Ref: 45/2012
On 10-11 May, the Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR) participated in a series of civil society events in Barcelona,
Spain, in commemoration of the 64th anniversary of the Naqba. The
events were organised under the auspices of “Amb Palestina al Cor” – With
Palestine in the Heart – a platform of Catalan NGOs supporting the Palestinian cause,
this network includes PCHR’s partner ACSUR and the Palestinian community in
Catalonia.
PCHR wishes to express its appreciation for the
significant support offered by Catalan civil society organizations, which
included hosting the first session of the Russell
Tribunal on Palestine, held in Barcelona in 2010.
On 10 May, Mr. Davide Tundo, a member of PCHR’s
International Unit, participated as panelist in a public conference titled
“Non-Violence as Resistance Strategy in Palestine”, held in the Home Room of
the Faculty of History and Geography of the University of Barcelona.
Mr. Tundo discussed the human rights crisis of
the Palestinian population under the Israeli military occupation of the oPt,
including the ongoing closure of the Gaza Strip. In particular, Mr. Tundo
highlighted the denial of justice for Palestinian civilians, including victims
of Israel’s Operation Cast Lead, as a
result of the proven Israel’s unwillingness to comply with international law
obligations and the failure of the international community to enforce
accountability in the oPt, including by means of international justice
mechanisms.
Mr. Tundo further participated in consultations
of a delegation of Catalan deputies with representatives of the above-mentioned
platform of Catalan NGOs, at the Parliament of Catalonia.
In light of the prolonged human rights crisis
in Gaza and overall the oPt, PCHR asked for political support at both the
regional and national level by reminding specific international legal
obligations, including under international humanitarian and criminal law, and
the EU regulations on trade and compliance with IHL standards.
In particular, Mr. Tundo highlighted the
situation of Palestinian political prisoners in Israel, including
administrative detainees, among whom elected members of the Palestinian
parliament and its speaker.
On 11 May, Mr. Tundo attended the closing
ceremony of this civil society cycle of events on the Naqba, further assisted
by a number of representatives of Spanish and Catalan politics, members of the
Palestinian community in Catalonia, the Palestinian Ambassador in Spain, Mr.
Musa Amer Odeh, and local media. A video-message from Ms. Majeda Al-Masri, PA
Minister of Social Affairs, finally unable to attend in person, was also displayed.
The full program of the civil society events on
the 64th anniversary of the Naqba is available here.
