Law Firms Call for BNP Paribas' Removal From UN Global Compact Over Complicity in Human Rights Violations

Hausfeld, Hecht Partners, and DiCello Levitt Submit Petition Urging Review of BNP Paribas' Operations in Sudan

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hausfeld, Hecht Partners, and DiCello Levitt today announced the submission of a petition to the UN Global Compact calling for an immediate review to determine whether the conduct of BNP Paribas, S.A. ("BNPP") in support of human rights violations in Sudan, between 1997 and 2011, constitutes a breach of the initiative's integrity policies.

The petition requests the Global Compact to take any steps that it considers necessary to resolve BNPP's noncompliance, up to and including delisting the bank from the Compact.

The petition reaffirms that BNPP has admitted to, and been found liable for, egregious human rights abuses connected to its facilitation of transactions for the Government of Sudan, and that the Bank continued its Sudan-related business long after it became aware of widespread atrocities.

The petition also notes that BNPP continues to justify its conduct despite its earlier admissions of wrongdoing. The firms contend that BNPP's continued membership harms the reputation, integrity, and mission of the UN Global Compact.

BNPP joined the Global Compact, in which more than 25,000 firms now participate, in 2003, committing to support and respect internationally proclaimed human rights and to avoid complicity in human rights abuses. Nevertheless, for more than a decade, BNPP facilitated billions of U.S. dollar transactions for the Sudanese regime under Omar al-Bashir, despite extensive public reporting of mass violence and action by the UN Security Council in response to atrocities in Darfur.

The petition asserts that BNPP's conduct and continued justifications—together with its admissions and findings of liability—cannot be reconciled with its obligations under the Global Compact and warrants decisive action.

The petition requests that the Chair of the Global Compact Board require BNPP to submit written comments addressing these allegations and, absent a satisfactory response, take further steps up to and including referral to the full Board for delisting.

Read the full petition to the UN Global Compact here.

About the UN Global Compact
The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 25,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 66 Country Networks covering 85 countries and 9 Country Managers establishing Networks in 16 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

The UN Global Compact's First 2 Principles

Human Rights

Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.

Principle 2: Businesses should make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

About Hausfeld
Hausfeld is a global litigation firm known for shaping the law, advancing legal practice, and pursuing bold, high-stakes claims others won't. Our experienced litigators and arbitrators have a proven track record across human rights, antitrust, commercial and financial disputes, environmental law, product liability, and technology-related issues. With 11 offices across the US, UK, and Europe, we consistently secure landmark settlements and precedent-setting decisions against some of the world's most powerful opponents. Socially minded and committed to access to justice, we champion strong corporate governance and serve both individuals and businesses.

Recognized as one of the Financial Times' most innovative law firms since 2013, Hausfeld has been honored for pioneering litigation funding and groundbreaking work in access to justice. Most recently, Hausfeld was the only plaintiffs' firm named among FT North America's Most Innovative Law Firms: Overall, and founder Michael Hausfeld was recognized in 2025 in FT's 20 Years of Innovation report for transforming legal practice through class actions and litigation funding. For more information about Hausfeld, including recent trial victories and landmark settlements, please visit www.hausfeld.com.

About Hecht Partners
Hecht Partners LLP is a leading litigation boutique specializing in impact, intellectual property rights, and transnational arbitration and litigation. Our clients include some of the most innovative and emerging companies and individuals in the entertainment, digital media, and tech industries. We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit and lean, efficient operations based in next-generation technologies that have yet to be adopted by the vast majority of the legal industry.

Hecht Partners and its lawyers have been recognized by Chambers, Billboard, Crain's, Super Lawyers, and the IAM Strategy 300. The firm's attorneys are Martindale-Hubbell Peer Reviewed and Client Reviewed, with a 100% client recommendation.

About DiCello Levitt
At DiCello Levitt, we're dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, civil and human rights, environmental, mass tort, securities, financial services, antitrust, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, and personal injury litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases—whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise—for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens' rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations—and our capital—on the line for our clients.

DiCello Levitt has achieved top recognition as Plaintiffs Firm of the Year and Trial Innovation Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal, in addition to its top-tier Chambers and Benchmark ratings. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and case resolutions, please visit www.dicellolevitt.com.

SOURCE DiCello Levitt LLP