2016 OBSERVANCE


Every year since 1977 the United Nations has observed the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November. In 2016, once again under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the United Nations marked this important day with a series of official meetings and cultural events.
Observance at the United Nations Headquarters in New York


UN Photo/Manuel Elias


Remarks by Mr. Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
Statement, UN Photo/Manuel Elias


Remarks by H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly, at the Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People Statement, UN Photo/Manuel Elias


H.E. Mr. Fodé Seck, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for November 2016
UN Photo/Manuel Elias



H.E. Mr. Dian Triansyah Djani, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations).
UN Photo/Manuel Elias


H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine at the Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
Statement (Arabic, English), UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Messages of Solidarity

Governments: Argentina (English, Spanish), Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, China (Chinese, English), Cuba (Spanish), Djibouti (French), Egypt, El Salvador (Spanish), EU, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq (Arabic), Japan (English, Japanese), Jordan (Arabic), Kazakhstan, Kuwait (Arabic), Lao, Lebanon, Madagascar (French), Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico (Spanish), Morocco (Arabic, English, French, Spanish), Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua (English, Spanish), Oman (Arabic), Pakistan, Qatar (Arabic), Russian (Russian), Saudi Arabia (Arabic), Senegal (French), Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria (Arabic), Thailand, Tunisia (Arabic), Turkey (English, Turkish), UAE (Arabic), Ukraine, Viet Nam

IGO: League of Arab States (Arabic), Non-Aligned Movement (English, Spanish), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (Arabic, English, French)

NGO: Caritas Jerusalem, Just Vision, Neturei Karta International, World YWCA


Ms. Suhad Babaa, Just Vision. UN Photo/Manuel Elias


UN Photo/Manuel Elias


UN Photo/Manuel Elias


UN Photo/Manuel Elias


UN Photo/Manuel Elias


UN Photo/Manuel Elias
General Assembly Debate on the Question of Palestine
29 Nov 2016: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.


H.E. Mr. Gorgui Ciss, On behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Deputy Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations) Statement (English, French), UN Photo/JC McIlwaine


H.E. Mr. Carmelo Inguanez, Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations)
Statement, UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

The exhibit entitled “Palestinian Embroidery: Threads of Continuity, Identity and Empowerment” was inaugurated at an evening reception held on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The exhibit will remain open to the public in the Visitors Lobby of the UN General Assembly (weekdays 9:00 –16:30 and weekends 10:00 –16:30) until 28 December 2016.









Observance at United Nations Office in Vienna





2015 OBSERVANCE

Special Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York
23 November 2015


UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

H.E. Mr. Desra Percaya, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations). UN Photo/Rick Bajornas. Statement

H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the General Assembly. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas. Statement


Mr. Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas. Statement

H.E. Mr. Matthew Rycroft, President of the Security Council (Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations). UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.


H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas. Statement (Arabic, English)


H.E. Mr. Amrith Rohan Perera, Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (Permanent Representative of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United Nations).

H.E. Mr. Gholamali Khoshroo, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, read out a message from His Excellency Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries

H.E. Mr. Ufuk Gokcen, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, read out a message from H.E. Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

H.E. Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, read out a message from H.E. Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Fathalla, Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States, read out a message from H.E. Mr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

Mr. Brad Parker, International Advocacy Officer and Attorney, Defense for Children International Palestine Statement




Messages received

Governments: Afghanistan, Argentina (E, S), Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, China (C, E), Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guyana, India, Indonesia (E, orig), Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait (A, E), Lao PDR, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Morocco (Arabic, English, French, Spanish), Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, Viet Nam (E, orig)

IGO: European Union

NGO: Presbyterian Church USA




Opening ceremony for the photo exhibit “Palestinian Children: Overcoming Tragedies with Hope, Dreams, Resilience and Dignity”
UN Headquarters in New York, 23 November 2015

UN Photo/Amanda Voisard




Observance at United Nations Office at Vienna
24 November 2015

H.E. Mr. Keith Azzopardi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations Office at Vienna, delivering a message on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

Mr. Dennis Thatchaichawalit, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, delivering a message of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ambassador Ms. Ulrike Tilly, Deputy Political Director and Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, addressing the meeting on behalf of the Host Country

H.E. Ali Al-Mansouri, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations at Vienna, delivering a message on behalf of the Arab Group


H.E. Mr. Wael Nasser Eddin Al-Assad, Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States to the United Nations Office at Vienna, delivering a message on behalf of H.E. Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States



Mr. Eshragh Jahromi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office at Vienna, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement



H.E. Mr. Hussam Al Husseini, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations Office at Vienna, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Arab Council Group



Dr. Hans Koechler, President, International Progress Organization, delivering a message on behalf of civil society

H.E. Mr. Salahaldin Abdalshafi, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Vienna, reading out a statement of H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine




Observance at United Nations Office at Geneva
30 November 2015



UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Mr. Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, reading out the message of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Amb. Mame Baba Cissé, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Amb. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking on behalf of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Amb. Sameh Aboulenein, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations Office at Geneva. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Amb. Slimane Chikh, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations Office at Geneva, UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Amb. Mohsen Naziri Asl, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Amb. Jean Marie Ehouzou, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations Office at Geneva. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Ms. Karolin Jogel, World Young Women’s Christian Association, speaking on behalf of civil society organizations accredited to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré


Amb. Ibrahim Khraishi, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva, delivering the statement of President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré



UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré



Background

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on or around 29 November each year, in accordance with mandates given by the General Assembly in its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, and subsequent resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the question of Palestine.

