On September 23rd the Palestinian Return Centre addressed the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council during the general debate of Item 7 which covers the human rights situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab territories.
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Septmeber 2016, Side event on Israel's Settlements in the OPT at UN Human Rights Council (HRC33):
On Septmber 22nd 2016 the Palestinian Return Centre hosted a side event co-sponsored by Human Rights Watch at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which focused on Israel's settlments in the OPT.
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Septmeber 2016, Oral Statement to Item 3&5 Clustered ID at HRC33On September 20th the PRC delivered an oral statement during Item 3&5 Clustered ID with Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indegenous People (EMRIP).
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Septmeber 2016, Seminar on Palestinian Refugees from Syria at UN Human Rights Council (HRC33):
On Septmber 19th 2016 the Palestinian Return Centre and the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria hosted a side event at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva titled 'Palestinian Refugees in Syria: Victims of Torture and Enforced Disappearance.
The event focused on the situation of Palestinian Refugees living in Syria and the impacts of the war on them, in particular the issue of torture victims who are being killed everyday.
______________________________________________________________June 2016, Seminar on Palestinian Refugees from Syria at UN Human Rights Council (HRC32):
On June 16 the Palestinian Return Centre hosted a side event at the 32nd Human Rights Council in Geneva on the unique vulnerability of Palestinian Refugees from Syria.
The event focused on the anomaly that is the Palestinian Refugee status and how it affects Palestinians fleeing the Syrian civil war. At the same time it was discussed the human rights violations on those Palestinian still trapped in Syria.
______________________________________________________________ June 2016, Seminar on Gaza Strip at UN Human Rights Council (HRC32):
The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) hosted its second side event at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The event focused on the human rights situation in the Occupied Gaza Strip. PRC’s latest policy brief was launched and hard copies were available at the event.
______________________________________________________________ June 2016, Written Statement to Item 4 of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC32):
Read our statement on Palestinian Refugees from Syria
______________________________________________________________ June 2016, Written Statement to Item 4 of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC32):
Read our statement on Palestinian Refugees from Lebanon
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June 2016, Written Statement to Item 7 of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC32):
______________________________________________________________ May 2016, World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul:
Palestinian Return Centre participation at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey.
______________________________________________________________ April 2016, 49th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD49) in New York:The theme of this year’s commission is “Strengthening the demographic evidence base for the Post-2015 development agenda”. The Palestinian Return Centre is convinced that strengthening the demographic evidence base is vital to realizing the post-2015 development agenda since this would help address root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice.
The Declaration of the 2030 agenda highlights the vulnerability of migrants, refugees and internally displaced people, and emphasizes that forced displacement and related humanitarian crises threaten to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades.
PRC believes that the commission should pay particular attention to the Palestinian refugee problem, which still remains unresolved as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is still responsible for providing assistance and protection for 5 million displaced Palestinians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
_____________________________________________________________ March 2016, 31st UN Human Rights Council in Geneva:
PRC side event on Israeli house demolitions in the OPT at UN HRC31 in Geneva.
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February 2016, 31st UN Human Rights Council in Geneva:
PRC's submits a written statement to Item 7 of the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
_______________________________________ September 17th 2015, side event at 30th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva:
This side event facilitated discussion on the financial challenges facing UNRWA, the effects of these challenges on UNRWA’s ability to protect and assist the Palestinian refugees. The repercussions on Palestinian refugees and why the right of return remains immensely important as a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.
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September 2015, 30th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva:
PRC's Director Majed Al-Zeer deliver's an oral statement to the Member States during Agenda Item 7: the Human Rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Al-Zeer reaffirmed on the need to end the plight of Palestinian refugees by implementing the right of return in accordance with international law and related UN resolutions.
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Over 107 European Parliamentarians call on ECOSOC to approve Palestinian Return Centre's NGO Consultative Status
To: ECOSOC Member States
CC: European Block
We, the undersigned, express our utmost support for granting the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) UN NGO Consultative status.
Earlier in June 2015, the UN’s Committee on NGOs recommended that the PRC be granted UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status. The PRC was granted this status through a vote where twelve states voted in favour, three voted against, and three abstained.
The PRC is one of the very few NGOs working in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the Diaspora that is dedicated to finding a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem in accordance with international law, international human rights declarations, and the many UN resolutions including Resolution 194.
The PRC has been active in Europe since 1996. It is an independent consultancy focusing on the historical, political, and legal aspects of Palestinian refugees. It specialises in the research, analysis, and monitoring of issues pertaining to the dispersed Palestinians and their internationally recognised legal right to return.
The centre has a long history of working with parliamentarians in Europe, including oganising delegation visits to the Middle East to observe the conditions faced by Palestinian refugees.
We call on the ECOSOC member states – In their July 2015 meeting – to approve the status given to PRC by the initial recommendation of the ECOSOC NGO committee during its May session. By having this status, PRC will boost the basic human rights activities in favour of the Palestinian refugees who suffer on a daily basis.
Undersigned by: