UOB: Do Not Weaken Ethical Investment Policy

University of Birmingham Management

UOB Backtracks on Ethical Investments

Whilst other universities divest from arms companies and the military complex, the University of Birmingham has passed a motion to end its ethical investment policy exclusions so it can invest in its weapons partners. These partners include BAE systems, a company well known to have provided weapons to Israel to bomb Palestinians as well as committing over £396m of human rights abuses in countries such as Yemen. Students at the University of Birmingham overwhelmingly vote against weapons affiliations including through the Arms Investment Motion passed through the Guild of Students with a 95% majority.

As students, staff and the community at the University of Birmingham reject the university's wish to profit off of war crimes, and demand that the university does not weaken their investment policy.


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Demilitarise UOB

To: University of Birmingham Management
From: [Your Name]

Dear University of Birmingham Management,

We are writing as students, staff, and members of the University of Birmingham community to express serious concern regarding the changes to the University’s Responsible Investment Policy, in particular the removal of ethical exclusions and the stated direction towards increased engagement with the defence sector.

The removal of the exclusion list from the investment policy amounts to a significant weakening of the policy allowing the university to increase engagement with companies which contribute to war crimes and the Climate Crisis.

These changes raise significant ethical concerns, particularly in relation to the University’s relationships with defence contractors such as BAE Systems, which has been the subject of extensive reporting by NGOs and human rights organisations regarding the use of its weapons systems in perpetuating the genocide in Palestine and war crimes in Yemen.

We also note that students have previously expressed clear opposition to the University’s involvement with the arms industry, including through the Guild of Students’ Arms Trade Policy, which was passed with strong support.
As members of the university community, we believe that the institution has a responsibility to ensure that its investment decisions are consistent with its stated values, ethical commitments, and due diligence obligations.

We therefore call on the University of Birmingham to:

1. Reverse the changes to and work with students and staff to strengthen, rather than weaken, its ethical investment exclusions

2. Ensure full transparency regarding any changes to its Responsible Investment Policy

3. Meaningfully engage with students and staff in decisions relating to defence-related investments

4. Provide clear justification and ethical assessment for any changes to the investment policy and for any partnerships or investments in the defence or energy sector

We, the undersigned, demand the University uphold its ethical responsibilities and ensure that its investment policy does not facilitate harm or undermine its stated values.