LPHR has successfully pursued evidence-based human rights complaints under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises against two major UK companies, JCB and G4S Plc, for their involvement in human rights violations against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. Our two carefully considered submissions to the UK National Contact Point, a UK government body, has resulted in significant adverse findings being made.
LPHR’s human rights complaint against JCB
LPHR successfully pursued a comprehensive evidence-based human rights complaint under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises against the major UK construction equipment company, JCB, for its involvement in human rights violations against Palestinians, including children, in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Our work and its outcome has been described as a “significant step forward” by the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Robert McCorquodale.
It was covered by the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/nov/12/jcb-failed-do-human-rights-checks-destruction-palestinian-homes-watchdog-finds
LPHR submitted that JCB is failing to act in compliance with its human rights responsibilities under the OECD Guidelines in relation to the material use of JCB products by Israeli authorities and its private contractors in the demolition of Palestinian homes and the construction of illegal Israeli settlements.
On 12 November 2021, after an intensive two-year investigation process, the UK National Contact Point – a UK government body that is part of the Department for International Trade – published its final decision finding that JCB is in breach of some of its human rights responsibilities under the OECD Guidelines. The UK NCP has mandated that JCB must now establish a stand-alone human rights policy and implement comprehensive human rights due diligence. The UK NCP expressed that JCB’s human right due diligence process should include “setting-out a plan” as to how JCB will “address” the use of JCB products in human rights violations against Palestinians. JCB must report back on its implementation of the UK NCP’s clear recommendations in November 2022.
LPHR’s public statement on the UK NCP’s decision is here.
LPHR’s human rights complaint against G4S Plc
LPHR prior successfully pursued an important human rights complaint under the OECD Guidelines against the UK security services firm, G4S Plc, for its involvement in human rights violations against Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Nine months after the UK National Contact Point agreed with our evidence-based assessment that G4S Plc was in breach of its human rights responsibilities under the OECD Guidelines, the company announced it had commenced a process to sell its subsidiary, G4S Israel. The UK multinational later announced the completion of the sale of G4S Israel to FIMI Opportunity Funds (an Israel private equity fund) in June 2017.
LPHR engagement with the UN Human Rights Office
LPHR has substantively engaged with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights during the formation of the UN Database listing companies involved in settlement-related activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. The UN Database was published in February 2020 and welcomed by LPHR, Christian Aid, Amnesty International UK, War on Want and Quakers in Britain in our joint statement. JCB was listed on the UN database.
News, Blogs, Events & Urgent Actions
- LPHR and Al Mezan: Bereaved Palestinian family gives significant evidence in Paris to investigating judge for unprecedented war crimes and corporate accountability case arising out of 2014 military attacks on GazaNews item3rd August 2023
- JCB found in human rights breach of the OECD Guidelines after investigation into material use of its products to illegally demolish Palestinian homes; UK government body criticises British manufacturer for its inaction and requires it to address human rights impacts [reported by the Guardian]News item12th November 2021
- JCB to be investigated after UK government body accepts LPHR complaint is material and substantiated relating to involvement in Israel’s human rights violations against PalestiniansNews item12th October 2020
- LPHR Q&A: Ireland’s Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill in the context of imminent formal annexation and ongoing settlement expansionNews item30th June 2020
- LPHR submission for accountability study being conducted by UN Special Rapporteur Michael LynkNews item1st June 2020
- Supreme Court finds against the UK government on LGPS ethical investmentsNews item29th April 2020
- LPHR, Amnesty International UK, Quakers, War on Want and Christian Aid on the release of the UN database: UK organisations urge UK Government to take action to end businesses’ involvement in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territoryNews item25th February 2020
- LPHR files OECD Guidelines complaint against JCB for involvement in human rights breaches in the occupied Palestinian territoryNews item10th December 2019
- 39 UK parliamentarians sign letter submitted to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urging her to immediately publish the UN database listing companies involved in settlement-related activitiesNews item26th September 2019
- Open Letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet: Release of the United Nations Database of Businesses Engaged in Activities Related to Israeli SettlementsNews item29th August 2019
- New research indicates that G1 Secure Solutions, formerly G4S Israel, remains involved in human rights violations against PalestiniansPost5th August 2019
- LPHR briefing on the impending demolition of the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank and the forcible transfer of its residentsNews item30th October 2018
- Urgent second letter: JCB’s involvement in the impending demolition of Khan al-Ahmar that is in breach of its human rights responsibilitiesUrgent Action25th September 2018
- Urgent letter to JCB regarding its involvement in the imminent demolition of Khan al-Ahmar that is in breach of its human rights responsibilitiesUrgent Action21st August 2018
- LPHR submit letter to the UK company, JCB, raising serious legal and human rights concerns about its involvement in the imminent demolition of Khan al-AhmarNews item
- LPHR Q&A: What’s happened to the UN Business and Human Rights Database for companies involved in settlement-related activities?News item27th July 2018
- Urgent: JCB’s involvement in the pending demolition of Khan al-Ahmar that is in breach of its human rights responsibilitiesUrgent Action5th July 2018
- Joint Open Letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights following his Office’s Report on the UN Database of Businesses Involved in Settlement ActivitiesNews item22nd February 2018
- LPHR briefing: UK government’s position on the UN business and human rights database listing companies involved in settlement-related activitiesNews item12th January 2018
- LPHR circulates briefing to local authorities on pensions investment and public procurement decision-making in relation to companies operating in the occupied Palestinian territory and/or IsraelNews item17th July 2017
- LPHR welcomes G4S’ completion of sale of G4S Israel as being an act in accordance with its business and human rights responsibilitiesNews item30th June 2017
- LPHR Statement: G4S’ striking omission of adverse human rights findings in its latest Corporate Social Responsibility report ahead of its Annual General MeetingNews item23rd May 2017
- New report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights excerpts LPHR’s evidence and makes related business and human rights recommendation to the UK GovernmentNews item5th April 2017
- Letter to G4S requesting clarification on G4S’ activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory following its announcement of agreement to sell G4S Israel to FIMI Opportunity Funds (published by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre)Urgent Action8th March 2017
- Letter to FIMI Opportunity Funds requesting clarification on its pending acquisition of G4S Israel (published by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre)Urgent Action
- LPHR submits letters to G4S and FIMI Opportunity Funds following the announcement of the sale of G4S Israel to the Israeli private equity fundNews item
- Letter to UK government requesting it reconsiders its position on the implementation of a UN human rights database listing companies involved in settlement activitiesUrgent Action21st February 2017
- LPHR publishes briefing on the human rights impact of illegal Israeli settlements and related third-state legal dutiesNews item8th February 2017
- LPHR statement on G4S announcement of agreement to sell G4S IsraelNews item6th December 2016
- Requesting the Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutinise the disturbing conduct of G4S following the UK National Contact Point’s finding of breach of human rights obligationsUrgent Action21st September 2016
- G4S continues to misrepresent UK watchdog’s decision that the company breached human rights obligations, despite being reprimanded for ‘disappointing’ behaviourNews item
- Letter to UK government requesting intervention following the UK National Contact Point’s finding that G4S remains in breach of human rights obligationsUrgent Action
- Sarah Champion MP raises question in Parliament concerning G4S’ ongoing breach of human rights obligations under the OECD GuidelinesNews item13th July 2016
- LPHR Statement: UK watchdog criticises G4S for misleading public over breach of human rights obligations towards Palestinians and finds it has not implemented key recommendationsNews item7th July 2016
- LPHR letter to G4S with 16 key questions is published by the Business and Human Rights Resource CentreNews item23rd May 2016
- LPHR Commentary on G4S’ apparent decision to sell G4S IsraelNews item11th May 2016
- LPHR Commentary on the G4S Corporate Social Responsibility Report’s inadequate response to being found in breach of human rights obligations under the OECD GuidelinesNews item
- Government Procurement Policy Note to stop public bodies’ boycott and divestment strategies may prevent local authorities from complying with international lawPost19th February 2016
- LPHR Statement: Labour’s executive decision to end their security contract with G4SNews item25th November 2015
- Letter to G4S with 16 key questions following publication of the UK NCP Final Statement (published in May 2016 by LPHR and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre after no reply received from G4S)Urgent Action28th October 2015
- LPHR requests specific UK government action in relation to G4S as well as advice to UK companies’ involved with the illegal Separation BarrierNews item14th October 2015
- Letter to UK government concerning G4S PLC being found in violation of human rights obligations by the UK National Contact Point in relation to their activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territoryUrgent Action
- Letter to UK government requesting it extends its Overseas Business Risk advice to cover business involvement with the Separation Barrier located in the occupied Palestinian territoryUrgent Action
- Government plans to stop local councils boycott and divestment from Israel raise fundamental questions on their position on illegal settlementsPost12th October 2015
- LPHR Statement: Response to G4S’ fundamental misrepresentation of adverse findings of human rights breaches of the OECD GuidelinesNews item23rd June 2015
- LPHR Statement: Response to G4S’ public statement on being found in breach of three key human rights obligationsNews item10th June 2015
- G4S and Israel’s military checkpointsPost9th June 2015
- G4S and the Israeli prison systemPost
- Guide to the OECD Guidelines complaints mechanism and how can it be used?Post
- Q&A on LPHR’s human rights complaint against G4SPost
- LPHR Commentary on the Final Statement issued by the UK National Contact Point Final Statement for the OECD Guidelines concerning LPHR’s business and human rights complaint against G4SNews item
- UK government body finds G4S is violating human rights obligations towards Palestinians following comprehensive human rights complaint by LPHRNews item
- G4S to be investigated by the UK National Contact Point following LPHR comprehensive complaint relating to alleged Israeli human rights violationsNews item2nd June 2014
- Corporate accountability for alleged human rights violations in action: UK NCP Initial Assessment of LPHR’s complaint against G4SPost
- LPHR submit complaint to the UK National Contact Point against conduct of the security group G4S in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territoryNews item19th November 2013