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
26 January 2018
Global
- From 30 June to 8 July, the YMCA in East Jerusalem is inviting young people from all over the world to participate in a “Journey for Justice” in Palestine.
- The International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), of which the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is a member, has released a report on “Gaining Ground: A Framework for Developing Strategies and Tactics in response to Governmental Attacks on NGOs”.
Middle East
- On 25 January, Al Haq published its comments on the Draft Amendment to the Palestinian Cybercrimes Decree Law, in a bid to ensure consistency between domestic and international law.
- On 19 January, BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights called for a more strategic approach to address the current funding crisis facing UNRWA. On 10 January, Al Mezan had expressed deep concern about the humanitarian implications of reducing funding for UNRWA.
- MITVIM-The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies has released a paper with guiding principles for a new Israeli foreign policy paradigm.
- In a meeting with Director of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) addressed the latest developments in Palestine following the US decision to reduce funding to UNRWA and its serious social, economic and political impact. The Swiss agency expressed its concern and commitment along with European partners to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and empower civil society.
North America
- Churches for Middle East Peace is calling for action to ask the US Congress to protect aid delivered by UNRWA to Palestine refugees.
- On 30 January, the Center for Palestine Studies at Columbia University in New York will host author and scholar Norman Finkelstein for a talk on his new book “Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom”.
- On 23 January, Al Shabaka – The Palestinian Policy Network published contributions by different experts related to the theme “Focus On: When Does It Become Apartheid?”
Latin America
- Under the umbrella of the Confederación Palestina de América Latina y el Caribe (COPLAC), representatives of Palestinian diaspora communities in Brasil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Venezuela travelled to Amman to discuss with the PLO and civil society organizations the role of diaspora in efforts to achieve Palestinian self-determination. Among others, agreements were made to strengthen exchange programmes targeting youth.
Europe
- On 6 February, the Palestinian Return Center (PRC) in London is inviting to a meeting on Palestine and Ireland, hosted by MP Mickey Brady.
- On 30 January, the Institut de Recherche et d’Études Méditerranée Moyen-Orient (iReMMO) is hosting in Paris a discussion with Pascal Boniface, director of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), and journalist Dominique Vidal on criticism of Israeli policies and anti-Semitism.
United Nations
- On 5 February, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will hold its first meeting of the year at UN Headquarters in New York.
- On 25 January, the UN Security Council held its quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian question. The briefing delivered by Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, is available online.
- On 23 January, Israel’s human rights record was assessed in Geneva under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council. Reports submitted by Israel, independent experts and human rights NGOs in this context are available on the OHCHR website.
- The Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC), in partnership with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and other NGOs, contributed to Israel’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council with a joint submission, focusing on the specific impact of the occupation on Palestinian women. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) focused in its submission on the right to health and promoting the rights of Palestinians with disabilities.
Document Type: NGO Action News
Document Sources: Al-Shabaka, Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Churches for Middle East Peace, Columbia University Center for Palestine Studies, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR), Human Rights Council, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Palestinian Return Centre Ltd., Security Council, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCAs)
Subject: NGOs/Civil Society
Publication Date: 26/01/2018
Document Sources: Al-Shabaka, Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Churches for Middle East Peace, Columbia University Center for Palestine Studies, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR), Human Rights Council, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Palestinian Return Centre Ltd., Security Council, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCAs)
Subject: NGOs/Civil Society
Publication Date: 26/01/2018