|
The Trauma Centre was founded 20 years ago in 1993 by the well-known clergyman, Father Michael Lapsley (who, due to a letter bomb sent by Apartheid South Africa, lost both his hands and the sight in one of his eyes). The Trauma Centre played a crucial role in South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and is arguably one of the most well known human rights trauma organisations in the country. The Trauma Centre is backed by eminent patrons including Archbishop Desmond Tutu; former South African Judge, Justice Richard Goldstone; Anglican bishop and a former Robben Island prisoner, Njongonkulu Ndungane; Chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs and Director at Standard Bank, Fred Phaswana; anti-apartheid struggle icon, Ahmed Kathrada; and wife of Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel.
|
|
WHY BOYCOTT G4S? G4S COMPLICITY IN ISRAELI PRISONS & TORTURE
|
|
In 2007 G4S was contracted to provide and maintain Israeli prisons, torture centres and detention facilities. Although initially claiming that it intends to terminate its Israeli contracts, G4S still operates in Israel and with the Israeli regime. G4S also provides equipment and services to Israeli checkpoints and Israel's illegal Jewish-only settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank (click here to download the United Nations Special Rapporteur report with details of G4S and its illegal activities in Israel [Pages 15 & 16]). Due to this Israeli involvement, in 2012, Palestinian prisoners and prisoner support organisations called for an international boycott of G4S as part of the global Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign.
|
|
TAKE ACTION: APPROACH BUSINESSES, UNIVERSITIES ETC. THAT ARE USING G4S
|
|
Join us in approaching local bussineses, resutarnt, shops, property owners, universities and other entities to drop G4S. Click here for a model letter that can be delivered to bussinesses and other entities making the case why they should cancel their G4S contract. Click here to download stickers, flyers, posters t-shirt designs and other material. "Boycott G4S" t-shirts are available for sale from BDS South Africa (contact us on 011 492 2414 / info@bdssouthafrica.com for more info). And, if you are a bussiness or other entity that is thinking of (or has already canceled) your G4S contract make sure to share with us your sucess story!
|
|
VIDEO: HOW COMPANIES LIKE G4S WERE BOYCOTTED DURING APARTHEID IN SA
|
Here is a short YouTube video on how companies like G4S were targeted and boycotted during Apartheid in South Africa. A similar international isolation of Israel through the boycott, divestement and sanctions (BDS) campaign is currently underway. The BDS campaign seeks to hold Israel (and international companies involved in Israel) accountable to international law. In the 1980s the boycott worked against Apartheid South Africa, and its now working against Apartheid Israel. The international isolation of Israel it is hoped will lead to the necessary conditions for a just peace to be negotiated - similar to what occurred in South Africa and brought about a democratic country for all our people. Click here to watch the video. |
|
DONATE TO
BDS SOUTH AFRICA
|
|
JOIN BDS SOUTH AFRICA'S EMAIL MAILING LIST
To join BDS South Africa's email mailing list (& receive these newsletters) send a blank email message to alerts@bdssouthafrica.com
|
|
|
|
GOOD NEWS: S.AFRICAN ORGANIZATION ENDS TIES WITH G4S SECURITY OVER COMPLICITY IN ISRAEL
|
After being approached by BDS South Africa, the renowned Cape Town based "Trauma Centre" has terminated their ties and contract with the controversial security company G4S. James Taylor, the Chairperson of the Trauma Centre, in an official statement posted online, explains the organisation's decision:
"The Trauma Centre...is committed to creating a society free from violence and torture and committed to a culture of human rights…we therefore note with great concern the serious allegations leveled against the security company G4S of complicity in the illegal incarceration and torture of Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories…such acts would violate the very principles which form the basis of our existence as a human rights organisation. It is because of these serious concerns, which violate our fundamental values, that the Board of the Trauma Centre has decided to terminate our organisation’s relationship with G4S." Click here for the full statement by the Trauma Centre..
In the statement, Taylor also adds that the board of The Trauma Centre considered, in taking its decision to drop G4S, the recent allegations of torture at the G4S-run Mangaung correctional centre in Bloemfontein.
Welcoming the decision by The Trauma Centre, Kwara Kekana of BDS South Africa commented: "That a South African organisation with such a history and importance as the Trauma Centre has taken the principled decision to terminate relations with G4S due to the company's complicity in Israeli prisons and human rights abuses should set an example and precedent for all South African organisations, businesses, universities and other entities that have contracts with G4S. We are calling on, in particular, the Airports Company of South Africa, the South African Post Office, and the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch --who all have contracts with G4S-- to immediately end their relations with the company."
