The second international session of the RToP will take place in London, on 20, 21 and 22 November 2010. It will examine International corporate complicity in Israel’s Violations of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and War Crimes.
You will be able to watch the London session of RToP LIVE on your PC from Saturday morning 10am GMT.
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Watch the session live online
The second international session of the RToP will take place in London, on 20, 21 and 22 November 2010. It will examine International corporate complicity in Israel’s Violations of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and War Crimes.
London proposal document (PDF)
After establishing the responsibilities and obligations of corporations under international law, this session will assess the conduct of a series of companies regarding different aspects of Israel’s violations of the rights of the Palestinian People. The Tribunal will also seek to uncover the system that allows corporations to act in such unlawful ways, and to show in what ways States and international organisations could be held accountable for this.
During this session, the jury will be examining cases on:
- Corporations providing tangible services and infrastructure that support illegal Israeli settlements and the occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
- Foreign banks and other financial institutions providing financial services to illegal settlements and Israeli banks etc. trading abroad who provide financial services to illegal settlements.
- Foreign companies that manufacture products inside the settlements and industrial zones in the West Bank and Israeli companies that export agricultural and other products from the settlements and industrial zones in the West Bank,
- Foreign companies involved in the export of arms and the infrastructure of war, occupation, colonisation and repression in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israeli companies that export arms and repressive hardware/knowledge abroad
The following personalities have confirmed their participation as jury members:
- Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate 1976, Northern Ireland
- John Dugard, Professeur of International law, Former Special rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, South Africa
- Ronald Kasrils, writer and activist, South Africa
- Michael Mansfield, barrister, President of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, United Kingdom
- José Antonio Martin Pallin, emeritus judge, Chamber II, Supreme Court, Spain
- Cynthia McKinney, former member of the US Congress and 2008 presidential candidate, Green Party, USA
- Aminata Traoré, author and former Minister of Culture of Mali
- Alice Walker, Poet and writer, USA.
Programme
Day One: Saturday 20th November
113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
| 09:15 | Doors Open |
| 10:00 | Pr. Pierre Galand (Belgium) will open the London session in the name of the International Organising Committee of the RToP. Introduction to the Second Session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine by Ambassador of France Stéphane Hessel (France) and Michael Mansfield QC (U.K.). |
| 10:15 | I. The Legal Framework Relevant to Corporate Conduct Legal experts, Richard Hermer QC (UK), Yasmine Gado (U.S.A.) and Dr. William Bourdon (France) will set out the tribunal’s legal framework. Each expert will discuss the details of U.K., U.S.A.and French law respectively, their relevance to the application of international law as well as their relevance to this session’s focus upon corporate complicity. |
| 11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:50 | II. Implications of Corporate Activities In and Around Settlements (Part 1) Dr. Dalit Baum (Israel) and Hugh Lanning (UK) will provide an overview of the issues relating to business practices in relation to settlements and the settlement industry. Fayez Al Taneeb (Palestine) and Wael Natheef (Palestine) will speak about the direct impact this is having on Palestinians as workers and residents in and around settlements. |
| 13:30 | Lunch |
| 14:45 | II. Implications of Corporate Activities In and Around Settlements (Part 2) Adri Nieuwhof (Netherlands), will speak as the lead expert on public contracts regulations and the French multinational, Veolia, and its business practices in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ghaleb Mashni (Palestine) will offer an account of the impact this has had on Palestinians. John Dorman (Ireland) will round off the session with an account of the relationships between Cement Roadstone Holdings and the construction of the wall. |
| 15:50 | III. Trade and Labelling of Settlement Goods A Representative from Al Haq (Palestine) will offer an overview of the legal issues relating to the trade and labelling of settlement goods. |
| 16:10 | Coffee Break |
| 16:30 | Christophe Perrin (France) will follow with an account of the business practices of agricultural producers, Carmel Agrexco. Nancy Kricorian and Rae Abileah (U.S.A.) will discuss the cosmetics company Ahava and its production of spa products. Phon Van Den Biesen (Netherlands) will discuss issues relating to labelling of products from Israeli settlements and the day will be closed by Genevieve Coudrais (France), who will speak about Soda Stream. |
| 18:00 | End of Day One |
Day Two: Sunday 21st November 2010
113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1PL
| 10:00 | Doors Open Pr. Pierre Galand (Belgium)will open the second day in the name of the International Organising Committee of the RToP. |
| 10:30 | IV. Financial Services Sector Merav Amir (Israel) Will offer an overview of both Israeli and international finance companies and their connection to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Mario Franssen (Belgium) will speak on the Dexia group. Saskia Muller (Netherlands) will speak on the PFZW Pension Fund. |
| 11:40 | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 | V. The Security Industry and the War Industry An overview of the security industry and the nature of corporate involvement will be set out by John Hilary (U.K.). Maria LaHood (U.S.A.) will provide information on Caterpillar and the use of its equipment in Israeli military practices. Josh Ruebner (U.S.A.) will follow with additional information and evidence relating to Caterpillar’s business practices. Merav Amir and or Dr. Dalit Baum (Israel) will follow with an account of British private security firm G4S . |
| 13:30 | Lunch |
| 14:45 | V. The Security Industry and the War Industry Shir Hever (Israel) and Jamal Juma’a (Palestine) will speak about Elbit Systems and their role in security practices by the Israeli state. Paul Troop (U.K.), will discuss recent court cases against UK based arms manufacturing companies EDO ITT and Raytheon. The final speaker, Ben Hayes (U.K.) will give details relating to EU subsidies to the security industry. |
| 16:10 | Break |
| 16:30 | Speaking time for corporations** Wrap up questions The Tribunal may want to ‘recall’ experts from the session itself or other international legal experts to ask for clarification on legal issues in light of what will have been heard throughout the two days. Closing Round up and overview of the two days, what has taken place and the way forward. |
| 17:30 | End of Day Two |
| 19:00 | The jury withdraws for deliberations |
Day Three, Monday 22nd November 2010
| 10:30 | Press Conference The Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre will host a press conference setting out conclusions from the second session of the RToP. |
Watch the session live online
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