Invitation: RE- REFUGEES? Palestine refugees, living under the daily threat of dispossession and displacement

On the occasion of World Refugee Day[1]

The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

The UN Regional Information Centre  (UNRIC)

with the support of the

International Press Centre (IPC)

have the pleasure to invite you to a panel discussion on

RE- REFUGEES?

Palestine refugees, living under the daily threat

of dispossession and displacement

on Thursday 21 June 2012,  16H30 – 18H00

Venue: Polak Room, Residence Palace

Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels

More than six decades after they were first displaced from their homes, Palestine refugees continue to face dispossession, homelessness and displacement. Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory continue to have significant impact on the lives and livelihood of Palestine refugees inhibiting their human development and imposing obstacles to the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians to live a normal life.

At this event, Palestine refugees will share with you personal stories of how their lives are affected in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. High level speakers from the European External Action Service, the European Parliament, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office and civil society will explore how these policies are hindering the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, and set back a just and durable peace.

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by 16 June 2012. E-Mail: [email protected]. Tel: +32 2 290 34 35

Programme

Welcome by Mr Matthias Burchard (Director- UNRWA Representative Office to the EU)

Introduction by Palestine refugees:

·Mrs Shereen Araj, (Palestine refugee representative from Al Walaja village);

·Mr Sameer Abdel Latif, (Palestine refugee representative from Sheikh Jarrah);

·Mr Mohammed Alkorshan, (Palestine refugee representative from the Bedouin Community of the Jerusalem periphery area);

Panel debate:

·Mrs Emer Costello

MEP, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council at European Parliament);

·Mrs Alexandra Thein

MEP, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

·Mr Christian Berger

EEAS, Director for North Africa, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq

·Mr Johannes Luchner

ECHO Head of Unit – Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Region, Middle East- TBC

·Mrs Simone Susskind

President of NGO ‘Actions in the Mediterranean’

·Mr Mark Brailsford

UNRWA Senior Protection Coordinator

Moderated by:

·Mr. Gie Goris (Chief editor of MO* magazine)

Official Statements on the occasion of World Refugee Day (18H15)

Evening reception (18H30- 20H)

PRESS: Media are welcome to the panel discussion.

For interviews please call UNRWA-   Tel: +32 2 2903435, Fax: +32 2 290 3439, E-mail: [email protected]

* The language of the event will be ENGLISH. Interpretation into other languages will not be available.  

[1] On the 4^th of December, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 55/76 decided that, from 2001, the 20^th of June would be marked as World Refugee Day. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. URL: http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/  and URL: http://www.unhcr.org/do1thing/index.php