SOMO

🚨 BREAKING 🚨 We are suing the Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and uphold international law. Today, a coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations filed a complaint in The Hague against the Dutch government. Our message is clear: ⚠️ 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞! ⚠️ Despite numerous international warnings and rulings, the Dutch government has failed to act. With no signs of change and even closer ties to Israel under the new government, we've decided to take the Dutch state to court. ✊ “Dutch investors, supermarkets, suppliers of military products, and other actors have been enabling the occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians for decades. The Netherlands, host of the ICC and ICJ, must adhere to its obligations under international law and take measures for accountability now”, said SOMO’s researcher Lydia de Leeuw. ▶ Swipe through to learn more about our demands on the Dutch court ⬇ ▶ Learn more about the case here: https://lnkd.in/ei-ATkdg ▶ Major cases like these come with hefty expenses. Help us cover legal and court fees by donating through our crowdfunding page: https://lnkd.in/ejmgAA9G __ European Legal Support Center ‎Al-Haq Organisation | مؤسسة الحق‎ Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Stichting Palestina

Big brands at the top of the supply chain hold the power.  Suppliers at the bottom bear the costs. That’s called vertical monopoly power. Here is how it works👇 This outsourcing of production and keeping a tight grip on the brand and related assets leads to: 📉 a lower price for final products,  📈 increased profit margins for firms at the top of the chain,    🚀 sky-rocketing payouts to shareholders. Read the full piece here 👉 https://bit.ly/3DrzYC4 UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan #MonopolyPower #GlobalValueChains #BigBrands #BigTech #Apple #SupplyChains

New report alert! 📢 🔌 ⚠️ Energy supplies and resources to produce energy play a critical role in Israel’s ongoing military operations and unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). ⚠️ - How do foreign trade and investment in Israel’s energy sector contribute to grave violations of international law by Israel in the OPT❓ - What are the obligations of states and the responsibilities of companies involved in supplying energy to Israel❓ ⚡ Our new report, ‘Powering Injustice’, is a crucial resource for litigators, civil society organisations, diplomats, and policymakers working to promote accountability and justice for Gaza and the OPT as a whole. Read the full report and share it widely! ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/e9E6NXmZ

We knew COP29 wouldn’t deliver cheerful news... But when the world urgently needs real and just climate action, it paved the way for expanding an industry that has been unable to reduce emissions for over 20 years. Only through structural changes grounded in social justice and fair financial transfers – without conditions – to countries in the Global South can we begin to address the climate and its related challenges. Because choices, practices, and policies can be changed. Read our reflections about COP29's decision regarding carbon markets and more below ⬇️ #CarbonMarkets #COP29 #climateaction #COP29Baku #climatejustice #fossilfuels

This week Alix and Prathm interviewed Michelle Meagher about the buffet of antitrust cases against Google right now. In this episode Michelle gives much needed context on the history of antitrust and how we got here. It started as a tool to prevent concentration of power and the emergence of monopolies, and then was undermined by conservatives who reshaped antirust into a way to prevent monopolies from ripping off consumers. But now old school antitrust is back. For the time being at least. Learn more from Michelle about what this new resurgence means and what she hopes comes next…

⚠️ 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖! Over the past year, Palestinian human rights organisations, UN Special Rapporteurs, and genocide scholars have been raising the alarm about an ongoing genocide. In January 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded that there was a plausible risk of Israel committing acts of genocide in Gaza. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. After months of analysing incidents, policies and statements by Israeli officials, Amnesty International went one step further and, in December 2024, concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. “Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International. At SOMO, we fully support Amnesty International’s conclusion. The world is witnessing the first genocide in history broadcast live. Words matter, and so do actions. We are extending our ceasefire call into an urgent plea to end the genocide now! 📣

The voluntary carbon market, an industry selling a false solution to the climate crisis, is also failing on human rights. Human Rights Watch and SOMO have each done in-depth investigations into major carbon offset projects. Our teams found not only serious abuses, but shocking failures in the so-called safeguard mechanisms overseen by the self-appointed standard-setting body, Verra. Following a controversial decision at COP29, this industry is set to expand, and human rights abuses will surely expand with it. https://aje.io/ail9tr

