October-December 2013 |
www.BADIL.org |
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Local Youth Refugee
Network (LYRN) and Civil Society Activists Forum (CSAF) |
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BADIL’s two youth
groups, the LYRN and CSAF, conducted a joint initiative on forced population
transfer on 5 October 2013. 35 youth from both bodies participated in an
educational tour to Hebron District (Susya and Twany) and Area C villages in
Bethlehem District (Wadi Fukin and Battir). The tour focused on raising
awareness among the participants of the Israeli policies and practices
designed to forcibly transfer Palestinian residents from those areas,
particularly land confiscation and the presence of illegal settlements. |
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Reunion:
Palestinian Youth inside and outside the Green Line |
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A first time cooperation between BADIL and Baladna Cultural Forum (Haifa) brought together Palestinian youth from within the Green Line (Israel) to meet with Palestinian youth members of BADIL’s LYRN and CSAF (mainly refugee youth from Dheisheh Refugee Camp). The 100-member group was hosted at the Phoenix Charitable Society for a day-long program that included presentations, film screenings and discussions. The discussions touched upon a wide variety of topics of concern to both groups: starting from refugee return to the difficulties faced by both groups, to the roles and responsibilities each have together and separately. Misconceptions were clarified and myths were dispelled. Considering the resounding success of this pilot initiative, BADIL, Baladna and other organizations will aim to cooperate in additional initiatives, providing opportunities for interaction among Palestinian youth from different geopolitical backgrounds |
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Training of
Academic Activists |
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The fall semester of BADIL’s course “Palestinian Refugees under International Law”, delivered at Al-Quds University, commenced in September with 53 law students (23 women and 30 men). All students passed the course and the class grade average was B. Also, BADIL supervised preparation and submission of two research papers, which were conducted by two students: one from Al-Quds University and the other from Al-Estiqlal (Independence College). Both papers received B+. |
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Mobilization,
Outreach and Networking |
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Campaigning
in Europe: Advocacy, Awareness Raising and Engagement
Between 28 October and 12 November, BADIL went on a tour in five European
states. The tour included meetings with international organizations and
networks, as well as with Palestinian communities in Europe. The tour was an
opportunity for BADIL to engage with its partners in advocacy events,
promote a human rights based approach to the Palestinian refugee problem,
and network with Palestinian communities and organizations for the
establishment of a Global Palestinian Refugee Network (GPRN). BADIL
connected with members of the Legal Support Network to further enhance its
capacities and activities abroad and to develop the network to its fullest
potential.
BADIL also met with International
Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) and Collectif Urgence Palestine. In addition, a meeting was held with
35 Palestinian representatives of various communities, organizations and
networks to coordinate the establishment of the Global Palestinian Refugee
Network. On that occasion, BADIL presented its new
Handbook which outlines Israeli state
practices used to implement displacement by drawing on court decisions, legislation,
military orders, and original interviews with affected individuals.
After Geneva, BADIL staff traveled to
Brussels, where they held meetings with representatives of the Palestinian
communities of Belgium and Luxemburg focusing on the Global Palestine Refugee
Network (GPRN). BADIL participated in the EU lobbying days through its
membership in the European Coordination Committee for Palestine (ECCP), and
had the opportunity to directly advocate with 23 parliamentarians at the EU.
BADIL’s focus was Israel’s lack of adherence to the EU Guidelines, and the
ongoing impunity Israel enjoys due to lack of enforcement of these
guidelines. BADIL was the only Palestinian organization present at the
lobbying days. A meeting with APRODEV (an association of 17 major
humanitarian and development organizations in Europe) and CIDSE (an
international alliance of 16 Catholic development agencies from Europe and
North America) was an opportunity to discuss their support of the Palestinian
cause and the role BADIL could take in that.
In Amsterdam, BADIL met with
Palestinians from Holland and held a lecture at the International Institute
of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University. The lecture was arranged by Dr.
Jeff Handmaker, a senior lecturer in law, human rights and development. The
lecture was attended by students, organizations and networks. The final two
stops of the mission were Germany and France, where BADIL met with more
Palestinian communities and representatives, as well as Generation Palestine
and BDS-France.
See press release in Arabic:
1,
2,
3,
4,
5, 6,
and
7.
BADIL
hosted 20 international delegations totaling 379 persons who visited the ONEC
physical space in the third quarter of 2013.The topics of the interactive
lectures included international law, human rights, the rights of return and
self-determination, the practicalities of return and the ONEC website as an
advocacy tool.
