Vice Chancellor

Sussex University

21st May 2024

Dear Vice Chancellor,

I am writing to urge you to undertake a review of Sussex University’s pension, research funding and other financial arrangements with a view to divesting in full from companies and funds associated with the Israeli government’s oppression of Palestinians. In the context of the International Court of Justice’s ruling that there’s a credible case that the genocide convention is currently being breached in Gaza, this review should include an assessment of the risks faced by the university of complicity in violations of international humanitarian law.

You will be aware that there is significant civil society support for the principle of divestment, including from trade unions represented on campus (UCU for example have criticised the refusal by the Universities Superannuation Scheme to review its investment links with Israel here) and in the demands made by student encampments locally and worldwide to disclose all investments and divest from complicity in genocide.

I have previously raised the importance of higher education divestment from fossil fuel funds and been assured that ethical and moral implications are considered when making decisions about eg research projects. I’d be grateful to know whether and how these same implications are considered in relation to research that could see the university, its students or employees complicit in breaches of international law – and whether they are being considered more broadly in all financial decision making.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,