Danish shipping giant Maersk's shareholders should use their vote at today's Annual General Meeting to ensure the company upholds its own commitments to human rights and the principles of international law and standards, particularly related to arms shipments to Israel, 70+ human rights groups, including DAWN, said in a joint letter today.
Mærsk A/S has faced intense scrutiny for its potential role in facilitating the transfer of arms and military equipment to Israel, thereby risking involving itself in activities that raise serious human rights concerns, the groups said.
A proposal due to be discussed by its shareholders today, demands immediate action by Maersk to disclose its human rights due diligence processes concerning arms shipments to Israel. The urgency of this resolution is underscored by the devastating impact of Israel's military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 13,000 children, and tens of thousands presumed dead under the rubble.
The groups said that voting for this resolution is a critical move toward ensuring Maersk adheres to rigorous human rights standards, crucial for preventing human suffering possibly associated with its operations.
The full letter and list of organizational signatories follows below.
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Global Civil Society Organizations Call on Maersk Shareholders to Demand Maersk Disclose its Human Rights Practices
17 March 2025
Danish shipping giant A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S has faced intense scrutiny for its potential role in facilitating the transfer of arms and military equipment to Israel, thereby risking involving itself in activities that raise serious human rights concerns. Despite increasing global demands for corporate accountability and heightened due diligence efforts tied to the devastating violence seen in Gaza over the last 17 months, Maersk may be falling short of aligning its operations with international human rights standards. A proposal due to be discussed by the shareholders, demands immediate action by Maersk to disclose its human rights due diligence processes concerning arms shipments to Israel. This resolution is a direct challenge to the company to adhere to international law and standards, which include transparently demonstrating its respect for human rights.
The undersigned human rights organizations, therefore, urge Maersk shareholders to use their vote at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on March 18th, to ensure the company upholds its own commitments to human rights and the principles of international law and standards. This request aligns with Maersk's endorsement to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights, which state that a company's human rights responsibility requires it to show that it respects human rights in practice, providing a certain level of transparency and accountability to relevant stakeholders, including investors.
The urgency of this resolution is underscored by the devastating impact of Israel's military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 13,000 children, and tens of thousands presumed dead under the rubble. The deployment of over 25,000 tons of explosives has destroyed civilian infrastructure and raised serious allegations of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Also, in January 2024 the International Court of Justice found that in Gaza there was a plausible risk of genocide and issued provisional measures that Israel has so far disregarded. Maersk's potential involvement risks exposing the company—and by extension, its shareholders—to profound legal and reputational risks. This reality demands that shareholders insist on accountability and transparency from Maersk.
In light of these concerns, the proposed resolution emphasizes the critical need for Maersk to publicly disclose its human rights due diligence processes, particularly with respect to arms shipments. Transparency in these activities is indispensable for evaluating the company's potential adverse impacts on human rights and ensuring accountability. The resolution is firmly supported by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and backed by international demands from UN experts, justice mechanisms, and human rights organizations calling for a comprehensive arms embargo to end the catastrophic loss of life in Gaza.
Despite Maersk advising shareholders to vote AGAINST the proposal, it is evident that disclosing human rights due diligence measures is essential for responsible corporate behavior.
Therefore, we support the goals of the resolution and strongly encourage shareholders to vote in favor of the proposal "on disclosure of human rights due diligence processes" at the AGM. Voting for this resolution is a critical move toward ensuring Maersk adheres to rigorous human rights standards, crucial for preventing human suffering possibly associated with its operations. This action represents a moral imperative, underscoring the need for corporate practices that respect human lives and dignity.
List of Organizational Signatories:
- Abolitionist Law Center
- ActionAid Denmark
- Adasina Social Capital
- Al-Haq
- American Friends Service Committee
- Amnesty International
- Antimilitaristes-MOC València
- Arab Left Forum
- Association France Palestine Solidarité
- (AFPS)
- The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine
- Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
- Australian Centre for International Justice
- Bank Better
- BDS Murcia
- BDS País Valencià
- BDS Sverige
- Boycott Bloody Insurance
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
- Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
- Canadians for Justice and Peace in the
- Middle East – Saskatoon Chapter
- The Canadian BDS Coalition and
- International BDS Allies
- Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos-México
- Control Arms
- DAWN
- Ekō
- Erev Rav
- European Jews for Palestine
- Food Not Bombs
- Global Justice Now
- Global Legal Action Network (GLAN)
- Independent & Peaceful Australia Network
- (IPAN)
- Inner West for Palestine
- Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya
- International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network -UK
- Jews for Just Peace – Denmark
- Jews 4 Palestine-Ireland
- Jewish Network for Palestine
- Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East – Germany
- Judiskt Upprop (JU)
- Judeus pela Paz e Justiça
- Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste Justice For All Canada
- Labour Against the Arms Trade (Canada)
- Manitoba Healthcare Workers for Palestine
- The Middle East Children's Alliance for Peace
- Movimento pelos Direitos do Povo Palestinoe pela Paz no Médio Oriente – MPPM
- Nahlieli: Jews for Justice in Palestine – Finland
- New Unity Movement
- No Weapons for Genocide
- Northern Rivers Friends Of Palestine
- Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
- Oxfam Denmark
- Palestine Solidarity Alliance
- Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
- PAX
- Peace Action
- Permanent Peace Movement
- Plataforma Unitária de Solidariedade com a
- Palestina (PUSP)
- Polish-Palestinian Justice Initiative Kaktus
- Progressive International
- Project of Heart
- The Rights Forum
- Saferworld
- Scientists for Global Responsibility (UK)
- Tech Justice Law Project
- Tipping Point UK
- Transnational Institute
- Union juive française pour la paix (UJFP)
- United Against Inhumanity (UAI)
- United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)
- The United Church of Canada – Palestine
- Network, Shining Waters Region
- Vision GRAM-International
- Vredesactie
- War on Want
- Winnipeg South Centre for Justice
- Women in Black – London
- Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal
- Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