The date of 29 November was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people. On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), which came to be known as the Partition Resolution. That resolution provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime. Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being as an independent and sovereign State.

The Solidarity Day has traditionally provided an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine is still unresolved and that the Palestinian people is yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced.

In response to the call of the United Nations, various activities are undertaken annually by Governments and civil society in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. These activities include, among other things, the issuance of special messages of solidarity with the Palestinian people, the organization of meetings, the dissemination of publications and other information material, and the screening of films.

At United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People each year holds a special meeting to observe the Solidarity Day. Invited speakers include the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council, and representatives of relevant United Nations bodies, intergovernmental organizations and Palestine. NGOs accredited to the Committee are invited to attend and a representative of the international community of NGOs addresses the meeting. The special meeting is webcast live.

Statements delivered and messages received on the occasion of the Solidarity Day from Governments and civil society organizations accredited by the Committee will be posted on this page. Civil society organizations may send their messages of solidarity to palestinianrights@un.org.

Other activities organized in New York in connection with the observance of the Day of Solidarity include a Palestinian exhibit or a cultural event sponsored by the Committee and presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations.

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Hide details for 2014 observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People2014 observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People


2014 OBSERVANCE AT UN HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK

Special meeting of the Palestinian Rights Committee




H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly


H.E. Mr. Gary Francis Quinlan, President of the Security Council (Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations)


Mr. Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East


H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the State of Palestine


Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (statement) UN Photo/Amanda Voisard


Messages received

Governments: Afghanistan, Argentina, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, DPRK, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, India, Iran, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Viet Nam

IGOs: EU, OIC (Arabic, English, French)

NGOs: Mennonite Central Committee, NGO Working Group on Israel-Palestine



Opening of UNRWA photo exhibit "The Long Journey"









Concert by the Joubran Trio











OBSERVANCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
26 November 2014





OBSERVANCE AT UN HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK
28 November 2014








2014 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE - BACKGROUND

Report on the International Year

In its resolution A/68/12 of 26 November 2013, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 2014 the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (IYSPP), and requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to organize activities to be held during the year, in cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations. The objective of the IYSPP would be to promote solidarity with the Palestinian people as a central theme, contributing to international awareness of (a) core themes regarding the question of Palestine, as prioritized by the Committee, (b) obstacles to the ongoing peace process, particularly those requiring urgent action such as settlements, Jerusalem, the blockade of Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and; (c) mobilization of global action towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

OFFICIAL LOGO


Download [guidelines]


EVENTS CALENDAR
For the calendar of more recent events click here....
International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem"Jerusalem and the international community: providing political and economic support"20 and 21 July 2017, Baku, Azerbaijan....
United Nations Forum to Mark Fifty Years of Occupation29-30 June 2017, New York, NY....
United Nations Capacity Building Workshop on Sustainable Development Goals for Staff of the State of Palestine“Partnerships for Empowering a Future State of Palestine: Sustainable Development Goal 17 and South-South and Triangular Cooperation” Beirut, 23 to 24 April 2017....
In Conversation with Dr. Hanan Ashrawi CSW61 Side-Event, 17 March 2017, New York, NY....
United Nations Roundtable on the Question of Palestine"Building Bridges with Palestinian Diaspora " 4 February 2017, Managua, NicaraguaJornada de las Naciones Unidas Sobre la Cuestión de Palestina"Tendiendo Puentes con la Diáspora Palestina en América Central" 4 Febrero 2017, Managua, Nicaragua....
Briefing on the human rights situation in the OPT including use of excessive force by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty, Al Haq - UNHQ 18 October 2016....
United Nations International Conference in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace“Peace is possible – frameworks for a way forward" United Nations Office at Geneva, Conference Room XVII Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 June 2016....
United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian Peopleon 19 and 20 May in Stockholm, Sweden. "Agenda 2030: Paving the way toward a peaceful, independent and sustainable State of Palestine".....
International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem “Jerusalem at the heart of the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. Conférence internationale sur la Question de Jérusalem "Jérusalem au cœur du règlement pacifique de la question de Palestine" 3 and 4 May Dakar....


RESOURCES


16 JANUARY 2014 - OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR
UN Headquarters, New York

The International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was launched at the opening of the 2014 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on 16 January 2014.
Speakers at the meeting

UN Photo/JC McIlwaine


H.E. Mr. Abdou Salam Diallo, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations). UN Photo/JC McIlwaine [French]


H.E. Mr. John Ashe, President of the General Assembly. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine [English, Video]


H.E. Mr. Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, reading out a message on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine [English | Video]


His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, President of the Security Council for the month of January. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine


H.E. Mr. Palitha Kohona, Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine [English]


H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, reading out a message from His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the State of Palestine. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine [English, Arabic]




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