University of Strathclyde Student Association joins its counterparts from Edinburgh University and Glasgow Caledonian university student associations in passing policy
The University of Strathclyde Student Association (USSA) has agreed to support a global movement boycotting Israel.
USSA passed policy on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) which calls for a boycott of all companies complicit in the occupation of Palestinian territories.
BDS was launched by Palestinian civil society in 2005 and calls on people to launch broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives, and to demand sanctions against Israel, until Palestinian rights are recognised in full compliance with international law.
Matt Crilly, president of Strathclyde Students for Palestinian Human Rights, said: “We are immensely proud that USSA has taken the decision to endorse BDS as official policy.
“In 1984, the students of Strathclyde showed solidarity to those fighting inequality in South Africa, electing Nelson Mandela as an honorary member of the Union. Now, carrying on in this tradition, the union is courageously backing the Palestinians in their struggle for basic human rights.
The union is courageously backing the Palestinians in their struggle for basic human rights
“Currently, Israel practices discrimination, colonisation and oppression. Until such policies cease to exist and the Palestinians are treated fairly, the international community must put pressure on those in charge of Israel to change.”
As part of supporting BDS USSA sabbatical officers are banned from participating in official or funded trips to Israel in their capacity as elected officers and the student’s association will campaign for the university to adopt the same practices.
Gary Paterson, USSA President, said: “We are proud to join the BDS movement, students have a chance to shape change in the world through our collective power. Just as we did in the past with students organising boycotts of Barclays Bank’s support of apartheid South Africa, we can peacefully object to the consistent abuse of human rights in occupied Palestine.
“Students, our student unions, and the institutions of society can stand up against the consistent violations of human rights abuses with solidarity and peaceful opposition by diverting our support upon which the perpetrators of abuse rely on."
Edinburgh University Students’ Association and Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association have already agreed to support BDS policy.
