This is Part 2 of a series by Dot Walsh.
My research on for-profit prisons brought me to a G4S site advertising security products and services in 125 countries. Intimately connected with the military, G4S actively recruits and hires veterans for their programs and has partnered with U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success.
G4S is a major security provider to the Israeli government, operating security patrol units that secure oceanic facilities, transport routes, and buildings and equipment of the security and finance industries . Previously, they also manned checkpoints until there was such negative publicity and outrage that this service was ended.
G4S operates the entire security system for many of the prisons designated for Palestinian political prisoners, with one major prison incarcerating a population of 2,200. Some of these prisoners have not been charged yet and some are administrative detainees. Prominent people around the world who have spoken out against the brutality and torture conducted within these prisons include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Noam Chomsky .
In 2012, G4S was cited as violating Article 76 of the Geneva Convention for transferring children from the occupied territories and subjecting them to abusive treatment . With the current violence in Israel-Palestine escalating, it would seem possible that the United States could play an important role in speaking out against the violation of human rights and the G4S monopoly–if there was enough awareness among the American people to speak out.
Dot Walsh is a lifelong peace activist and member of the Engaging Peace Board of Directors.