UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Palestine Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation?

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? UNISON has been campaigning in solidarity with the Palestinian people for over 20 years. We support: self-determination for the Palestinian people support for a viable, independent Palestinian state alongside Israel Israeli withdrawal from the settlements, opposition to the ‘Separation Wall’, an end to the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the siege of Gaza. UNISON’s calls for Palestine

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Disappearing Palestine

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Gaza: Held under a blockade from land sea and air for eight years 1.8 million people lack adequate food, water, medical and fuel supplies 2,000 killed in 2014 military attack West Bank: Four million Palestinians living under occupation Segregation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by illegal settlements and wall. Recent developments in Palestine

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights (Syria) is a violation of UN Resolution 242. Israel’s settlement building policy is a breach of UN Resolution 446 and the Hague Convention which states ‘Private property cannot be confiscated’. Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, defines ‘extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly’ as a war crime. Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention prevents the transfer of a country's civilian population to a territory it occupies. The occupation and international law

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Several major companies are associated with the Israeli occupation. Investments include military equipment, security services, building factories on illegally occupied land and infrastructure which is linked to the blockade. These companies can be difficult to influence, unless you are an investor. Some of the principle investors are pension schemes Multinational companies in Palestine

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? Local Government Pension Scheme Approximately 100 local funds in England, Wales and Scotland Collectively they have billions of pounds of real money in investments Administered by a Pensions Committee consisting of councillors Assisted by a Pensions Board, including employer and scheme member representatives Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries Influencing pension schemes

UNISON: Is our pension scheme investing in the occupation? 1.Pass the motion in support of fairer investments 2.Branch campaign to raise awareness of pension fund investments in companies associated with the occupation 3.Call on pension fund to use its ‘financial muscle’ to demand that companies they invest in cease any involvement with the occupation 4.Call on pension fund to stop investing in companies that are associated with the occupation and divest from those that won’t stop. What next?