Call to Investigate FANUC Canada's Role in Human Rights Violations
August 6th, 2024
Justice For All Canada (JFAC) calls on the Canadian government and corporate human rights compliance officials to urgently investigate the involvement of FANUC Canada* in potential human rights violations. FANUC, a manufacturer of factory automation and industrial robots, including those used in the production of explosives, recently launched its latest facility in Ontario.
Following the Government of Canada's motion regarding cancellation of future arms exports to Israel in March 2024, Canada must ensure it does not inadvertently become complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The latest death toll stands at 39,653 Palestinians and 1,139 people killed in Israel since October 7, 2023. This includes over 15,000 children killed, more than 91,535 people injured and more than 10,000 missing.
According to global human rights groups, including BDS Japan, FANUC’s robots may be utilized by Israeli arms manufacturers Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). These companies are implicated in severe human rights violations against Palestinians. In fact, detailed evidence suggests that these robots are employed in the manufacturing of combat drones, surveillance equipment, and components for the Wall of Apartheid (“security barrier” by Israel), in violation of international law [3].
Evidence compiled by BDS Japan, including the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre [1] and Huffington Post Japan [2], indicates that FANUC robots are used in the production lines of Elbit Systems and IAI, Israel’s top weapons manufacturers. These companies produce combat drones and surveillance drones extensively used in military operations against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem (the Occupied Palestinian Territory). Job postings on Elbit Systems’ website explicitly mention the requirement for expertise with FANUC equipment, indicating a direct connection between FANUC’s technology and the production of Israeli military equipment [4]. Visual evidence from inside factories like BSEL, which manufactures engines for Israeli tanks and fighter jets, further show FANUC robots actively engaged in these production lines [5].
FANUC robots are also used in the manufacturing processes of U.S. and British weapons companies. General Dynamics, a U.S. company, utilizes FANUC robots in the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant to manufacture 155mm shells and MK-80 bombs. These weapons are frequently used by the Israeli military in Gaza [6].
FANUC's human rights policies state that the company:
“FANUC’s own policies mandate the prevention of human rights infringements. After months of the Israeli-led genocide that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, Canadians are demanding transparency from these corporations and documented adherence to their own human rights policies,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Given these grave allegations, JFAC is urgently requesting the following:
As a genocide prevention organization, JFAC is committed to holding companies accountable for their role in human rights violations. We will continue to monitor the situation, and call on FANUC, the Canadian government, and corporate human rights compliance officials to demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices and the protection of human rights.
Sources
[1] According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, FANUC is involved in supplying products to Israel's top weapon companies, including Elbit Systems and IAI, where their robots are utilized in the manufacturing processes of military equipment and surveillance systems. Source 1, Source 2.
[2] Huffington Post Japan: Reports on the usage of FANUC robots in Israeli arms manufacturing, including specific mentions of job listings requiring knowledge of FANUC equipment.
[3] This separation barrier built by Israel, mostly in the West Bank, consists of fences, walls, and checkpoints. The wall is used to annex Palestinian territory, impose limitations on their freedom of movement, and essentially divides the Palestinian population, resulting in the apartheid system. The International Court of Justice and various human rights organizations have long deemed the barrier a violation of international law. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/131
[4] Petition to Public Relations and Social Responsibility Departments of FANUC: https://www.change.org/p/fanuc-stop-selling-robots-to-make-israeli-weapons-stopfanucnow#decision-makers-heading
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] https://www.fanucamerica.com/docs/default-source/articles/fcl_fac-joint-report-pursuant-to-the-fighting-against-forced-labour-and-child-labour-in-supply-chains-act_may-31-2024__executed.pdf?sfvrsn=d0e946a8_1#:~:text=FANUC%20Canada%20and%20FANUC%20America,suppliers%20to%20share%20this%20commitment
[8] https://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/sustainability/social/humanright.html
[9] https://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/sustainability/policy/pdf/humanrightspolicy_e.pdf
[10] https://www.justiceforallcanada.org/statement-sdeteiman-prison-abuse-july2024.html
*FANUC Canada is part of a global FANUC group, with its parent company FANUC America located in the United States and global headquarters located in Japan.
Justice For All Canada (JFAC) calls on the Canadian government and corporate human rights compliance officials to urgently investigate the involvement of FANUC Canada* in potential human rights violations. FANUC, a manufacturer of factory automation and industrial robots, including those used in the production of explosives, recently launched its latest facility in Ontario.
Following the Government of Canada's motion regarding cancellation of future arms exports to Israel in March 2024, Canada must ensure it does not inadvertently become complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The latest death toll stands at 39,653 Palestinians and 1,139 people killed in Israel since October 7, 2023. This includes over 15,000 children killed, more than 91,535 people injured and more than 10,000 missing.
