Conflict Zones

Just one proposal made the case that a company should take action to extricate itself from a specific conflict, and it has been withdrawn. Friends Fiduciary sought a report from Western Union “evaluating the feasibility of adopting a policy of not doing business with governments or military forces that are complicit in genocide, and/or crimes against humanity, and/or mass atrocities as defined by the U.S. Department of State or the appropriate international body.” The resolution noted that the company did business in Myanmar (Burma) through Myawaddy Bank, owned by the military. It pointed out that the UN has found systematic human rights abuses in the country by the military, including genocide against the Rohingya people. It asserted companies are under increasing pressure to cut all business ties and points out a contrast between “CEO Hikmet Ersek’s public advocacy for migrants and refugees with the fact that the company’s business partner, the Burmese military, is responsible, through its attacks on Rohingya communities, for creating one of the world’s largest refugee populations.” Friends Fiduciary withdrew after the company announced it is ending their relationship with Myawaddy; it will consider implementing a human rights policy and also will take part in more dialogue with the proponent.