BDS resolution passed by the British Columbia Teachers Federation

[Sid Shniad]

That the Federation:

1. Recognize the longstanding international movement of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiated by Palestinian civil society and trade unions, as a non-violent framework for advancing human rights, peace, and equality in Israel and Palestine, and publicly announce the commitment of the Federation to being guided by its core principles when considering its own advocacy, purchasing, and investment decisions.

2. ⁠support the use of targeted BDS as one set of tools to hold governments and corporations accountable for violations of international law and human rights, consistent with the Federation’s purposes of advancing equity, anti-racism, peace, and global solidarity in the face of the harm done to students, teacher, and the education system in the occupied Palestinian Territories.

3. ⁠develop and present, no later than the 2027 Annual General Meeting, an ethical procurement and investment review policy that evaluates how Federation funds, purchases, and investments align with the principles of the BDS movement, based on the Federation’s own values, policies, and independent judgment.

 
4. ⁠encourage the Executive Committee to establish a committee to review current investments and purchasing practices under this policy and bring recommendations to the Executive committee and membership.

 
5. ⁠develop and disseminate workshops and educational materials to support member learning about the global mass movement for BDS strategies and their use in advancing human rights in Palestine and the world.