UK: New bill to ban ethical procurement by councils is 'dangerous and draconian'

Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill set to make it unlawful for public bodies to consider ethical and human rights issues in procurement and investment decisions 

Special status for Israel will shield it from accountability for human rights violations and breaching international law

‘This scare-mongering legislation is set to choke off responsible decision-making by our public bodies’ - Sacha Deshmukh

Amnesty International UK is calling on MPs to reject a controversial Government bill at report stage tomorrow (25 Oct) which will make it potentially unlawful for public bodies such as councils and NHS trusts to consider human rights and ethical issues when making decisions about procurement or their investment of funds.

The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill will also shield Israeli authorities from accountability for human rights violations and breaching international law.

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's Chief Executive, said:

“This dangerous and draconian law will stifle free speech among members of public bodies and is likely to deter even the most modest efforts to procure goods and services free from slavery, environmental harm and other human rights abuses. It is alarming that the Bill singles out a country, Israel, and gives it unique exemption from international law.

“Instead of bringing forward divisive and unnecessary legislation, ministers should urgently focus on pressing all parties to the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to adhere to international humanitarian law, for the International Criminal Court to investigate possible war crimes by all parties and for the root causes of the current crisis to be addressed to prevent future violations.

“The UK was one of the first countries in the world to seriously embrace the notion that businesses should uphold and promote human rights, and this legislation flies in the face of that. 

“Council officials and members of NHS trusts now face the daunting prospect of being investigated, with their correspondence and social media seized and examined for signs of political opinions. 

“There is no evidence of a problem here in the first place, and this scare-mongering legislation is set to choke off responsible decision-making by our public bodies.”