Inspired by the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, the BDS movement’s Apartheid Free Zones (AFZ) campaign seeks to cut links of complicity in the grave violations of Palestinian human rights perpetrated by Israel’s regime of settler-colonialism, apartheid, and military occupation.
Apartheid-free Zones, whether political, social, or cultural community spaces, are a powerful concept that allows for the building of a culture of meaningful solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle. AFZs are about creating spaces free of racism, repression, and discrimination in Palestine and elsewhere.
The BDS movement is proud of this inspiring and growing network of Latin American AFZs for several reasons. First, it spans a wide range of countries, from Mexico to Costa Rica, from Colombia to Chile, and Brazil to Argentina.
Second, it includes an important diversity of AFZs: trade unions, human rights organizations, municipalities, radio stations, university students’ groups, restaurants, bookshops, etc.
This rich diversity of Latin American AFZs demonstrates the intersection of the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice, and equality with the struggles waged by social and political movements throughout the continent for racial, economic, social, gender, and climate justice.
And this is only the beginning! Other AFZs are expected to be declared shortly, helping to build people’s power across the continent to ultimately affect an end to business-as-usual and complicity with Israel’s regime of colonial oppression.
The following is the list of the AFZs created in Latin America to date. Please check our map on the website regularly for updates.
Organizations, trade unions, movements and political parties:
CTA Central Autónoma Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
CUT, Central Unica Trabalhadores, São Paulo, Brasil
CSP-Conlutas, Central Sindical e Popular, São Paulo, Brasil
Sindicato Trabajadores Unidad Busqueda Personas Desaparecidas, Bogotà, Colombia
Sindicato ADEMYS de docentes de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires , Argentina
Izquierda Socialista, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Asamblea Permanente Por los Derechos Humanos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Liga Argentina por los Derechos Humanos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Liga Argentina por los Derechos Humanos sección Patagónica, General Roca, Argentina
Observatorio Derechos Humanos del Pueblo, Oaxaca, México
Communities:
Comunidad de San Isidro Siniyuco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Cities:
Ayuntamiento de Valdivia, Chile
Educational cultural space, magazines and radio programmes
Escuela Nacional Florestan Fernandes, São Paulo, Brasil
Periódico Virginia Bolten, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tano Cabrón - Teatro & Bar; Buenos Aires, Argentina
Catedra de Estudios Palestinos Edward Said de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Radio Comunitaria Fm Punta del Indio, Punta del Indio, Argentina
Casa del Encuentro en Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Casa de la Memoria "Imprenta del Pueblo Roberto Matthews", Córdoba, Argentina
Revista Internacional de Mexico, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
Relatos de Resistencia, Programa radiofónico, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Plaza de la solidaridad México -Palestina, Ciudad de México, México
El Pushkin, Cafè, Bogotà, Colombia
Espacio sede del movimiento kultural Congreso de los Barrios Libres y Comisión Sur por Palestina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Biblioteca TUPAC AMARU Castelar Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Red de Solidaridad con Chiapas de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Casa de Cultura Las Jarillas, Ciudad de México, México
Grupo Musical Taller del Sur, Ciudad de México, México
Espacio Cultural La Otra Casa, Rosario, Argentina
Students organizations:
Consejo Superior Estudiantil de la Universidad de Costa Rica, San Josè, Costa Rica
Federación de Estudiantes FEUACh Valdivia, Chile
Colectiva feminista Girl Up de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla
Political offices:
Despacho de las diputadas Mercedes De Mendieta, Noelia Agüero y Liliana Olivero, de la Asamblea Legislativa de Buenos Aires y Córdoba