NGO Action News – 29 June 2018

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.

United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

NGO Action News
29 June 2018

Middle East 

• On 28 June, BADIL warned in a statement that stiff financial cuts proposed by UNRWA’s major donors will severely impact UNRWA employees and their beneficiaries and impede the fulfillment of UNRWA’s mandate, ultimately rendering the Agency ineffective. In the face of severe financial problems, main donor countries are advocating for measures such as hiring freeze, cuts to education and medical services, termination of urgent relief to Palestinian refugees in crises and emergencies.

• On 27 June, the Director for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Unit of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) issued a statement informing that, this week the Knesset passed a preliminary reading of a bill that would limit the ability of NGOs, journalists, and citizens to document soldiers’ conduct in the Territories, threatening them with 5-10 years imprisonment. The bill is expected to undergo changes before it is voted next, given that the Attorney General has concluded it is unconstitutional and a violation of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and the public’s right to know.

• On 26 June, Al-Haq informed that it delivered a statement on 22 June at the 38th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council discussion on advancing women’s rights in the economic sphere through access and participation in information and communication technologies. Al-Haq’s statement highlighted the human rights abuses and systematic cyber violence that Palestinian women human rights defenders are subjected to due to their role in challenging Israel’s unlawful occupation.

Europe

• On 25 June, the UK-based Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) briefed the Labour MP Marsha De Cordova (an outspoken disability rights campaigner), on the situation in Gaza, Lebanon and UNRWA crisis. PRC highlighted the increasing attacks by Israeli authorities, which are leading to permanent injuries. The PRC briefed on the dire situation faced by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, where increasing restrictions by the Lebanese authorities are further limiting the rights of Palestinians. The discussion on UNRWA, reiterated that humanitarian assistance must not be used for political mileage.

North America

• On 29 June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) deplored Israel’s refusal to participate in the adoption of its own Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report and urged Israel to nonetheless implement all accepted recommendations. HRW stated that since its last UPR in 2012, Israel has further cemented a two-tiered discriminatory system that treats Palestinians separately and unequally. The regime of institutionalized discrimination applies to virtually every aspect of life, including freedom to build, access to resources, security of legal status and freedom of movement.

United Nations

• On 29 June, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 expressed alarm at the deterioration of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, saying reports received during his visit to the region this week painted the most dispiriting picture yet of the situation on the ground. “After years of creeping Israeli de facto annexation of the large swathes of the West Bank through settlement expansion, the creation of closed military zones and other measures, Israel appears to be getting closer to enacting legislation that will formally annex parts of the West Bank in violation.

• On 27 June, the Prime Minister of Malaysia committed to launch the UNRWA “Dignity is Priceless” campaign in Malaysia. The launch of the campaign in Malaysia will serve as a catalyst for facilitating increased private giving in the country in support of UNRWA and Palestine refugees.

• On 26-28 June, The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) jointly convened an international conference under the theme “The Question of Jerusalem after 50 years of Occupation and 25 years of the Oslo Accords” in Rabat, Morocco. Speakers stressed critical need to improve prospects of youth in East Jerusalem.

• On 25 June, the Secretary-General commended UNRWA for its invaluable contribution to the urgent humanitarian needs of millions of Palestine refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The Secretary-General was speaking during the pledging conference for UNRWA where he also thanked donors for the $200 million in new funding for the urgency.