We have today issued an update to the database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Those of you who have been following this issue closely will recall that the UN Human Rights Council, in a resolution in 2016, mandated our Office to produce a database of business enterprises involved in such activities. We subsequently issued a report in 2018 on the methodology used, and then a report in 2020 containing the database itself.
The 2020 report identified 112 business entities which we had reasonable grounds to conclude were involved in one or more of the specific activities referenced in the HRC resolution. While the resolution calls for annual updating, no regular resources were provided for that purpose, limiting our ability to undertake further work. However, a number of companies continued to engage with us, seeking their removal from the database.
With limited funds, and on an exceptional basis, in July 2022, we sent each of the 112 entities a letter, informing them that we were reviewing the database, on the basis of information available to us. We invited them to provide any further relevant information on their structure, ownership or involvement with the listed activities. This process was important, in fairness to the companies that had reached out to us. We received responses from 13 enterprises, and engaged in dialogue with some companies that requested it.
Following our review, we found reasonable grounds for the removal of 15 business enterprises on the basis that they were ceasing or were no longer involved in one or more of the listed activities in the OPT.
The update was formally transmitted to the Human Rights Council President this morning and is available on our website.
We hope this serves as a tool for constructive engagement to ensure full compliance with obligations and responsibilities under international human rights law. The High Commissioner expresses hope for it to become a tool that could be used in other country contexts too.