G4S, the world largest security company, has been the target of several successful international boycott actions and campaigns in recent years due to its complicity in Israel's illegal detentions and torture of Palestinian political prisoners. The termination by The Trauma Centre is the first South African victory for the Palestinian BDS/boycott of G4S campaign. |
|
TIMELINE OF RECENT VICTORIES IN THE BDS/BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN AGAINST G4S SECURITY
|
--------> In November 2010, the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) in Denmark ended its contract with G4S. Pat Nissen of RCT’s explained that “G4S as a company is helping to facilitate torture.”
--------> In October 2011, the Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) overwhelmingly passed a motion through its Student Council to block their contract with G4S.
--------> In January 2012, Amnesty International in Denmark terminated its contract with G4S (after initially trying to influence G4S policies). “We do not want to work with G4S because the company’s global activities do not live up to Amnesty International’s requirements for corporate action in relation to human rights,” commented Amnesty International secretary Lars Normann Jørgensen.
--------> In April 2012, the European Union refused to renew its contract (service contract number 118611-2012) with G4S following concerns raised by MEPs and human rights organizations (including Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods) about the role G4S plays in equipping Israeli prisons in which Palestinian political prisoners are held in violation of international law.
European Union has declined to renew a contract with private security company G4S amidst concerns raised by MEPs and campaign groups about the role the company plays in equipping Israeli prisons in which Palestinian political prisoners are held in violation of international law.
G4S has provided security services to the buildings of the European Parliament since 2008 but the contract award notice (service contract 118611-2012) published on the EU official tenders’ website on April 13th shows that G4S hast lost its contract with the European Parliament.
- See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2012/g4s-loses-its-contract-with-the-european-parliament-8901#sthash.MWMTAS0u.dpuf
--------> In July 2012, the general director of Danish Church Aid (DCA) announced that his organization will not renew its contract with G4S.
--------> In August 2012, Denmark's Merkur Bank terminated its contract with G4S. Spokesperson Karl Johnsen, said that the bank had canceled its contract “because of G4S’s involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
--------> In September 2012, the UK energy firm, good Energy, ditched G4S saying that “feedback from customers” was one of the reasons behind its decision.
--------> In October 2012, the United Nations Special Raapoteur for Human Rights made special mention of G4S as one of the international companies that should be boycotted for their invovlement in Israel. In a news release, Richard Falk said: “My main recommendation is that the businesses highlighted in the report – as well as the many other businesses that are profiting from the Israeli settlement enterprise – should be boycotted".
--------> In November 2012, over 20 Norwegian organizations, trade unions and NGOs including Amensty International, Norwegian People's Aid and the Young Mens Christian Association wrote an open letter to G4S calling on the company to withdraw from Israel
--------> In January 2013, G4S was nominated by civil society organisations for the Public Eye’s World’s Worst Company Award for its role in Israel's illegal dentention centers, torture facilities and prisons.
--------> On the 05th of June 2013, Avaaz.org, the global petition-site operating in 194 countries launched an online petition against G4S (just ahead of its AGM). The petition drew over 12 000 signatures within 24 hours.
--------> In September 2013, the East London Teachers Association (ELTA) in the UK passed a motion condemning G4S’s complicity in Israel’s prison system, "unlawful detention and torture [of Palestinians]" which it termed as "profoundly unethical".
--------> On the 06th of October 2013, South Africa largest trade union federation, COSATU, called on the South Africa government to end all its contracts with G4S. In a strongly-worded statement COSATU said "It is worrying that G4S (a British-Danish private security company that provides services and equipment to Israeli prisons, Israeli checkpoints, Israel's Apartheid Wall and the Israeli police) has now been courted by our government to milk tax payer's money in order to finance its controversial operations in the Apartheid State of Israel.
--------> On the 11th of October 2013, Dave Prentis the General Secretary of one of the UK’s largest trade unions, UNISON, called for G4S to pull out of Israel. Writing directly to G4s, Prentis said: "I understand that your [G4S] activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories only account for approximately one percent of G4S profits. However, I believe that the reputational risks that these activities pose for your company are far greater [than profit] and I would urge you withdraw now from doing business in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories."
--------> On the 27th of October 2013, from South Africa's historic Robben Island, BDS South Africa singled-out G4S in its address at the "Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Political Prisoners" campaign launch with Ahmed Kathrada and others.
--------> In November 2013, the University of Bergen became the second Norwegian university to not to award its security contract to G4S. Significantly, G4S presented the lowest priced offer in the security tender but the Norwegian university added an estimated loss of 2,5 million NOK (4,1 million rands) related to potential reputational damage the University would suffer if they chose to award their security contract to G4S due to the involvement of G4S in Israel's illegal detention facilities, torture centers and prisons.
|
|
|
