NGO Action News – 16 – 22 January 2016

This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations affiliated with the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.

NGO Action News
16 January 201

22 January 2016

The United States of America

• “To Whom it May Concern” is a photo exhibition in New York hosted by the Ronald Feldman Fine Arts museum from December 12, 2015 through 30 January, 2016. The museum exhibits a selection of fifty powerful colour images from the archive of the Israeli Haaretz newspaper, dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation.

Europe

• From 21 through 23 January, the Abbey theatre of Dublin presented the “Theatre of Change Symposium” and a number of discussions on issues related to the Israeli occupation. The discussants for the event were: Ray Dolphin – from UN OCHA, Taiseer Merei – director of Golan for Development NGO, and Gideon Levy – Journalist from Haaretz.

• In London, on 26 January, P21 Gallery will screen the film by Fida Qishta “Where should the Birds fly?” exploring the strength, hope and humanity of the people of Gaza. On 30 January, The Gallery is hosting an event “Targeting dissent: Israel’s crackdown on Palestinian citizens” organized by The Middle East Monitor, chaired by Baroness Hussein-Ece with Dr. Yousef T. Jabareen– lecturer at the University of Haifa and Tel-Hai Academic College, Dr. Durgham Said – Professor at Al-Quds University, Malia Bouatti – from the National Union of Students and Ben White – a journalist, as panelists.

Middle East

• On 6 February, in Bethlehem, the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) along with the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) are organizing the 9th annual Olive Planting Programwhich features introductory presentations about the current situation in Palestine and the efforts against the separation wall. Events in the old city of Jerusalem will also take place. The programme is open to all interested individuals and NGO representatives.

• In Bethlehem, on 1 April, the annual Palestine marathon “the rights to movement” will take place.

Global

• Human Rights Watch on 19 January published a report: “Occupation, Inc.: How Settlement Businesses Contribute to Israel’s Violations of Palestinian Rights”. The report discusses relevant violations of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

• On 24 January, Theatre for everybody (Gaza) and Az Theatre in London are staging jointly War and Peace in Gaza, a multidimensional production.

• In London, on 30 January, Slough Palestine Solidarity Campaign is hosting an event entitled “Palestine vs. Israel, Football and Politics”.

United Nations

• The Emergency Appeal published by UNRWA outlines its programmatic response to the humanitarian needs in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the year 2016 in order to meet the minimum humanitarian needs.

• On 19 January, Robert Piper, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the OPT, and Felipe Sanchez, the Director of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank, called for an immediate revocation of plans to transfer Palestinian Bedouins currently living within in the Jerusalem area.

• Diplomats from the 17 countries visited the place of recent demolitions by the Israeli authorities in Bedouin communities.

• From December 2015 through February 2016 UNRWA is conducting a social media campaign #shareyourwarmth to raise US $2 million dollars for vulnerable Palestinian families to help them cope with severe winter conditions.