Back to All Events

BDS Conference, Sydney


  • University of Sydney Arundel Street Forest Lodge, NSW, 2037 Australia (map)

BDS: Driving global justice for Palestine Conference

28-29 July 2017

The Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, Sydney University Staff for BDS, and a range of pro-Palestinian organisations including the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) are calling on supporters of Palestine justice, both activists and researchers, to participate in a two-day conference on 28-29 July, 2017.

Registrations now open >>

Submissions for 20 minute presentations are open till 1 June, 2017.

The December 2016 UN Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlements in ‘flagrant violation’ of international law and calling for a halt to all settlement activity, followed by Israel’s retrospective legalisation of thousands of settlements on stolen Palestinian land, acutely raise the question of what steps can be taken to promote justice, along with genuine peace, in the region. In line with the call from Palestinian civil society for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS), this conference, held to mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration and the 50th anniversary of Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, will analyse the current politics of BDS in Australia and abroad, reflect on previous BDS activity, and contribute to greater public understanding of the BDS campaign.
  
Contributions are invited from activists and researchers on any topic related to these themes, including but not limited to:

  • reflections on BDS campaigning in the Asia-Pacific and elsewhere so far: lessons learnt and analysis of current prospects;
  • successes in BDS campaigning internationally;
  • planning for BDS campaigning into the future: ideas and possibilities, proposals for action;
  • sources of BDS solidarity: unions, churches, etc.;
  • responding to issues around BDS : anti-Semitism, freedom of speech, peace, etc.;
  • legal attacks on BDS.

Proposals for 20 minute presentations (maximum 200 words) should be sent to nick.riemer@sydney.edu.au and jake.lynch@sydney.edu.au by June 1, 2017.

The conference is supported by the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney; the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network; Palestine Support Network Australia; Friends of Palestine WA; Justice for Palestine Brisbane; Australian Friends of Palestine Association (SA); Australian Palestinian Professionals Association; Coalition against Israeli Apartheid; Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine; the Palestine Action Group; Sydney Staff for BDS, and Jews Against the Occupation.

View conference website here >>


[Note: this is not an AFOPA-organised event; AFOPA takes no responsibility or liability for this event.]

Later Event: 4 August
The Big Ride Australia