UNIC Activities 2017 International Day of Solidarity with ... UNIC Activities... · 1 UNIC Activities 2017 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People United Nations

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UNIC Activities

2017 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

United Nations information centres and offices around the world organized various activities

to mark the 2017 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, including in

Antananarivo, Canberra, Dar es Salaam, Jakarta, Lusaka, Mexico, Pretoria and Rabat, among

others.

UNIC Antananarivo

UNIC Antananarivo organized a conference on “The Question of Palestine and the United Nations,”

on Wednesday, 29 November at the Madagascar Development Learning Center

(MDLC), in Anosy. The event started off with a reading of the Secretary-General’s message and

presentations about the Day.

A presentation “The Question of Palestine and the United Nations” was then screened prior to a Q&A

session. UN Club members from high school and university then participated with poems, songs and

exposé contests, and some participants even wore Palestinian costumes to illustrate their poems.

A high school-level group gave a presentation on “Palestine before 1945” while a university-level

group presented on “Palestine nowadays.” All of the participants were provided with books and

school supplies from the UNIC and UN partners.

The opening of an exhibition on the question of Palestine took place during the conference and was on

display at the UNIC premises until mid-December. The posters making up the exhibition related to

the people, geography, historical background, religion, culture and political issues of Palestine.

UNIC Antananarivo Photo | 2017

Commemoration of International

Day of Solidarity with the

Palestinian People

UNIC Antananarivo Photo | 2017

Commemoration of International Day of

Solidarity with the Palestinian People

UNIC Antananarivo Photo | 2017 Commemoration of

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian

People

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UNIC Canberra

UNIC Canberra together with the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia and the Council of

Arab Ambassadors hosted an event, in Canberra, at the Centre for Christianity and Culture. The event

was attended by 100 people.

The Master of Ceremonies was Ms. Diana Abdel-Rahman, OAM Co-Chair of the Canberra

Multicultural Community Forum. Speakers included: Mr. Christopher Woodthorpe, UNIC Director;

Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassador and Ambassador for Tunisia, His Excellency Mr. Nabil

Lakhal, Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, Mr. Izzat Abdulhadi, President of

Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, Bishop George Browning, and guest speaker Dr. Afif Safieh,

Fatah Deputy Commissioner for International Relations.

The event also included a lively performance by the Dubkah Dance troupe from Canberra’s local

Palestinian Community.

UNIC Canberra Photo | 2017 Commemoration

of International Day of Solidarity with the

Palestinian People

UNIC Canberra Photo | Mr. Christopher

Woodthorpe, Director, UNIC Canberra reading UN

Secretary-General’s Message

UNIC Canberra Photo | Remarks by H.E. Dr. Afif

Safieh, Roving Ambassador of the State of Palestine

UNIC Canberra Photo | 2017 Commemoration of

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian

People

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UNIC Dar es Salaam

UNIC Dar es Salaam commemorated the 2017 International Day of Solidarity on 5 December, in

collaboration with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Tanzania and the Committee on the

Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), which was visiting Tanzania

from the 3 to 6 December.

The UNIC organized a joint lecture as part of the Day’s activities and was commended by H.E.

Ambassador Fode Seck, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations and CEIRPP

Chairman, for its excellent liaison with local and international media, which helped to raise awareness

on the question of Palestine.

Tanzania Today Photo | 2017 International Day of Solidarity with the

Palestinian People, Delegation visit in Dar es Salaam

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UNIC Jakarta

UNIC Jakarta, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the State of

Palestine, organized the commemoration of the 2017 International Day of Solidarity with the

Palestinian People on 30 November, with Ms. Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of

Indonesia, as the Guest of Honor.

The commemoration included screening of a video entitled “Promoting Tolerance through Music -“as

well as a photo exhibition, attended by about 170 guests from the Government, diplomatic

community, NGOs, educational institutions, UN agencies, faith-based

organizations and the media.

In her remarks, Minister Marsudi focused on the need for the international community to support

Palestine gain its independence and on the peace process in the Middle East. Ms. Eshila Maravanyika,

UNIC Jakarta’s Acting Director read the UN Secretary-General's message for the Day, followed by

the Ambassador-designate for the Embassy of the State of Palestine and Dean of the Arab States in

Indonesia, who also delivered some remarks at the ceremony.

Minister Marsudi and Ms. Eshila Maravanyika spoke to the media, separately, after the ceremony.

UNIC Jakarta Photo | Ambassador-designate for the

Embassy of Palestine, Minister Retno Marsudi and

Acting UNIC Jakarta Director Ms. Eshila

Maravanyika at the photo exhibition

UNIC Jakarta Photo | Remarks by Minister Retno

Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs

UNIC Jakarta Photo | Guests attending the 2017

commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the

Palestinian people in Jakarta

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UNIC Lusaka

UNIC Lusaka held an event to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian

people on 29 November 2017.

Addressing the audience, H.E. Dr. Walid Hassan, Palestinian Ambassador to Zambia said, “The

question of Palestine has remained a standing item and a priority on the United Nations agender

since its inception and this institution has adopted resolutions and recommendations that constitute a

solid basis of a just and lasting peace.”

H.E. Dr. Hassan commended the United Nations for keeping the question of Palestine a priority. He

said that the people of Palestine look await the day when everyone will come together and celebrate

the independence of the State of Palestine.

The Guest of honor at the commemoration Ms. Isabel Lemba, Director of Political Affairs at the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was represented by Dyriss Simasiku, Assistant Director for the Zambia

Mine Action Centre. Ms. Lemba’s statement commended the United Nations for successfully

organizing the event under the theme: “Peace, Freedom and National Building.”

Her remarks went on to read, “I wish to express my gratitude to the United Nations Information

Center) in Lusaka and the Embassy of the State of Palestine for successfully organizing this year’s

observance and I also commend the Government of the State of Palestine for its efforts aimed at

finding an amicable solution to the Isreali-Palestine conflict.”

United Nations Development Programme Country Director, Ms. Mandiso Mashologo, also attended

the event and read a message from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the Day, which

encouraged Israel and Palestine to create an enabling environment for peace negotiations. Ten

ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions from China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,

Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, Japan, and Libya also attended the event.

Students from The Kamwala Secondary School and the David Kaunda Technical Secondary School

added colour and splendour to the event with poetry and dance respectively. The poetry titled ”They

are Beautiful People” and the energetic dances left the guests in awe.

UNIC Lusaka Photo | Cultural Dance on

occasion of the 2017 International Day of

Solidarity with the Palestinian People

UNIC Lusaka Photo | 2017

International Day of Solidarity

with the Palestinian People

UNIC Lusaka Photo | Poets from

David Kaunda Technical Secondary

School

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UNIC Mexico

UNIC Mexico played a prominent role in two high-level events held in Mexico City.

On Monday 27 November, Mr. Giancarlo Summa, UNIC Mexico Director, read the UN Secretary-

General’s message for the Day at an official event organized by the Special Delegation of Palestine in

Mexico. The event was attended by a number of Ambassadors as well as civilian, military and

religious authorities.

On Wednesday 29 November, UNIC Mexico organized a forum at the UN House, in Mexico City,

about the situation in Palestine. The forum was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of Mexico and the Special Delegation of Palestine.

The keynote speakers were Mr. Giancarlo Summa, Ambassador Mohamed Saddat, Representative of

the Special Delegation of Palestine in Mexico, and Ms. Martha Tawil, Researcher Professor from

Colegio de México, one of the country’s most prestigious academic institutions. Mrs. Natalia

Saltalamacchia, Director of the Instituto Matías Romero, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diplomatic

school, moderated the event.

More than 120 people participated in the event, including 14 Ambassadors (from Egypt, Algeria,

Morocco, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Belgium, etc.), professors, students and researchers specialized

in Foreign Affairs, Diplomacy and Middle East studies, as well as senior Mexican diplomats.

During the session, Prof. Tawil outlined the historical background of the current Middle East and

Palestinian situation, focused on the ongoing conflicts and different scenarios for the near future of

the region. Her lecture was recorded by UNIC Mexico video team and was later uploaded on the

Centre’s YouTube channel. Mr. Giancarlo Summa read the UN Secretary-General’s message for the Day.

After Ambassador Saddat’s speech, the panelists answered questions from the public.

DPI’s exhibit “The Question of Palestine and the United Nations,” translated into Spanish by UNIC

Mexico, was mounted in the conference room where the event took place.

UNIC Mexico Photo | Forum organized on occasion of 2017 Commemoration of International

Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

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UNIC Pretoria

UNIC Pretoria observed the 2017 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on

Wednesday, 29 November, through engaging speeches, a seminar and a panel discussion. Partners for

these activities included the Palestinian Embassy in South Africa and the Department of International

Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The event was held at DIRCO headquarters with a keynote speech by Dr. Nabil Shaath, the senior

advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Dr. Shaath talked about the resilience of the

Palestinian People as well as the strides made in education, citing close to a 100% literacy rate, as

well as in gender with 60% of young girls making up the university student population.

Following formal opening speeches, Mr. Masimba Tafirenyika, UNIC Director, read the UN

Secretary-General’s message for the Day. The UNIC’s National Information Officer facilitated a

panel discussion related to the situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory. Speakers included: Dr.

Navi Pillay, former UN High commissioner for Human Rights, Professor Garth Le Pere from the

University of Pretoria and H.E. Ambassador Ammar Hijazi from the Palestine Foreign Ministry.

An exhibition of artwork by a Palestinian artist was displayed at DIRCO ahead of the seminar and

UNIC Pretoria contributed in making the exhibition available to South African audiences.

The audience, consisted of members of the diplomatic core, civil society and media, engaged with the

keynote speaker and panelists on various issues including South Africa’s foreign policy and the way

forward for peace in the Middle East.

UNIC Pretoria Photo | Mr. Masimba

Tafirenyika, Director, UNIC Pretoria

reading UN Secretary-General’s Message

UNIC Pretoria Photo | Mr. Nabil Shaath, the

senior advisor to Palestinian President

Mahmoud Abbas delvers keynote address

UNIC Pretoria Photo | Audience attending panel discussion on occasion of 2017

Commemoration of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

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UNIC Rabat

UNIC Rabat hosted an event at the National Library on 6 December, which consisted of two

components: (1) The “Palestinian Poster” exhibit retracing several steps and moments of solidarity

with the Palestinian people. The exhibit featured posters from the UN, UNRWA and various artists

worldwide; and (2) A ceremony with the diplomatic corps accredited in Rabat, including speeches

delivered by the Palestinian Ambassador, the President of the Moroccan association in support of the

Palestinian people, and the Secretary General of the National Council for Human Rights. Mr. Fethi

Debbabi, UNIC Rabat Director, read the UN Secretary-General’s message for the Day.

The event witnessed an impressive attendance of ambassadors, diplomats, human rights associations,

NGOs, general public and media. Mr. Debbabi was interviewed by Palestinian TV, the Moroccan

press agency and by AlGadTV.

UNIC Rabat Photo | Media interview

with Mr. Fethi Debbabi, UNIC Rabat

Director

UNIC Rabat Photo | 2017 Commemoration of International Day of

Solidarity with the Palestinian People

UNIC Rabat Photo | 2017 Commemoration of International Day of

Solidarity with the Palestinian People