On 21 June, the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) held its Fifth Annual Retreat, hosted by the Mission of Senegal. All the Members of the Bureau, as well as two representatives from the larger Committee membership (Bolivia and Malta) attended the event.

The discussion revolved around three main themes: (a) challenges affecting the Committee and its work; (b) 2019-2020 priorities and activities and the key areas of impact, including Committee messaging and outreach; and (c) strategy for upcoming activities.

It was noted that the Question of Palestine and the Committee’s work faced critical times due to an unprecedented shift away from the long-standing international consensus. However, by and large the international community remained firmly committed to the two-State solution, as reiterated in the statements issued by the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Bureau agreed that the Committee would intensify its activities through engagement at the United Nations, particularly with the General Assembly and the Security Council, with Permanent Representatives and regional groups, as well as with the general public.