According to global human rights groups, including BDS Japan, FANUC’s robots may be utilized by Israeli arms manufacturers Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). These companies are implicated in severe human rights violations against Palestinians. In fact, detailed evidence suggests that these robots are employed in the manufacturing of combat drones, surveillance equipment, and components for the Wall of Apartheid (“security barrier” by Israel), in violation of international law [3].
Evidence compiled by BDS Japan, including the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre [1] and Huffington Post Japan [2], indicates that FANUC robots are used in the production lines of Elbit Systems and IAI, Israel’s top weapons manufacturers. These companies produce combat drones and surveillance drones extensively used in military operations against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem (the Occupied Palestinian Territory). Job postings on Elbit Systems’ website explicitly mention the requirement for expertise with FANUC equipment, indicating a direct connection between FANUC’s technology and the production of Israeli military equipment [4]. Visual evidence from inside factories like BSEL, which manufactures engines for Israeli tanks and fighter jets, further show FANUC robots actively engaged in these production lines [5].
FANUC robots are also used in the manufacturing processes of U.S. and British weapons companies. General Dynamics, a U.S. company, utilizes FANUC robots in the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant to manufacture 155mm shells and MK-80 bombs. These weapons are frequently used by the Israeli military in Gaza [6].
FANUC's human rights policies state that the company:
- Has “strong values of responsibility and integrity” [7].
- Is “committed to ethical business practices including upholding human rights…” [7].
- Operates “with a philosophy of strict transparency and respect for human rights” [7].
- Respects “human rights as defined in international norms, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights… in accordance with the guiding principles on business and human rights” [8, 9].
- Will “evaluate and identify potential and actual human rights risks and implement measures to prevent or reduce those risks” [9].
- Will “encourage [its] business partners and related parties not to infringe human rights if they are associated with actions that negatively impact human rights.” [8, 9].
- Prioritizes “respect for the rights of local and indigenous peoples related to our business” [9].
- Will adhere to the following - “When it is clear that our business has caused a negative impact on human rights or has engaged in any violation of human rights, we will endeavor to implement remedies for them, and will establish a grievance system as necessary.” [8, 9].
“FANUC’s own policies mandate the prevention of human rights infringements. After months of the Israeli-led genocide that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, Canadians are demanding transparency from these corporations and documented adherence to their own human rights policies,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Given these grave allegations, JFAC is urgently requesting the following:
- JFAC calls on the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) to urgently investigate FANUC's involvement to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.
- FANUC must act decisively to ensure compliance with its human rights policies and international human rights standards. As a first step, it must immediately close down its office in Israel to stop supporting its ongoing genocide and apartheid.
- FANUC must immediately cease all sales and services to weapons manufactureres implicated in atrocities against Palestinians, including Elbit Systems (USA & Israel), IAI, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, McAlester Army Ammo Plant, Bharat Forge Ammunition Plant (India), Rheinmetall Munitions Plant (Australia).
- FANUC must disclose all relationships with weapons manufacturers and terminate any that are complicit in human rights violations.
- FANUC must establish a grievance system to address any negative human rights impacts resulting from its business activities, and provide remediation accordingly in accordance with its human rights policy.
As a genocide prevention organization, JFAC is committed to holding companies accountable for their role in human rights violations. We will continue to monitor the situation, and call on FANUC, the Canadian government, and corporate human rights compliance officials to demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices and the protection of human rights.
Sources
[1] According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, FANUC is involved in supplying products to Israel's top weapon companies, including Elbit Systems and IAI, where their robots are utilized in the manufacturing processes of military equipment and surveillance systems. Source 1, Source 2.
[2] Huffington Post Japan: Reports on the usage of FANUC robots in Israeli arms manufacturing, including specific mentions of job listings requiring knowledge of FANUC equipment.
[3] This separation barrier built by Israel, mostly in the West Bank, consists of fences, walls, and checkpoints. The wall is used to annex Palestinian territory, impose limitations on their freedom of movement, and essentially divides the Palestinian population, resulting in the apartheid system. The International Court of Justice and various human rights organizations have long deemed the barrier a violation of international law. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/131
[4] Petition to Public Relations and Social Responsibility Departments of FANUC: https://www.change.org/p/fanuc-stop-selling-robots-to-make-israeli-weapons-stopfanucnow#decision-makers-heading
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] https://www.fanucamerica.com/docs/default-source/articles/fcl_fac-joint-report-pursuant-to-the-fighting-against-forced-labour-and-child-labour-in-supply-chains-act_may-31-2024__executed.pdf?sfvrsn=d0e946a8_1#:~:text=FANUC%20Canada%20and%20FANUC%20America,suppliers%20to%20share%20this%20commitment
[8] https://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/sustainability/social/humanright.html
[9] https://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/sustainability/policy/pdf/humanrightspolicy_e.pdf
[10] https://www.justiceforallcanada.org/statement-sdeteiman-prison-abuse-july2024.html
*FANUC Canada is part of a global FANUC group, with its parent company FANUC America located in the United States and global headquarters located in Japan.