Norwegian legislative proposal prohibits economic activity in illegally occupied areas

On 28 October, 29 Norwegian organizations launched a legislative proposal that will prohibit economic activity that contributes to illegal occupation and annexation. The proposal is the initiative of Defend International Law, a Norwegian association of jurists and lawyers working to ensure that the Norwegian authorities are consistent in their enforcement of and compliance with international law.

«The proposal is based on a fundamental respect for international law and is a consequence of third countries’ obligations to prevent violations of humanitarian law and human rights», said Kjell M. Brygfjeld, Chairman of Defend International Law. Brygfjeld presented the proposal at an event in Oslo with the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees and Norwegian People’s Aid as co-organizers.

The proposal aims to ban the import and export of products and services by business actors that contribute to maintaining illegal occupation and annexation. It also includes investments in companies that contribute to violations of international law and human rights.

The proposal applies to all illegal occupation and annexation. At the time of writing, it concerns Russia’s annexation and occupation of Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara, Israel’s occupation of Palestine including East Jerusalem, Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights in Syria, Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus and areas in Syria and Iraq, and Britain’s occupation of the Chagos Archipelago.

“Norway has issued advice against commercial activities that may contribute to violations of international law, both in Western Sahara and Palestine, but this is not enough,” said Raymond Johansen, Secretary General of Norwegian People’s Aid. “Due diligence assessments that the advice encourages are carried out differently by different actors. Some divest from companies that contribute to violations of international law, while others do not. We therefore need this proposal.”

Norway’s obligations in the face of persistent violations of international law
According to international law, the international community – as third parties in conflicts – has an independent legal responsibility not to support activities contrary to international law. There is also cross-party agreement on this in Norway. Nevertheless, international law is enforced differently in similar cases, even though all states are subject to the same rules. While some countries that violate international law face strict sanctions, others are only verbally criticized and condemned for similar violations.

“This proposal will help to clarify the responsibility Norwegian authorities and Norwegian actors have to protect civilians in war and conflict in the face of persistent violations of international law linked to illegal occupation and annexation,” said Mette Nord, President of the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees.

The legislative proposal can be downloaded here.

For comments:
Kjell M. Brygfjeld, mobile +47 908 73 793, kmb@ebtas.no
Press contact for Raymond Johansen: Kaja Haldorsen, mobile +47 997 22 009, KajHal531@npaid.org
Press contact for Mette Nord: Ingrid Wergeland, mobile +47 992 71 770, ingrid.wergeland@fagforbundet.no

The proposal is endorsed by 28 organizations:
Workers’ Youth League – affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party, Changemaker – Norwegian Church Aid’s Youth Organization, Electrician and IT Workers’ Union, Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, Norwegian Union of Social Educators and Social Workers, Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, United Nations Association of Norway, Norwegian Union of Employees in Commerce and Offices, International Commission of Jurists-Norway, Not Controversial, YWCA-YMCA Global, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Norway, Norwegian Solidarity Committee for Latin America, Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in Bergen and surroundings, Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in Oslo, Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations, Norwegian People’s Aid, Norwegian Civil Service Union, The Norwegian Civil Service Union Youth, The Palestine Committee of Norway, Campaign – Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Prisons, Press – Save the Children Youth, Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, Association for legal policy, Friends of Sabeel Kairos in Norway, Ship to Gaza Norway, Karibu Foundation and The Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund.