{"id":616,"date":"2020-12-17T18:40:51","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.elsc.support\/?p=616"},"modified":"2025-04-14T13:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T11:36:45","slug":"31-human-rights-organisations-networks-trade-unions-demand-caf-be-included-in-un-settlement-database","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elsc.support\/fr\/31-human-rights-organisations-networks-trade-unions-demand-caf-be-included-in-un-settlement-database\/","title":{"rendered":"31 Human Rights Organisations, Networks & Trade Unions Demand CAF be included in UN Settlement Database"},"content":{"rendered":"

Read the release in Spanish<\/a> – Basque<\/a> – French<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ELSC, together with 30 prominent human rights organisations, networks and trade unions from Palestine and Europe, have submitted a report to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, demanding that Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) be included in the UN database<\/a> of businesses involved in Israel\u2019s illegal settlement enterprise. The claim is based on the Basque company’s role in expanding and operating Israel\u2019s Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR), which entrenches Israel\u2019s illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN database of companies involved in Israel\u2019s illegal settlement enterprise was published <\/a>in February 2020, listing 112 Israeli and multinational companies, including CAF\u2019s Israeli partner in the JLR, Shapir. The OHCHR is mandated to annually update the database. In 2016 and 2017, the UN Human Rights Council deemed the JLR illegal, saying it is \u201cin clear violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint report submitted to the OHCHR explains that, \u201cby connecting and facilitating mobility between the settlements, West Jerusalem, and Israel, the JLR substantially contributes to the maintenance and expansion of Israel\u2019s illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and to the entrenchment of Israel\u2019s illegal annexation of the city, ultimately consolidating Israel\u2019s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory contrary to international law.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maha Abdallah from the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies said: \u201cIn carrying out the project in occupied and annexed East Jerusalem, CAF is involved in gross and systematic violations of fundamental human rights against Palestinians.<\/em>\u201d Abdallah added \u201cThe construction of the existing ‘Red Line’ has already resulted in significant expropriation of Palestinian property, while the new \u2018Green Line\u2019 will serve the settlement of Gilo among other illegal settlements, whose existence and growth deprives Palestinians access to and use of their land and resources<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this end, the OHCHR must fulfil its mandate in its entirety by annually updating the UN database to include companies involved in Israel\u2019s illegal settlement enterprise<\/a> – as originally mandated by the Human Rights Council in resolution 31\/36 of 2016. Wesam Ahmad, Al-Haq\u2019s Business and Human Rights Coordinator, said \u201cThe database is an important tool for exposing the economic incentive structure that has allowed a military occupation to mutate into a situation of contemporary colonialism and the role of businesses such as CAF, must be addressed in the annual update.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giovanni Fassina, ELSC\u2019s Programme Director said: <\/strong>“The continued operation of CAF in the oPt is illegal under international law. By putting business interests above the rights of Palestinian\u2019s living under a prolonged and illegal occupation, CAF has chosen to put profit before humanity. We hope that by including them on the UN database, CAF will hear the call of civil society and withdraw from the JLR project.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2020, 70 Basque groups launched<\/a> a campaign calling on CAF to withdraw from the JLR. Two weeks ago, people all over Basque Country – in Iru\u00f1a, Bilbao, Gasteiz, and O\u00f1ati – protested to demand<\/a> that CAF stop building the JLR. Kepa Torrijos from Sodepaz, one of the signing organisations from the Basque country said \u201cGroups in the Basque country are working tirelessly to end Basque complicity with Israeli apartheid. We are closely working with trade unions inside of CAF who from the very beginning also called for the company not to participate in the bidding. The key workers council<\/a> at CAF\u2019s headquarters in Beasain has called<\/a> for CAF to withdraw from the project. We are also connected with groups all over Europe who are trying to get CAF excluded from public tenders until CAF ends its involvement in Israeli apartheid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Spanish human rights organisations<\/a>, trade unions<\/a> in Norway, and civil society groups in the UK <\/a>are calling on CAF to be excluded from public contracts in their countries due to its construction of the JLR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, 15 December 2020, Israeli activists blocked<\/a> construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail in Gilo settlement. They held a banner saying \u201cCAF Get Off Israel\u2019s Apartheid Train\u201d and called for CAF to withdraw from the JLR Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full list of signatories: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     11.11.11
2.     Al-Haq
3.     Amnesty international Spain 
4.     Association France Palestine Solidarit\u00e9 (AFPS) 
5.     Belfast Trades Union Council 
6.     Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
7.     CNCD-11.11.11
8.     Comit\u00e9 Solidaridad con la Causa \u00c1rabe
9.     Craigavon Trades Council 
10. European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)
11. European Legal Support Centre (ELSC)
12. European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine
13. Fagforbundet – Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees
14. ICAHD Finland 
15. Mundubat
16. Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) 
17. Norwegian People\u2019s Aid
18. Norwegian Union of Railway Workers 
19. NOVACT – International Institute for Nonviolent Action. 
20. Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) 
21. Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) and its members: <\/p>\n\n\n\n