In conflict-affected areas, businesses face a high risk of becoming involved in severe human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. To avoid this, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights require states and companies to conduct heightened, conflict-sensitive due diligence when active in these areas.
After the Israeli army violently raided and closed seven prominent Palestinian human rights organisations last Thursday, this weekend it threatened the director of Al Haq (Shawan Jabarin) by telephone and detained the director of Defense for Children International – Palestine (Khaled Quzmar) several hours for questioning. This escalation proves once again that statements by European governments expressing serious concerns are insufficient. This, together with the killing of critical journalists and other Palestinian civilians with impunity, has reached the point where the international community must set a clear boundary. This is the limit, according to a broad representation of Dutch organisations.
In the early morning of august 18th the Israeli army carried out raids on six prominent Palestinian organizations. These organizations, including Al-Haq and Defense for Children Palestine, were labeled terrorist organizations by Israel last year. However, Israel provided no evidence for this and received wide international criticism. Despite this, Israel keeps fighting these organizations. During the raids, offices were ransacked, and equipment was confiscated, with doors welded shut and military orders left behind declaring the organizations illegal.
Decaying oil tankers at the coasts of Yemen pose serious risks to the environment and the people depending on it, reminding us starkly how conflicts can bring serious pollution risks. New open source research by PAX reveals multiple oil spills from rusty ships that have been polluting the coastal areas around the Port of Aden. If no action is taken by the authorities to remove these ships, it is only a matter of time before a new disaster will unfold.
Emmanual Ira is the Country Director for PAX South Sudan office, where he works to support partners on various projects throughout South Sudan. Last month, he was visiting the Netherlands to meet with the Dutch Council of Churches, IKV-PAX Christi, several of our partners, and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our strategic partner within the Power of Voices program of 2021-2025. PAX talked with Emmanuel about his work.
The Dutch Peace organization PAX deems the “deepest apologies” that Dutch Defense Minister Ollongren conveyed today in Srebrenica to the survivors and next of kin of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide a positive first step, but insufficient.
Illiberal trends are seen all over the world, also within the EU and Israel. Even though the EU is often emphasizing the “shared democratic values” in relations with Israel, there is a lack of accountability and addressing democratic deficits. Today, PAX, launches a report analyzing the illiberal trends and democratic backsliding that can be seen in both Europe and Israel. The report is a result of a cooperation of PAX together with experts from Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies and Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs) as well as external experts. The authors offer highly relevant recommendations and insights for anyone interested in EU-Israel relations, eroding democratic trends and securitization policies.
Both in the Netherlands and in the European Union, laws are currently being drafted on responsible business conduct (RBC). These laws will oblige companies to ensure that they do not cause or contribute to any damage to people and the environment, and to remedy harm that has been done. The law requires companies to be ‘diligent’ with human rights by repeatedly investigating whether, and if so how, human rights are violated and to address these risks. The legislation therefore concerns mandatory ‘human rights due diligence’.
Good news, the Dutch Cabinet will develop a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP). As consortia working in strategic partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we – Pax, Un Ponte Per, ABAAD, Defend Defenders and the SIHA Network – welcome this and are ready to be involved. Let’s make it count to prevent conflict and build peace!
Colombia has elected a progressive left-wing president for the first time in its 214-year history. The support of young people, women and marginalised communities played an important role in the election of Gustavo Petro and his vice-president Francia Márquez. The victory breaks a historical trend of electing right-wing governments in one of the most conservative countries in Latin America.
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