Palestine question – CEIRPP draft programme of work for 1985

DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1985

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

1. The Committee's mandate for the year 1985 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 39/49 A and B, the relevant paragraphs of which are paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of resolution 39/49 A and paragraph 2 of resolution 39/49 B.

2. In paragraph 3 of resolution 39/49 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 4 of resolution 39/49 A the Committee is authorized to continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations, to send delegations or representatives to international conferences where such representation would be considered by it to be appropriate, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fortieth session and thereafter.

4. In paragraph 5 of resolution 39/49 A the Committee is requested to continue extending its co-operation to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine.

5. With regard to paragraph 2 of resolution 39/49 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

6. During the year 1985, the Committee will be faced with a continuation of its routine work to maintain past activities and, in the light of experience gained and decisions taken in 1984, to increase its contacts and co-operation with non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine.

7. For this purpose it is proposed that, as in the past, the open-ended working Group should be re-established to assist in expediting the work of the Committee.

8. With reference to paragraph 3 of resolution 39/49 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. With reference to paragraph 4 of resolution 39/49 A, the Committee may wish to request 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 facilitating the holding of the proposed International Peace Conference.

10. With reference to paragraph 2 of resolution 39/49 B, the Committee, in the first instance, may wish to consider:

(a) Details of the seminars to be held in 1985,

(b) The topics on which studies, if any, should be prepared by the Division,

(c) Arrangements for the International NGO Meeting and symposia,

(d) Arrangements for the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.

1.  Seminars

11. In 1984 a seminar was held in Tunisia. The Committee has already decided that in 1985 seminars should be held in Latin America and Asia.

12. The Government of Guyana has kindly agreed to provide the venue for the Latin American seminar and its proposal regarding the dates of the seminar is awaited.  It is believed that this will probably be in June.

13. Contacts are under way regarding the seminar in Asia.

2.  Studies

14. 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 in 1984 is annexed hereto.)  Translation of existing studies into more languages may also be considered.

3.  NGO Meeting and symposia

15. It has been suggested by the Interim Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs that the International NGO Meeting be held in Geneva in the first week of September 1985.  It has since been found that the fourth and fifth of September are holidays in Geneva and it is therefore suggested that the Meeting be held in the second week of September 1985.

16. It has also been suggested that prior to the International Meeting, a meeting be held in Geneva to discuss the arrangements for the International Meeting.  Since such a meeting would need to be held well before the International Meeting, it is suggested that this take place in March 1985.  Consideration will need to be given to the format of that meeting.

17. A decision has already been taken that an NGO symposium should be held in North America in 1985.  This could take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, perhaps in May 1985.

18. Consideration will need to be given also to the holding of symposia in two of the following regions: Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. Details as to the venues and the format of these two symposia will need to be considered in due course.  It is important that the venues and the dates of these symposia be established as soon as possible so that the essential information could be disseminated to the relevant NGOs to enable them to plan their schedules and budget.

4.  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

19. The Committee may wish to recommend that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 1985 be commemorated on Friday, 29 November 1985; that two meetings should be held; and that programmes similar to those organized in the past be repeated in 1985.

20. The Committee may also wish to invite the 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.

—–