Hosting
International Delegations
BADIL hosted 20 international
delegations totaling 379 persons who visited the ONEC physical space in the
third quarter of 2013.The topics of the interactive lectures included international
law, human rights, the rights of return and self-determination, the
practicalities of return and the ONEC website as an advocacy tool |
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BADIL-Zochrot Joint Action |
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BADIL launched its short documentary
film, “An Introduction to the Practicalities of Return” on 19 November 2013
at Bethlehem University, in coordination with the Department of Human
Sciences. The twenty-minute film, produced by BADIL and available on BADIL’s
new Vimeo account (http://vimeo.com/badilresourcecenter). The
screening was preceded by an overview of BADIL as a human rights
organization, then followed by an open discussion with the university
students and faculty present in the event (approximately 120). The discussion
revolved around the usefulness of international law, mechanisms to realize
rights for Palestinian refugees, and the intrinsic difficulties associated
with the geographical and political fragmentation of Palestinian society.
Related to this, the film was also
presented to 10 international groups at BADIL’s Ongoing Nakba Education
Center. It was also screened in Thailand, at the UN headquarters in Bangkok
complemented by a photographic exhibition entitled “Palestine’s Ongoing
Nakba” which is available on
www.ongoingnakba.org. |
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Awareness and Advocacy
Tools |
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November 2013 – “An
Introduction to the Practicalities of Return” short documentary and
brochure.See:
vimeo
link
and Brochure: Putting the right of return into Practice link for brochure
November 2013 –
Al-Majdal Issue #54 – “8 Years of the BDS Movement: Where have we come since
2005?” See
al-Majdal
October 2013 – Haq
Al-Awda Issue #55 – “Palestinian Refugees of Syria in the Absence of National
and International Protection” (Title translated from Arabic). See
haq Al-Awda,
in Arabic:
December 2013 – Haq
Al-Awda Issue # 56 – “Palestinian Refugees: Responsible National Agencies and
Organizations” (Title translated from Arabic).See
haq Al-Awda,
in Arabic
December 2013 –
Al-Majdal Issue #55 – “The Paradox of using the law of the Oppressor”
See
al-Majdal |
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BADIL Resource Library: |
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Due to the generosity of BADIL’s international partners and friends, BADIL is able to expand its Resource Library with over 20 new titles on international law, human rights, the Palestinian refugees and many other related topics. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of you who purchased books and other resources from BADIL’s Wish List for our library. This is a vital resource for our researchers as well as Palestinian and international visitors of our library.
If you wish to
support BADIL’s Resource Library please visit
this link >> |
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Mobilization
and Intervention with Duty Bearers: |
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BADIL believes the
path to justice and durable peace is directly linked to legal advocacy
interventions with decision makers and duty bearers, may they be individuals,
organizations or governments. Thus, BADIL consistently participates in, and
contributes to, decision-making bodies in order to shift the political will
towards a solution founded in international law.
The recent UN Human
Rights Council session was an important opportunity for BADIL to advocate for
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to promote its 2013
advocacy strategy. BADIL focused on illustrating Israel’s ongoing
non-compliance with UN mechanisms, particularly the UN Human Rights Council.
On 30 September,
BADIL submitted an updated report to the UN Human Rights Council for the
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session process. For the report, see
link>>
BADIL also
participated in the UPR of Israel in Geneva on 29 October 2013. |
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Media: |
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BADIL participated
in two radio interviews and published 19 in-house press releases (17 Arabic
and 2 English). BADIL’s activities and articles also made headlines on
alternative media channels.
Summary of
Alternative Media Coverage
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Ongoing Nakba Education Center (ONEC) |
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By the end of 2013,
the ONEC boasted 19 new multimedia productions. In October, ONEC was selected
by Muftah, an online alternative media site covering the Middle East and
North Africa, as one of the “Projects We Love”. Hailed for its innovative
design and inclusive approach, the ONEC is featured on Muftah’s new
Innovation + Entrepreneurship page. See
link
>>
To promote ONEC
productions, BADIL participated in the Karama Human Rights Film Festival in
Ramallah in December, featuring a short documentary titled “Villagers on the
Line”. Also in December, BADIL participated in Cinema Palestino’s
International Film Festival in Sheffield, England which featuring the
screening of three ONEC productions, and followed by a live stream Q&A
session. |
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Institutional Development: |
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BADIL has completed
an advanced version of its new strategic plan for 2014-2018, Empowering Rights
Holders and Influencing Duty Bearers). 17 November 2013 witnessed the
election of the new Board of Directors which will administer BADIL for the
next two years.
Three members of
BADIL staff also participated in a Monitoring and Evaluation Training implemented
by InProgress and facilitated by Christian Aid. |
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WWW.BADIL.ORG |