Divestment of the Stock Portfolio of the Society

On October 25, 1986, the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law decided to divest the Society’s investment portfolio of stocks in all corporations “with direct investments in South Africa.” This action, which was taken by the Council after considerable debate, superseded the Society’s former policy of investing only in corporations with a high ranking under the “Sullivan principles.” The Council’s action is worthy of note in light of recent divestment-related actions, but especially because the resolution of economic considerations was informed by wider issues of law, moral policy making and human rights.