relation to G4S as well as advice to UK companies’ involved with the illegal Separation Barrier

LPHR has submitted two important letters to the UK government requesting specific action in relation to G4S plc and also advice to UK companies’ involved with the illegal Separation Barrier.

A letter to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, requests information on the UK government’s response to the UK National Contact Point’s Final Statement concerning our complaint against G4S, and specifically the actions it plans to undertake to monitor and ensure that G4S brings itself into compliance with its human rights obligations towards Palestinians under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

In particular, we request the UK government considers taking the following appropriate actions:

  1. Communicate with G4S on this matter to urge that they immediately implement all necessary measures to bring themselves into transparent compliance with the OECD Guidelines; and

  2. Issue a public statement concerning the need for G4S to immediately implement all necessary measures to bring themselves into transparent compliance with the OECD Guidelines.

A separate letter to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office requests that a significant gap be remedied in their existing Overseas Business Risk guidance to UK companies’ operating in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). Their guidance clearly states that it does not support business links to illegal settlements in the OPT. We believe the UK government’s guidance should be extended so that it properly covers UK companies’ involvement in the construction or maintenance of the illegal Separation Barrier located in the OPT. Providing this advice to UK companies would be fully consistent with, and a logical extension of, the existing UK government guidance in relation to business involvement with illegal settlements.

The letter further urges that the UK government raises this issue with EU member state governments with a view to the EU adopting a Common Message that its companies should not be involved, or at least discouraged from involvement, in the construction or maintenance of the Separation Barrier.

Both letters can be viewed on the Urgent Actions page of LPHR’s website.