Palestine question – CEIRPP draft programme of work for 1984-1985

PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1984-1985

A. Mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people

1. The Committee's mandate for the biennium 1984-1985 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 38/58 A and E, the relevant paragraphs of which are paragraphs 3 and 5 of resolution 38/58 A and paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 38/58 B.

2. In paragraph 3 of resolution 38/58 A, the Committee is requested to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference On the Question of Palestine, and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate.

3. In paragraph 5 at resolution 38/58 A the Committee is authorized to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations, delegations or representatives to international conferences where such representation would be considered by it to be appropriate, and to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session and thereafter.

4. With regard to paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 38/58 B, the Committee is expected to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary guidance in discharging the tasks referred to therein.

B. Action to be considered by the Committee

5. During the year 1984, the Committee will be faced with a continuation of its routine work to maintain past activities, as well as new assignments arising from the International Conference on the Question of Palestine.

6. In terms of procedure, it may be useful for the programme of the Committee to be first examined and approved by the Committee and for certain aspects of the programme subsequently to be assigned to different subgroups of the open-ended Working Group.

7. For this purpose it is proposed that the work of the open-ended Working Group should be restructured accordingly and take into account the exchange of views at the meetings of the Committee held on 9 January 1984 and thereafter.

8. With reference to paragraph 3 of resolution 38/58 A, it is expected that the Committee will continue as before to monitor events directly relating to the question of Palestine and to Palestinian rights and, through its Chairman, to convey its considered views on such developments to the appropriate bodies. It might be appropriate for this aspect, which often requires urgent action, to be reserved to the Bureau.

9. In addition, the Committee is required to keep under constant review the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine and to follow the progress made on the proposals based on the Programme of Action, as contained in resolutions 38/58 C, D and E.

10. This aspect is a broad-based programme which requires constant attention at fairly regular periodic meetings throughout the year. In order to cope with this assignment, the Committee might, if it deems necessary, request the Working Group to establish a number of task forces each of which would concentrate on particular aspects of the work programme, and make recommendations through the Working Group on what action need be taken.

11. With reference to paragraph 5 of resolution 38/58 A, the Working Group may wish to recommend that a letter should be addressed by the Secretary-General once again calling the attention of all Member States to the receptiveness of the Committee to participation in, or suggestions concerning, its work. The letter might also dwell this year on means of furthering the implementation of the programme of Action and facilitating the holding of the proposed International Peace Conference.

12. With reference to paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 38/58 B, the Committee, in the first instance, may wish to recommend:

(a) The regions in which seminars should be held in 1984;
(b) The topics on which studies, if any, should be prepared by the Division;
(c) Arrangements for NGO meetings and symposia,

1.  Seminars

13.  Seminars have been held in the following regions so far:

1980

Africa (United Republic of Tanzania)

Europe (Vienna)

1981

Asia (Sri Lanka)

Latin America (Cuba)

1982

Europe (Malta)

Africa (Senegal)

North America (New York)

1983

Asia (Indonesia)

14. With the normal pattern of rotation, the seminars for 1984 would be held in North America, Europe and Africa. Taking also into account the voting patterns in the latest General Assembly session, however, the Committee may wish to consider giving emphasis to holding seminars in North and south America, as well as in Europe and in Africa.

15. In this connection, so as to add to their importance, the Committee might consider a single seminar for North and south America combined, as well as for Europe and Africa combined.

16. The Committee may also wish to consider a change in the format of the seminars. The rationale for such a change would be that it is considered desirable for seminars to be held in conjunction with NGO symposia and, in some instances, journalists' encounters. For this purpose, the seminars themselves could usefully be of shorter duration, which would also reduce the number of panelists.

2.   Preparations for seminars and NGO symposia

17. It is essential that decisions should be taken urgently regarding the venue of the seminars and symposia for 1984.

18. The American seminar should be held in a suitable location and this matter should be pursued urgently since it is hoped that the latter part of April might be an appropriate date. Contacts have already been initiated.

19. The European-African seminar and the NGO meeting in Geneva may be held at the end of July and the final week of August 1984 respectively. While the NGO meeting will be held in Geneva, a venue will have to be found for the seminar.

3.  Studies

20. The major topics of interest have already been covered adequately in the studies prepared so far. The Committee may wish to provide guidance to the Division in the selection of new topics, if any. In addition, selected pamphlets already prepared may be updated. (The list of pamphlets and studies prepared so far is annexed hereto.) Pamphlets and studies updated for the Conference may be further updated to include the results of the latest General Assembly session.  Translation of existing studies into more languages may also be considered.

4.  NGO meetings and symposia

21. It has been felt useful to suggest that the NGO symposia follow the seminars in the same location in which seminars are held. In the case of Europe, an NGO meeting, on a much larger scale than a symposium, will be held in Geneva. The need for a symposium immediately after the European seminar therefore does not arise. Attempts may be made to hold the Geneva meeting of NGOs immediately following the European seminar.

22. The Committee may wish to recommend that five of the panelists invited to participate in seminars be invited also to act as panelists in  the symposia or meetings. A list of interested NGOs from each region and the criteria for their selection for symposia may also be approved on the basis adopted in the past.

23. The Committee may also wish to suggest that the journalists' encounters to be organized by the Department of Public Information should, wherever possible, also take place a t the same time as the seminar or the meeting.

5.  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

24. The Committee may wish to recommend that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 1984 be commemorated on Thursday, 29 November 1984; that two meetings should be held; and that programmes similar to those organized in the past be repeated in 1984.

