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 4th of December, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 55/76 decided that, from 2001, the 20th 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