Thread by @PSCupdates

🚨The government has now tabled its anti-boycott bill, an attack on local democracy, freedom of expression and campaigns for human rights and climate justice.

Read this thread and sign our petition to join 68 civil society groups in opposing this bill ➡️palestinecampaign.eaction.online/noantiBDS

The anti-boycott bill will impact on the ability of public bodies to make decisions in line with ethical investment principles, and to divest from companies involved in violations of international law or human rights.

#RightToBoycott

It could hit campaigns against violence against children and civilians in countries where these practices are tolerated or endorsed by authorities, or deforestation and environmental destruction, unless these actions are explicitly outlawed

Nearly 70 civil society organisations – including national trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice, and human rights groups – are calling on MPs to vote against this dangerous bill. righttoboycott.org.uk

In a joint statement, they pledge to fight the anti-boycott bill and warn that if passed, it will stifle a wide range of campaigns for justice, erode local democracy, and present a threat to freedom of expression theguardian.com/world/2023/may…

This bill is the latest in a string of politically repressive legislation that impedes rights to protest including the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, the Public Order Act, and the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.

It includes a draconian ‘gagging clause’ preventing public authorities to advocate for boycott or even talk about the prohibition – forbidding all those subject to the proposed law from even stating that they would support taking a moral stance.

The government will argue that the bill permits exceptions, allowing some countries to be boycotted, but this gives total power to government ministers to decide what they should be.

Why should support for human rights and international law be the exception rather than the rule? And why should the public have to rely on ministers to uphold ethical standards?

The main target of the anti-boycott bill is the growing movement in support for the call issued by Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

The British government seems determined to shield Israel, and companies involved in its occupation, from accountability for its violations of human rights and international law.

Just today, Israel has killed 5 Palestinians in Jenin, bringing the total to 170 Palestinians killed by Israel so far in 2023.

https://twitter.com/PSCupdates/status/1670782394872332291?s=20

The anti-boycott bill even singles out the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’ and ‘Occupied Golan Heights’ by name, alongside Israel, as territories that the law explicitly protects from public sector boycotts, with no room for current or future exceptions.

For the first time, a British law will require Israel and the territories it illegally occupies to be treated in the same way, potentially moving away from decades of British foreign policy and international consensus on the illegality of settlements. theguardian.com/world/2023/jun…

Boycott campaigns have been used by movements across the world to pressure regimes, institutions, or companies to change abusive, discriminatory, or illegal practices. They have helped to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade, obtain civil rights, and champion freedom and equality.

The best-known boycott was the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. Millions in this country, including many local authorities, took part in that movement and their contribution to the creation of a democratic South Africa was recognised by leaders including Nelson Mandela.

Had the anti-boycott law been in place, it could have forced public bodies and British universities to do business with South African apartheid as well as other brutal and criminal regimes.

We call on MPs to:

1) Oppose the anti-boycott bill

2) Promote the right of public bodies to make ethical investments

3) Stand up for Palestinian rights by supporting international law and mechanisms of justice and accountability.

But remember! Anti-boycott laws have been promoted internationally to weaken Palestine solidarity and silence criticism of Israel.

The best way to resist this agenda is to redouble our efforts to raise awareness of the realities of Israel’s system of apartheid and the denial of Palestinian rights.

While this proposed law could limit our ability to call on public authorities to uphold human rights, it cannot prevent us from campaigning to win public support.

As we mobilise to defeat this bill, we must also build our campaigns including the calls to #BoycottPUMA and to push Barclays to stop financing Israeli apartheid palestinecampaign.org/campaigns/stop…

Join us in our fight against the government's repressive bill and get involved in our campaigns. Help us show that we will never stop supporting the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice. 🇵🇸

Sign up now to get involved ➡️palestinecampaign.org/get-involved/j…