Update:

We welcome ANZMHA’s decision to withdraw and cancel Moshe Farchi’s presence at the 2024 Frontline Mental Health Conference. Whilst exact reasons were not provided, a culmination of public pressure was a big factor; we do call on conference organiser’s to provide further formal correspondances to the public and attendees.    

To end complicity in Israel’s violations of international law, Palestinian civil society calls for an academic boycott of complicit Israeli academic institutions. Refusing to normalize oppression, many associations, unions and academics now support the academic boycott of Israel.

Please keep speaking up for justice and peace for Palestine. Together we will make a difference. To learn more about Palestine and what you can do to help visit APAN (link: https://apan.org.au

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We, the undersigned, petition the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association to rescind their invitation to Dr Moshe Farchi, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Defence Force, as a keynote speaker at the annual conference ‘The Frontline Sector: Uniting to Make Mental Health & Wellbeing a Priority’ on March 4th and 5th, 2024.  

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) found last month that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and reports from numerous international organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International similarly show that the IDF is involved in serious human rights abuses across various locations. The gravity of these charges cannot be overlooked and as such, it is deeply inappropriate for an individual actively involved with the IDF to be given a platform at an event focused on mental health and wellbeing. We also believe this decision undermines the credibility of the conference and the Association, and sends a harmful message about what we value as professionals in this field.  

We emphatically urge the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association to reconsider their decision and rescind Dr. Farchi’s invitation. It is crucial for the Association to uphold its commitment towards promoting mental health without compromising human rights principles.  

Please sign this petition if you believe that conferences of this magnitude should not provide a platform to individuals associated with institutions facing such serious allegations, and instead prioritize ethical considerations when selecting keynote -speakers. 

Furthermore, we call on:  

• Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association to retract Moshe Farchi’s invitation and instead prioritise speakers who align with the values of justice, equity, and solidarity, including voices from Palestine. 

• Registrants to boycott the conference or Dr Farchi’s session in solidarity with Palestinian communities and in alignment with social justice and human rights principles. 

• Members of the public, in particular social and mental health workers, to write to the conference organisers expressing deep concerns about the invitation of Moshe Farchi and the lack of acknowledgement of the ongoing trauma in Palestine. 

• Write to the sponsors of the event urging them to reconsider their support in light of the conference's failure to address systemic injustices.

Please refer to the full statement on our social media pages for more actions and information.

This petition was prepared by:

Australia Palestine Mental Health Network
Australian Social Workers For Palestine
Families For Palestine 
Mental Health Workers For Palestine                                          Shifa Project