DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1990
I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
1. The Committee's mandate for 1990 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 44/41 A and B, the relevant parts of which are paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of resolution 44/41 A and paragraph 2 of resolution 44/41 B.
2. In paragraph 3 of resolution 44/41 A the Committee is requested to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate.
3. In paragraph 4 of the same resolution the Committee is authorized to continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such adjustments in its.approved programme of seminars and of symposia and meetings for non-governmental .organizations (NGOs) as it may consider necessary, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session and thereafter.
4. In paragraphs of the same resolution, the Committee is requested to continue to extend its co-operation to NGOs in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and in creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those organizations.
5. Resolution 44/41 B deals with the work programme of the Division for Palestinian Rights. In paragraph 2, the Secretary-General is requested to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance.
6. Resolution 44/41 C deals with the programme of work of the Department of Public Information. In paragraph 2, the Department is requested, in full co-operation and co-ordination with the Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of Palestine for the bienniurn 1990-1991, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
II. ACTION CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
7. Following the practice of the past several years, the Committee decided to maintain in 1990 its programme of regional seminars and of symposia and meetings for NGOs and to continue to increase its contacts and co-operation with Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in intensified efforts to promote greater and more positive international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine.
8. The Committee also decided that, in its activities during 1990, it would again continue to give utmost priority to promoting the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, while urging the understanding and further co-operation of all concerned for the resolution of a problem of such fundamental importance to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Committee also decided, in the light of the grave situation in the occupied Palestinian territory in the third year of the intifadah, to continue to give the highest priority to the need for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
9. As in the past, the Working Group was re-established to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. Its membership is as follows: Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Palestine. Meetings of the Working Group would be open to all members and observers of the Committee. H.E. Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta) was designated Chairman and Mr. Dinesh Kumar Jain (India) as Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
10. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 44/41 A, the Committee will continue to monitor the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and, through its Chairman, to convey its considered views thereon to the General Assembly and to the Security Council, as appropriate. As in the past, the Bureau may, whenever urgent action is required, through its Chairman, draw the attention of the.Secretary-General and the President of the Assembly and/or of the Security Council to developments affecting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
11. In response to paragraph 4 of resolution 44/41 A and in accordance with past practice, the Committee decided to request the Secretary-General to address a letter to all Member States emphasizing the urgent need for positive action with regard to the holding of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and reiterating the Committee's invitation to all Member States to participate in, and to contribute to its work.
12. Also with reference to paragraph 4 of resolution 44/41 A and in the light of the fact that the Assembly in resolution 44/42 has once again invited the Security Council to consider measures needed to convene the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, including the establishment of a preparatory committee, the Committee decided to request its Bureau to consider undertaking visits to the capitals of States members of the Security Council, in particular the five permanent members, in order to promote intensified efforts towards this important objective.
13. In accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 44/41 B, dealing with the programme of work of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee considered arrangements for: (a) seminars to be held in 1990; (b) NGO preparatory meetings, symposia and the international meeting to be held in 1990; (c) studies and publications to be prepared by the Division for Palestinian Rights; and (d) the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1990; as detailed in sections A to D below.
A. Seminars
14. In the normal rotation, regional seminars on the question of Palestine are due to be held in 1990 in Africa, Europe and North America. In addition, the Latin American and Caribbean seminar and NGO symposium, deferred from 1989, were added to the calendar of meetings for 1990 (Buenos Aires, 5-9 February 1990).
15. With regard to the African seminar, the Government of Sierra Leone has kindly agreed to provide the venue for this event, which will be held jointly with the African NGO Symposium in Freetown from 2 to 6 April 1990.
16. The Government of Sweden has kindly agreed to provide the venue for the European seminar, which will be held from 7 to 11 May 1990 in Stockholm.
17. The seminar in North America, in accordance with established practice, will be held immediately preceding the North American NGO Symposium, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, on 25 and 26 June 1990.
18. With regard to the topics to be addressed, the Committee decided that the following topics would be considered at seminars to be held in 1990:
19. The Committee further decided that special emphasis should be placed on the imperative of making concrete progress towards peace and justice in Palestine in 1990, and that the formulation of the topics for the panels would be adjusted as necessary in the course of the year.
B. Non-governmental organizations' preparatory meetings, regional symposia and international meeting
20. Provision has been made for the holding in 1990 of NGO regional symposia in Africa, North America and Europe, and of an international meeting of NGOs. The Latin American and Caribbean NGO Symposium, deferred from 1989, was held jointly with the regional seminar in Buenos Aires. Provision has also been made for two preparatory meetings (for the North American symposium and for the European Symposium/International Meeting, respectively).
21. The Preparatory Meeting for the North American NGO symposium was held in New York on 22 and 23 January 1990. The Preparatory Meeting for the International NGO Meeting is scheduled to be held on 26 and 27 March 1990 at Geneva.
22. The African NGO Symposium will be held jointly with the African regional seminar for a duration of four days at Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 2 to 5 April 1990.
23. It is envisaged that the North American symposium will be held in New York, immediately following the North American seminar i.e., from 27 to 29 June 1990.
24. In accordance with established practice, the European symposium and the International Meeting will be held consecutively at Geneva on 27 and 28 August and from 29 to 31 August, respectively.
C. Studies and publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights
25. In accordance with its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights, will continue, in 1990, to prepare under the guidance of the Committee the following publications:
26. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 43/175 B and the work programme adopted by the Committee, a draft study on Palestinian children was prepared by the Division and approved by the Committee at its 168th meeting, on 9 January 1990. The study will be published early in 1990.
27. The study entitled "The origins and evolution of the Palestinian problem (Part IV)", covering the period 1984 to December 1988 has been completed. Its English language version is being prepared for reproduction. It was suggested by the Committee that all four parts of this publication be consolidated in one volume. The study will span the period of 70 years, 1917 to 1988.
28. As was proposed by the Committee, a compilation of seminar papers on the legal aspects of the question of Palestine is being prepared and will be submitted to the Committee in April 1990.
29. The Division's publications programme, adopted for the biennium of 1988-1989 included updating studies prepared in the Division during the late 19705 and early 1980s. The Division has already begun updating the studies mentioned as part of the 1989 publications programme and will endeavour, during 1990, to update the following studies for submission to the Committee:
30. The Division will also be updating on a regular basis its information notes on the work of the Committee and the Division, and on the United Nations and NGO activities on the question of Palestine.
D. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
31. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People will be observed on Thursday, 29 November 1990. The Committee decided that the observance at Headquarters and elsewhere should follow the same format as in 1989.
32. As in the past, the Committee decided to invite the Office of the Permanent Observer for Palestine to provide an exhibit to be displayed at United Nations Headquarters during the week of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, i.e. from 29 November to 5 December 1990.
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Document Type: Document, Programme of work
Document Sources: Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), General Assembly
Subject: Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Palestine question, Public information, Solidarity day
Publication Date: 22/02/1990