Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Composite: Solidarity with Palestine

Session

2023-2024

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

29 May 2024

Status

Passed

Motion

32

Motion text

Congress notes
1. Since 7th October, more than an estimated 30,676 Palestinians and 1,139 Israelis have been killed, building on decades of precedent.
2. The Senedd and a UN General Assembly majority have voted for an immediate ceasefire.
3. For disabled Palestinians, escaping conflict zones becomes an effective death sentence.
4. Deaf or blind individuals struggle to receive evacuation orders, while those with intellectual disabilities may be unable to communicate their whereabouts.
5. Physical disabilities hinder mobility, making it impossible to navigate rubble or travel long distances
6. Before 7th October, 21% of households in Gaza had at least one member with a disability. At least 77,229 Palestinians in Gaza have since been injured in Israel’s genocidal assault
Congress believes
a. The Israeli response to the Hamas attacks amounts to genocide, ethnic cleansing and collective punishment of Palestinians.
b. Disabled people are considered more vulnerable to the impact of conflicts because they face greater barriers to accessing safety and humanitarian assistance than many others. This puts them at an increased risk of serious injuries, death, sexual assault, and other forms of harm. In long-lasting armed conflicts, the prevalence of disability is significantly high.
Congress resolves
i. To call for an immediate ceasefire and end to Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.
ii. To call on the UK Government and all UK political parties to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
iii. To call for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli gaols.
UCU to campaign for trauma-informed services and protections, aid, and safe space for women, children, pregnant women, lgbtq+, and women with disabilities in Palestine. Women suffer invisible gender-based violence, disproportionate discrimination, inhuman and degrading sexual abuse by Israeli soldiers, rape, denial of menstrual products, and lack of access to food and medicine. Women with disabilities are increasing exacerbated by limited services, lack of education, lack of resources, and dependence on guardians.

Proposing body

Composite (Disabled members' standing committee (DMSC), UCU Cymru, London retired members)

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Strategy and finance committee (SFC)

Notes