25. The Working Group may also recommend to the Committee that it should invite PLO to provide an exhibit to be displayed in United Nations Headquarters during the week of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

C.  NGO symposia and meetings

26. Regarding the dates and venues for symposia and meetings, before contacts are pursued with relevant NGOs concerned with the question of Palestine, it is important to present certain basic information to them. Specifically, the dates and venues for the symposia and meetings for 1984 should be established as soon as possible. This essential information should be disseminated to the relevant NGOs soon so that they might be able to plan their upcoming schedules and budgeting.

27. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 B, the prime objective at the NGO symposia and meetings is similar to the objective pursued by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, namely to increase international understanding of the facts relating to the issue.  This objective is to be realized through the regional aggregation of NGOs. 'This broad objective will encourage wide participation, but in the preliminary contacts and information it will be made clear that participation in the symposia and meetings is predicated on the basic acceptance of the rights of the Palestinian people.

28. The success of the NGO programme contemplated for the coming year will be determined by the degree of participation by the national and international NGOs involved with the question of Palestine. Towards that end, it is suggested that the symposia and meetings' programmes be developed with advice from representative NGOs. NGOs will be consulted to offer the NGO perspective on the programmes being formulated through close collaboration with the symposia/meeting co-ordinators.

29. Equally, in view of the importance of seminar/symposia co-ordination, meetings should be held regularly between the organizers of both so that they can benefit from mutual preparations and thereby reduce costs. This procedure has already begun.

30. With regard to potential NGO participants, currently the master list of over 300 NGOs concerned with the question of Palestine is being revised to include new organizations and individuals. The list will then be separated into regions from which contacts will be pursued. This NGO contact list is a valuable tool for the work to re undertaken in the biennium. Most of these contacts have been investigated and have demonstrated positive involvement in the question of Palestine.

31. Concerning the need to promote programme with NGOs by means of contact missions to North America and Europe well in advance of proposed meeting dates, experience in preparing NGO participation in the International Conference on the Question of Palestine demonstrated that personal contact with NGOs was the most successful method of enlisting their support and participation. As an example, ICQP was convened in August 1983 and the first contact by means of missions to Europe and other areas was undertaken as early as November 1982.  By April 1983,

approximately 80 per cent of all the significant NGOs in Europe had been contacted personally. A similar approach will be undertaken in North America, Europe and other areas well in advance of the proposed meetings to urge their active co-operation.

32. Successful liaison also pivots on consistent contacts and establishing a suitable level of camaraderie and trust between the professional liaison officers and NGOs.  To facilitate the interaction, additional information relevant to NGOs will be included in the Division Bulletin. These contacts will be sustained through calls, personal visits and letters.

33. Ancillary activities will be arranged in conjunction with symposia, meetings (films, displays, etc.).

34. Information will be disseminated to NGOs covering the results of symposia and meetings.

35. A calendar of NGO activities relating to Palestine will be compiled. The calendar is to include meetings, seminars, symposia and other activities in support of the rights of the Palestinian people sponsored by NGOs throughout the world.  This information is most valuable to the united Nations, the NGO community, and to others interested in public awareness of the question of Palestine.


Annex

STUDIES PROPOSED AND COMPLETED

1979

1. The guarantees on fundamental rights contained in resolution 181 (II) and violation by Israel of those rights

2. Violation of human rights and the acquisition of territory by Israel

3. The history of Palestine

4. Plans for the future of the Palestinian people and the Israeli concept of autonomy

5. The position of the Palestinian people and the PLO in the international community

6. Application of the Fourth Geneva Convention to Palestinian and other occupied territories

1980-1981

1. A brief history of Palestine

2. Israeli plans to control the water resources of the West Bank

3. Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank (including Jerusalem)

4. The legal status of Gaza and the West Bank

5. The Palestinian child – the effects of occupation and exile

6. The political, social and economic institutions of the Palestinian people

7. The violation of the right of return of the Palestinian refugees in Gaza

8. The economic viability of a Palestinian state

Subjects published

1. The Origin and Evolution of the Palestinian Problem, Part I, 1917-1947

2. The Origin and Evolution of the Palestinian problem, Part II, 1947-1977

3. The Origin and Evolution of the Palestinian Problem, Part III, 1978-1983

4. The Right of Return of the Palestinian people

5. The Right of Self-Determination of the Palestinian People

6. An International Law Analysis of the Major United Nations Resolutions Concerning the Palestinian Question

7. The Status of Jerusalem (updated)

8. The Question of Palestine

9. The Question of the Observance of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 in Gaza and the West Bank including Jerusalem Occupied by Israel in June 1967

10. The International Status of the Palestinian People

11. Israel's Policy on the West Bank Water Resources

12. Acquisition of Land in Palestine

13. Palestinian Children in the Occupied Territories

14. The Palestinian Question – A brief history

15. The legal status of the west Bank and Gaza

16. Social, economic and political institutions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

17. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including Jerusalem)

Subjects not worked on

1. The position of the Palestinian people and the PLO in the international community

2. The economic viability of a Palestinian state

Publications, September 1983

1. Blue books and publications

The Palestinian Question – A brief history (United Nations New York) (German, Italian and Swahili)

The Origins and Evolution of the Palestinian Problem, Part III, 1978-1983

Status of Jerusalem

2.  Bulletins

January-February
March-April
May-June
July-August
September-October
November-December

3. Seminar reports

The seventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Dakar, Republic of Senegal)

The eighth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Jakarta, Indonesia) (in preparation)

4. Other publications

Special bulletin on the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, 1982

Resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the Question of Palestine, 1982

The United Nations and the Question of Palestine – A Compilation of Essays, 1980-1982

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – published by the Department of Public Information

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2021-02-23T11:11:41-05:00

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