Remarks by H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly, at Opening of Exhibition “Palestinian Embroidery: Threads of Continuity, Identity and Empowerment”
29 November 2016
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you to the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People, and DPA’s Division for Palestine Rights for organizing this exhibition.
The annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a reminder to the international community of the gravity of situation facing the Palestinian people, an occasion to express our collective solidarity with them, and an opportunity to press for a peaceful, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to be found to the situation in the Middle East.
This year’s exhibition ‘Palestinian Embroidery: Threads of Continuity, Identity and Empowerment’ is an important event in this regard.
It is a celebration of Palestinian culture.
It gives us a window into the daily experience and resolve of Palestinian women.
It highlights the creativity and skill of Palestinian artisans and designers.
And it showcases how traditional handicrafts can be used to economically empowerment of women.
The exhibition is a beautiful tribute to the rich heritage of the Palestinian people, and of how handicrafts have been used to pass on cultural identity from generation to generation.
It is a reminder to us all of the work of grassroots organizations in Palestine to implement the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by eliminating extreme poverty, promoting inclusive economic prosperity, and empowering women and girls. It is critical work that the international community must support if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030, and if we are to realize the SDG’s founding principle to ‘leave no one behind’.
I thank the organizers for bringing this wonderful exhibition to the United Nations, and for marking this year’s International Day of Solidarity in such a moving way. Thank you.