NGO Action News – 24 November 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
24 November 2017

Middle East

• On 21 November, the Palestinian Minister of Social Development Ibrahim Shaer, and Save the Children Country Director in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Jennifer Moorehead, signed a memorandum of understanding. This document sets out a general framework for how Save the Children will support the Ministry with their work for children with disabilities, child protection (including child detainees and ex-detainees) and child labour.

• On 22 November, Israel’s Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, responded to the petition challenging the “Regularization Law,” submitted by ACRI, Yesh Din, and Peace Now to Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) on 3 March on behalf of 27 Palestinian local councils, 4 Palestinian landowners and 13 Israeli civil society organizations. The Attorney General refused to represent the government in court on this case, given his strong and clear objection to the law, as detailed in the response submitted today.

• On 23 November, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Gaza) issued a joint statement regarding the Israeli Attorney General’s response to the petition against the Settlement Regularization Law that he submitted yesterday to the Israeli Supreme Court.

Europe

• On 22 November, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign organized a meeting at the UK Parliament in London to lobby in support of the Palestinian cause.

• On 22 November, more than 120 human rights organizations, trade unions, ethical tourism associations, sports and faith-based groups from over 20 countries issued an international call urging the premier cycling event Giro d’Italia to move its 2018 “Big Start” from Israel because of the latter’s grave and escalating violations of international law and Palestinians’ human rights.

• On 23 November, Friends of Alrowwad UK organized the Bethlehem Concert at Saint Paul’s Church in London in order to fundraise for The Alrowwad Arts and Cultural Centre for women and children in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem.

North America

• On 28 November, the Columbia University Center for Palestinian Studies in New York will screen the documentary “Open Bethlehem,” followed by a Q&A session with its director Leila Sansour and Prof. Richard Peña.

• From 29 November to 1 December, Cinémathèque québécoise in Montreal will host a Palestinian film festival featuring 19 works by 12 established and emerging artists, celebrating the revitalizing force of creativity and engaging in experimentation as a form of art.

• On 28 November, the New School in New York will be hosting a panel on how to combat anti-Semitism today, featuring Linda Sarsour (Director of the Arab American Association) and Rebecca Vilkomerson (Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace). The event is already sold out, but it will be live-streamed at com/JacobinMag.

United Nations

• On 29 November, the United Nations will observe the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at UN Headquarters in New York, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977. At the Special Meeting of 29 November, Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, will deliver a statement on behalf of his organization. The occasion marks the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 181 (II) on 29 November 1947 partitioning the mandate of Palestine into two States. Parallel meetings will be organized at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna.

• On 30 November, the United Nations Bookstore at UNHQ will be hosting a special “meet the author” event to launch veteran UN-affairs contributor Ian Williams’s book “Untold: the Real Story of the United Nations in Peace and War.”