NGO Action News – 20 October 2017

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
20 October 2017

Middle East

• On 18 October, Peace Now issued an update on planned settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

• According to an article published in Al-Monitor on 17 October, “Palestinian Farmers go Global to Claim their Rights”, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) is finalizing preparations for the launch of La Via Campesina-Palestine at a conference to be held in Ramallah on 29 November.

• On 16 October, Gisha-Legal Center for Freedom of Movement presented a new short animated film “Gaza’s Candy Kingdom”, illustrating the impact of closure policies on industrial production in Gaza through the example of the Al Awda sweets factory in Deir al-Balah.

• Defence for Children International (DCI) Palestine has produced a short video raising concern about lack of safe playgrounds in West Bank refugee camps adjacent to Israeli military posts and infrastructure.

Latin America

• From 26 to 29 October, Palestinian diaspora communities from Latin America will gather at Club Palestino in Santiago de Chile for an inclusive cultural event “Taqalid – Encuentro de la Diáspora de Latinoamérica”.

North America

• From 2 to 9 November, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Manhattan in New York is organizing its 11^th annual The Other Israel film festival.

• On 12 October, Abby Smardon, executive director of the UNRWA USA National Committee, published an article in Mondoweiss “On my sixth visit, I have never seen Gaza so devastated”, calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza.

Europe

• The Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) will organize on 21 October a debate with journalist Isabelle Avran to reflect on the current situation and prospects for a resolution of the question of Palestine. In the context of a campaign for the release of French-Palestinian human rights defender Salah Hamouri from Israeli administrative detention, AFPS hosted on 19 October an event with former Member of Parliament Jean-Claude Lefort.

United Nations

• On 26 October, Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, will present at the 72^nd session of the Third Committee of the General Assembly a report under agenda item 72 (c) “Promotion and protection of human rights/human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives”.

• On 25 October, the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), Diakonia IHL Resource Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council are hosting at the UN Church Center a side event at the margins of the 72^nd session of the General Assembly “The Fifty Year Occupation of Palestine: Humanitarian and Normative Strains of a Protracted Occupation” with the participation of Michael Lynk.