International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People will be observed at United Nations Headquarters, as well as at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna on Monday, 30 November 2009.  This year, the observance of the Day coincides with the commemoration of 60th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).  At Headquarters, Solidarity Day events include a Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the showing of a documentary film, the opening of an UNRWA photo exhibit and a concert by the Maqaba orchestra of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music of Ramallah.

Observance at United Nations Headquarters – New York, 24 November 2008

 Special meeting in observance of the Solidarity Day

Special meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Trusteeship Council Chamber

 

H.E. Mr. Paul Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

 

H.E. Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly

 

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

 

Mr. Jorge Ballestero, reading a statement on behalf of H.E. Mr. Jorge Urbina, President of the Security Council (Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations

 

H.E. Mr. Riad Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority

 

H.E. Mr. H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations)

 

H.E. Ms. Ileana B. Núñez Mordoche, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Felipe Pérez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries

 

H.E. Mr. Francis K. Butagira, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Sam Kutesa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda and Chairman of the Thirty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers

 

H.E. Mr. A. Augustine Mahiga, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the African Union

 

H.E. Mr. Yahya A. Mahmassani, Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

 

Rev. Edwin Makue, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, speaking on behalf of civil society organizations active on the question of Palestine  

 

 General Assembly debate under agenda item 16 “Question of Palestine”

General Assembly debate under agenda item 16 “Question of Palestine”

 

 

H.E. Mr. Paul Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

 

H.E. Mr. Riad Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority

 

 Palestinian photo exhibit “The Palestinians: 60 years of struggle and enduring hope”

UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyotaka Akasaka making remarks at the opening ceremony for the Palestinian photo exhibit, with (from left to right) Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki, Deputy UN Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, Palestinian Rights Committee Chairman Paul Badji, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN Riyad Mansour, and curator Anne Paq

 

Anne Paq, freelance French photographer and curator of the exhibit

 

Ribbon cutting with (from left to right) Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad Malki, curator Anne Paq, Deputy UN Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, and Palestinian Rights Committee Chairman Paul Badji

 

Anne Paq, curator of the exhibit, explaining the exhibited photos to Palestinian Committee Chairman and special guests

Background

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on or around 29 November each year, in accordance with General Assembly mandates contained in resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, and subsequent resolutions adopted under agenda item “Question of Palestine.”

The date of 29 November was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people.  On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), which came to be known as the Partition Resolution.  That resolution provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime.  Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.

The Palestinian people, who now number more than eight million, live primarily in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem; in Israel; in neighbouring Arab States; and in refugee camps in the region.

The International Day of Solidarity has traditionally provided an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remained unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced.

In response to the call of the United Nations, various activities are undertaken annually by Governments and civil society in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  These activities include, among other things, the issuance of special messages of solidarity with the Palestinian people, the organization of meetings, the dissemination of publications and other information material, and the screening of films.

At United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People each year holds a special meeting to observe the International Day of Solidarity.  Speakers include the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council, and representatives of relevant United Nations bodies, intergovernmental organizations and Palestine.  A message from the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority is also read out at the meeting.  Civil society organizations (CSOs) are invited to attend and a spokesperson for the international community of CSOs accredited to the Committee addresses the meeting.

A special bulletin containing the texts of the statements delivered and messages received on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity is published annually by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat.

Other activities organized in New York in connection with the observance include a Palestinian exhibit and/or a cultural event sponsored by the Committee and presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, as well as the screening of films.

Meetings in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People are also held at the United Nations offices at Geneva and Vienna. 

The United Nations Information Centres and Services worldwide are available to assist Governments, NGOs and others wishing to organize special activities in connection with the observance by providing information and documentation.