Say NO to the Anti-Boycott Bill

Posted: 22nd June 2023

Amos Trust has joined nearly 70 civil society organisations in pledging to fight the government’s new anti-boycott bill, as it threatens fundamental democratic rights.

READ THE STATEMENT

The Government has now released its so-called ‘anti-boycott’ bill — officially titled the ‘Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill’. 

The bill would make it illegal for local councils, universities and other UK public bodies to make their own ethical decisions about who to do business with or invest in — such as deciding to boycott human rights-abusing companies. 

Instead, they will be forced to follow the UK government’s foreign policy. The bill singles out Israel and the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Golan Heights as being protected from boycott initiatives by these public bodies.

Israel’s settlements are illegal under international law, and the UK government has consistently recognised this. But this bill effectively legitimises them by requiring that they are treated in the same way as Israel. 

The full Right To Boycott statement and list of signatories can be found at righttoboycott.org.uk — they include Liberty, Unison, Unite the Union, University and College Union, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, Muslim Association of Britain, Methodist Church in Britain and Campaign Against Arms Trade.

“If passed, this law will have a chilling effect on all campaigns for social and political change, by trying to remove a key tool for peaceful activism, while protecting the profit-making interests of corporations at any social and environmental cost.” 
Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

The bill is a clear attack on the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to end complicity in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.

It also has huge ramifications for all of us campaigning for justice — from those taking on the UK arms industry to the climate justice movement. It is an attack on freedom of expression and the right to protest.

Amos Trust has joined nearly 70 other civil society groups, including trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice and human rights groups, in releasing a joint statement against this legislation. 

You can sign the Say NO to the anti-boycott bill by clicking below.

SIGN THE PETITION