The secrecy behind commercial relations with arms companies or the military sector hides, in many occasions, an indirect contribution to the perpetuation of Human Rights violations. Through arms and police material imports and exports, business cooperation, private security and agreeements in military area can be threatening to fundamental Human Rights, condemned by International Law.
The Observatory for Human Rights and companies in the Middle East and North Africa will supervise these practices and commercial relations among companies and institutions. The Observatory will analyse how these practices are contributing to unstable situations and to Human Rights violations. The Observatory will work with Catalan institutions, to advocate for them to apply national and international law to assure more control and transparency.
During the first phase the ODHE will focus on the relations between Israeli and Catalan companies, considering how arms, security and dual-use material companies contribute to the violation of the Palestinian population Human Rights.
The investigations “Spain-Israel; Defense, Security and Occupation as business (2014) and the Privatitzation of Securty in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (2015)” will give concrete data about how materials and they way companies commercialize them have been tested in real life situations against Palestinian population in the Occupied Territories. The rise of privatization is threatening the Rule of Law, fundamental human rights and freedom which is in theory what defines democracy.
There are legal mecanisms to regulate and show commercial relations of catalan companies operating outside of the borders and defend the Palestinians rights such as the legislation from the External Affairs of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This law is in line with with the decision taken in the 26th session of the Human Rights Council in the United Nations to elaborate an international instrument which is legally binded and obliges big transnational companies to protect Human Rights.
What will be most important for this project will be the citizens critical spirit, since they will be those who can advocate for changes in the company sector. That’s why the Observatory will keep a constant communication with citizens through workshops, trainings, etc.
The Observatory is financed by the Programme Barcelona Solidària 2015 from the Barcelona Council and is organized by NOVACT – International Institute for Non Violent Action and SUDS.
