Ref: 86/2011

Khalil Shaheen, Director of the Palestinian
Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Economic and Social Rights Unit, participated
in many activities and attended many meetings in Italian cities during the
first week of his visit to Italy.
 It should be noted that Shaheen was
invited by Ms. Luisa Morgantini and the Stay Human Convoy (VIK2Gaza) which
visited Gaza in
last May.  Shaheen participated in a
number of activities in Bulciago, Verbania, Varese and Milano.  He delivered presentations and lectures in
meetings and conferences organized by pro-Palestinian Italian organizations.  He was also interviewed by the Italian media.  Shaheen arrived in Rome
on Wednesday, 23 November 2011, and he was received by members of VIK2Gaza who
organized a reception ceremony for Shaheen in Rome.

On 26 November, Shaheen participated in a
conference titled “Thirsty for Justice” in Bulciago.  Ms. Luisa Morgantini, Former Vice-President of
the European Parliament, and Ms. Egidia Beretta Arrigoni, Mother of Italian activist
Vittorio Arrigoni who was killed in Gaza,
participated in the conference.  Shaheen
delivered a presentation in this conference on the human rights situation in
the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the continued illegal closure of
the Gaza Strip.  He appreciated the role
played by Vittorio Arrigoni in exposing the practices of the Israeli occupation
forces, noting that Arrigoni participated, as an eyewitness, in many activities
exposing Israeli violations against civilians in Gaza including fishermen and
farmers in buffer zones, and the denial of Palestinian civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights.  He
presented PCHR’s souvenir emblem to Ms. Egidia Beretta Arrigoni as a symbol of
the Palestinian people’s appreciation to Vittorio’s role in supporting the
Palestinian cause.  During his visit to
Bulciago, Shaheen visited Vittorio’s grave.

On 27 November, Shaheen delivered a
presentation in Anna
Center in response to an
invitation from Libra Association and ARCHIE Foundation, which was attended by
120 people.  Shaheen talked about the
role played by Vittorio Arrigoni in exposing the Israeli violations of human rights
in the oPt in general and in the Gaza Strip in particular.  He also addresssed the deterioration of
Palestinians’ human rights situation as a result of continued violations of
Palestinians’ civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

On 28 November, Shaheen responded to an
invitation by Varese Committees for Palestine
and delivered a lecture that focused on PCHR and its role in protecting
Palestinians’ human rights.  He discussed
the role played by PCHR at international, regional and local levels, including
its role in prosecuting Israeli war criminals.

On 29 November, Shaheen participated, in
response to an invitation from ‘For Palestine’ Campaign in Milano, in a vigil in
solidarity with Palestine
in Piazza San Babila in Milano.  In the
hall of Largo Corsia dei Servi, Shaheen made a presentation in which he focused
on the necessity of exerting all forms of pressure on the Israeli occupation
forces to ensure respect for Palestinian civilians’ human rights, especially
lifting the illegal closure of the Gaza Strip after the end of the captivity of
Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was captured in Gaza.  Shaheen delivered another presentation on the
water crisis in the oPt with approximately 130 persons, including Ms. Luisa
Morgantini, in attendance.

Shaheen held a meeting with the Mayor of the Milan
City Council, Mr. Basilio Rizzo, and Ms. Anita Sonajo, the Counselor.  During this meeting, Shaheen reviewed the
human rights situation in the oPt.  He
focused on continued violations of Palestinian children’s right to education in
the Gaza Strip, and the prevention of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.  Mr. Basilio Rizzo appreciated the meeting and
noted that it is important to have permanent ties between the city of Milano and Palestinian
organizations. He welcomed the possibility of developing projects in the area
of human rights and education that contribute to cooperation between the city
of Milano and
the Gaza Strip.

Shaheen also conducted several press briefings to
the Italian local media in Bulciago, Verbania and Varese about the human rights
situation in the oPt and PCHR’s role in ensuring respect and protection for
Palestinians’ human rights.