Missed our event last week? Catch the recording now! 🎥 What role does the Dutch State have in addressing or preventing Israel’s alleged genocide and war crimes❓ As we await the judge’s decision on 13 December in our civil case against the Dutch State, watch back the recording of our 6 December event and learn everything you need to know about the case: 🔎 How does it connect to other legal efforts, like the F-35 case? 🔎 What are the next steps in both cases? Watch the full event here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dGRXezcD Highlights from our speakers: 💬 Frank Slijper (PAX) on the F-35 case: “In February, we expect the Supreme Court’s decision on the state’s appeal. If successful, it will be the first time a Dutch court halts State actions tied to violations of international law." 💬 Lydia de Leeuw (SOMO) on the case against the Dutch State: "The Dutch State, as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, is obligated to do everything in its power to prevent genocide. We’re demanding a full arms embargo, an end to corporate involvement in settlements; a full review of the Dutch policy." 💬 Tahseen Elayyan (‎Al-Haq Organisation | مؤسسة الحق‎): "The Dutch State must uphold its international obligations, ensuring compliance and taking proactive measures to address violations internally and externally. The Netherlands can play a role in shaping Israel’s actions by leveraging its economic and political influence." 💬 Raji Sourani (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights): "Gaza faces mass murder and displacement—a genocide broadcast live. No State can claim ignorance. We’ve long warned this would happen. What shocks us most is the world’s inaction 14 months into this genocide.” Especial thanks to all the speakers and to: - Pakhuis de Zwijger and Max de Ploeg for hosting the event.  - Shaun Matsheza (Transnational Institute) for moderating. Watch and share!

Together with over 40 CSOs, we’re demanding an overhaul of the current investment frameworks that harm communities and climate in many countries. Investment treaties like #BITs or the Energy Charter Treaty perpetuate global inequalities and exacerbate systemic failures. They prioritise corporate profits over public welfare, enabling abuses through mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement. For Africa, the impact has been particularly devastating. Extractive systems tied to these agreements drain the continent’s wealth and resources while leaving behind environmental destruction and social harm. The Entebbe Declaration, developed by African CSOs such as Seatini Uganda with support from organisations like Both ENDS SOMO, Transnational Institute and ActionAid Nederland, offers a clear and actionable roadmap for change. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: 🌎 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Enforce sustainable investment aligned with global climate goals. ✊ 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 & 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Uphold labour rights, gender equality, and community-driven decisions. 💪 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Prioritise local value addition, technology transfer, and capacity building. ⚖️ 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗦𝗗𝗦: Replace Investor-State Dispute Settlement with transparent, fair dispute resolution systems. Read more about the Entebbe Declaration 👉 http://bit.ly/3D0LSmg #BITs #ECT #ClimateAction #SocialJustice #CSOInvestmentForumUganda #sustainabledevelopment

⚒️ We are at the EU #RawMaterialsWeek ⚒️ Don't miss the side sessions and panels with involvement of SOMO and our CSO partners from the EU Raw Materials Coalition. On Tuesday 10 December, we are co-hosting / speaking at three events: 1️⃣ Ensuring Human Rights and Environmental Accountability in EU Raw Materials Policies – The Interplay of the CSDDD, Batteries Regulation, and the CRMA. 📅 When: December 10, 2024, 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM ✍️ https://lnkd.in/g8cbGUBX 🗝️ Key topics: ➤ Landscape of #duediligence laws ➤ #accountability = #competitiveness ➤ Interplay of #CSDDD, #CRMA and #BatteriesRegulation ➤ Implementation in the Latin American context 🎤 Speakers: ● Saskia Bricmont, European Parliament ● Susanne Szech Koundouros, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action ● Yeny Rodriguez Junco, AIDA - Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense ● Alejandro Gonzalez, SOMO ● Johanna Sydow, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Facilitated by: Teresa Hoffmann, FARN 2️⃣ CSO-EU Decision Maker Dialogue on Local Value Addition, Benefit Sharing, and Equal Energy Access in Africa’s Mineral-Rich Regions 📅 December 10, 2024, 14:00 - 15:30 ✍️ https://lnkd.in/dZyuHYdH Bart-Jaap Verbeek (SOMO) will speak during this dialogue between EU and African civil society organisations and EU decision makers. It focuses on the trade, industrial, and energy policies essential for advancing local value addition and benefit sharing in Southern Africa’s mineral-rich countries. 3️⃣ Sustainable Resource Management for a Resilient Europe 📅 December 10, 2024, 17:30 - 18:45 ✍️ https://lnkd.in/eWJmuB9K This roundtable discussion will discuss how to balance the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act's aim to address the supply gap for critical raw materials for the Global North with the need to curb excessive consumption. Our side events during the EU Raw Materials Week take place at the Thon Hotel, Avenue du Boulevard 17, 1210 Brussels. ➡️ Explore all side events & register: eurmc.org/all-events