DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1989
I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
1. The Committee's mandate for 1989 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 43/175 A and B, the relevant parts of which are paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of resolution 43/175 A and paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 43/175 B.
2. In paragraph 3 of resolution 43/175 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 1/ 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-fourth session and thereafter.
4. In paragraph 5 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 43/175 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. Paragraph 3 of the same resolution requests the Secretary-General to direct the Division to pay particular attention to the plight of Palestinian children in the occupied Palestinian territory in its programme of work for 1989.
II. ACTION CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE
6. As in 1988, the Committee decided that during the year 1989 it would maintain its past activities and increase its contacts and co-operation with Governments and with NGOs in intensified efforts towards greater and more positive international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine.
7. The Committee also decided that, in its activities during 1989, it would again continue, as a matter of the utmost priority, to exert all efforts to promote 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 light of the grave situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, to give the highest priority to the need for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
8. 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. Pramathesh Rath (India) as Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
9. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 43/175 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.
10. In response to paragraph 4 of resolution 43/175 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.
11. In accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 43/175 B, dealing with the programme of work of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee considered arrangements for (a) seminars to be held in 1989; (b) NGO preparatory meetings, symposia and the international meeting to be held in 1989; (c) the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1989; and (d) studies and publications to be prepared by the Division for Palestinian Rights, as detailed in sections A to C below.
12. The Committee decided that it would continue to strive to make the most effective use of the limited resources allocated to it in carrying out its mandated programme of work.
A. Seminars
13. In the normal rotation, regional seminars are due to be held in 1989 in Asia, Latin America and North America.
14. With regard to the seminar in North America, in accordance with past practice, the Committee decided to hold it immediately preceding the North American NGO symposium, both for a duration of two and three days, at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The seminar is scheduled to be held from 19 to 20 June, and the NGO symposium from 21 to 23 June 1989.
15. With regard to the Asian seminar, consultations have been undertaken by the Bureau of the Committee with prospective host Governments. The Seminar has tentatively been scheduled for late May 1989.
16. Consultations are under way with a prospective host Government for the Latin American Seminar and for the Latin American NGO Symposium. These events are tentatively scheduled for 31 July to 4 August 1989, subject to finalization of consultations with the host country.
17. With regard to the topics to be addressed, the Committee decided that the following panels would be established at the seminars to be held in 1989:
B. NGO preparatory meetings, regional symposia and international meeting
18. Budgetary provision has been made for the holding of NGO regional symposia in Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe, and for an international meeting of NGOs, in 1989. Provision has also been made for two preparatory meetings (for the North American symposium and the International Meeting, respectively).
19. As mentioned earlier, it is envisaged that the North American symposium would be held in New York, immediately following the North American seminar i.e., from 21 to 23 June 1989. The preparatory meeting for the North American NGO Symposium was held in New York on 13 and 14 February 1989 and developed a programme for the Symposium.
20. Provision has also been made for holding the European symposium and the International NGO Meeting consecutively at Vienna, for two and three days, respectively. The Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of Austria for having agreed to provide, free of charge, the Austrian Conference Centre in Vienna for these meetings.
21. The preparatory meeting for the International NGO Meeting is scheduled to be held on 20 to 21 March 1989, also at Vienna. This preparatory meeting will also be used for consultations with European, Latin American and Asian NGO representatives concerning the respective regional NGO symposia.
22. With regard to the Latin American NGO Symposium, as already mentioned, the Committee has decided to hold this symposium together with the Latin American regional seminar at a venue and date yet to be finalized in consultation with the host Government.
23. The holding of an Asian NGO Symposium during 1989 will be subject, as usual to the availability of a suitable venue.
C. Studies and publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights
24. The Committee took note with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian Rights, in accordance with its mandate, would continue to prepare the following publications, under the guidance of the Committee:
25. Pursuant to the adopted work programme of the Committee for 1987, a study entitled "The need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East (in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C)" was prepared by the Division and submitted to the Committee in December 1987. However, the study has not yet been published in view of the fact that the Committee did not take a final decision regarding its issuance.
26. The study entitled "The origins and evolution of the Palestinian problem, Part IV" is nearing completion and will be submitted to the Committee shortly.
27. As was proposed by the Committee, a compilation of seminar papers on the legal aspects of the question of Palestine will be prepared.
28. In conformity with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 43/175 B, the Division would update its 1981 study entitled "Palestinian children in the occupied territories".
29. The Committee's publications programme, adopted for the biennium of 1988-1989 includes the updating of a number of studies prepared by the Division in the late 1970s-early 1980s. The Division will endeavour, during 1989, to update the following studies:
30. The Division will also update its information note on the work of the Committee and the Division, published in July 1988.
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 Wednesday, 29 November 1989. The Committee decided that the observance at Headquarters and elsewhere should follow the same format as in 1988.
32. As in the past, the Committee may again wish to decide to invite the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations to provide an exhibit to be displayed at United Nations Headquarters during the week of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1989.
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.21), chap. I, sect. B.
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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, Solidarity day
Publication Date: 02/03/1989