DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1986
I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
1. The Committee's mandate for the biennium 1986-1987 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 40/96 A and B, the relevant parts of which are paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of resolution 40/96 A and paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 40/96 B.
2. By paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 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, 1/ and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate.
3. By paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, 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 where such activities would be considered by it to be appropriate, and to report on its efforts to the Assembly at its forty-first session and thereafter.
4. By paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, the Committee is requested to continue to extend its co-operation to non-governmental organizations 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 implementation of the Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those organizations.
5. With regard to paragraphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 B, which deals with the work programme of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee is expected to provide the Division with the necessary guidance in discharging the tasks referred to therein.
II. ACTION CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
6. As in 1985, the Committee decided that during the year 1986 it would maintain its past activities and increase its contacts and co-operation with Governments and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in intensified efforts towards greater and more positive international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine. Furthermore, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 40/96 D, the Committee decided that, in its activities during 1986, it would continue, as a matter of priority, to exert all efforts to promote the early convening of the proposed 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.
7. 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, the German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Meetings of the Working Group would be open to all members and observers of the Committee. It was agreed that H.E. Mr. George Agius (Malta) would continue as Chairman and Ms. Savitri Kunadi (India) as Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
8. In accordance with paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, the Committee will continue to monitor events directly relating to the question of Palestine and to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and, through its Chairman, will convey its considered views on such developments to the Assembly or 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 or of the Security Council to developments affecting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
9. In response to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, the Committee decided to request the Secretary-General to address a letter to all Member States emphasizing the need for positive action with regard to the holding of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East and reiterating the receptiveness of the Committee to participation and suggestions by all Member States in carrying out its work.
10. Also with reference to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, the Committee decided at its 122nd meeting, on 26 November 1985, that, as it had reported in paragraph 169 of its report to the Assembly at its fortieth session, 2/ it intended to complete the process of sending delegations to the capitals of the members of the Security Council. The Committee's decision was that in the biennium, delegations should be sent to Australia, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. Arrangements for these visits will be decided in due course.
11. In response to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 A, the Committee will consider what steps to take when offering its guidance to the Division for Palestinian Rights in arranging its programme for non-governmental organizations.
12. In accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 B dealing with the programme of work of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee considered: (a) seminars to be held in 1986; (b) arrangements for non-governmental organization preparatory meetings and symposia and the international meeting of 1986; (c) arrangements for the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, 1986; and (d) studies to be prepared by the Division.
A. Seminars
13. In the normal rotation, seminars are due to be held in 1986 in Europe, Africa and North America.
14. The Government of Turkey has kindly consented to provide the venue for the European seminar and has agreed to the dates proposed by the Committee at its 122nd meeting, namely 7 to 11 April 1986.
15. The topics for the European seminar will be as follows:
16. The same topics will also be addressed in the other regional seminars, together with other possible topics yet to be decided that might be of particular
relevance to the region concerned.
17. With regard to the seminar to be held in Africa, the Committee will decide at a later date the venue, date and other arrangements for the holding of this seminar.
18. With regard to the North American seminar, the Committee has decided that, as in 1985, it should be combined with the North American symposium for NGOs and that it will take place in New York from 9 to 13 June 1986.
19. The Committee will decide at a later stage, on the basis of experience and with a view to exercising financial restraint, whether to maintain its past practice with regard to the format of the seminars, their duration and the number of panelists.
B. Non-governmental organizations' preparatory meetings,
symposia and international meeting
20. In 1984-1985, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 B and Committee decisions, it was envisaged that symposia for non-governmental organizations should be held, one each in Asia, Africa and Latin America and two in North America. In addition, there was to be, annually, an international NGO meeting at Geneva. However, no symposium was held in Latin America during the biennium but two meetings not previously foreseen were held at Geneva. These were meetings of the Interim Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs and served as preparatory meetings for the international meeting of 1985.
21. Paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 40/96 B requires that additional meetings for NGOs should be arranged. In response to suggestions made by NGOs, it has been suggested that these meetings should consist of a regional symposium for Europe each biennium, and one preparatory meeting each year for the North American symposium and the international meeting respectively – a total of five additional meetings during the biennium.
22. At its 122nd meeting, on 26 November 1985, the Committee, while agreeing in principle to additional meetings, decided that it would consider the details at a future date.
23. The programme of NGOs symposia and meetings in 1986, as decided by the Committee at its 127th meeting, on 29 January 1986 consists of a symposium in Latin America, a symposium in North America (to be combined with the North American seminar) and the international meeting at Geneva, plus the additional meetings referred to in paragraphs 21 and 22 above.
24. The dates and venues for the symposia, the international meeting and the preparatory meetings are as follows:
25. The Committee has decided that the non-governmental symposia and meetings should continue to emphasize the importance of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C.
C. Studies
26. The major topics of interest have been covered in the studies prepared so far. In 1985, the following studies were published: Living Conditions of the Palestinian People and NGO Activities on the Question of Palestine. Two others, namely United Nations Assistance to the Palestinian People and Approaches for the Practical Attainment of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, are in the process of preparation.
27. The Committee has decided to request the Secretariat to prepare a report, for the use of the Committee, on the implementation of the programme of action adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine in 1983. 1/
D. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
28. The Committee decided that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People should be observed on Monday, 1 December 1986, that two meetings should be held and that programmes similar to those organized in the past should be repeated in 1986.
29. The Committee also decided to invite PLO to provide an exhibit to be displayed at United Nations Headquarters during the week of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Notes
1/ Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations publication Sales
NO. E.83.I.2l), chap. I, sect. B.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35).
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, Solidarity day
Publication Date: 11/02/1986