Category: Activities

Under the title of “The Roght To Work for Palestinians in Lebanon, problems and Obstacles”, and in the commemoration of the 71st of Nakba, The Lebanese-Palestinian coalition for the right to work campaign conducted a seminar at the municipality of Saida.

The former head of municipality Dr. Abdurrahman Al Bizri, the Palestinian researcher Mr. Fathi Kolaib, and representatives of local Lebanese and Palestinian parties attended the seminar.

Dr. Al Bizri stressed on the depth of relationship between Saida and the Palestinian camps, and the right of the Palestinian as a human being in work and ownership.

Mr. Kolaib indicated that some of the political Lebanese parties trying to mislead the international and Lebanese general opinion about misinformation of giving the Palestinian refugees the right to work through a law legislated back to 2010. What really occurred is a primary Parliamentary discussions about legal modifications that are still on drafting state.

A ceremony was organized at Ein El Helwi camp and attended by representatives of Palestinian political parties, popular committees, unions and a big crowd from the camp.

The ceremony was organized in coordination with local NGOs (Association Najdeh, Solidarity Association, Alwan Humanitarian Development Center).

A speech by Mahmoud Abu Sweid, member of the popular committee of PLO at Ein El Helwi, stressed on the obligatory ethical and legal commitment by the international community towards the Palestinian cause.

Traditional sketches and dancing traditional folklore displayed in the ceremony reflected the legacy and heritage of Palestine.

Najdeh and Solidarity Associations revived the 71st commemoration of Nakba in front of the UNRWA office of Al Buss Camp.

Mrs. Najwa Shunnar stressed in her speech on the legacy, civilization and history of Palestine. Also she assured on the right of refugees to return.

On the occasion of the 71st commemoration of the Nakba, the 12th year of the Nahr el – Bared camp nakba, the civilian advocacy committee of Nahr el – Bared camp, an activity was organized, where children of KGs wore the traditional Palestinian gowns, and held the Palestinian flag and map.

The activity included an introduction for children about the villages and cities that their grandparents were exiled from. The aim of the activity is to assure that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine.

Association Najdeh organized a national activity with the presence of social and educational NGOs, representatives of Palestinian parties, the popular committee and the Palestinian women’s Union.

A speech on the behalf of Najdeh by Ms. Hana’s El Einin, addressed the stages of the Nakba, refugee crisis and the suffering of the Palestinian refugees, pointing out that the right to return for Palestinian refugees is a non negotiable right.

Ms. Al Enein called for the support of the right to return of Palestine refugees and to provide national identity base, and the adoption of humanitarian rights, especially the right to ownership and rebuilding of Naher El Bared camp, also to improve economic and social conditions away from all forms of discrimination.

The activity included traditional and musical sketches performed by children of psychosocial and kgs of Najdeh.

On Monday, 20th May 2019, Association Najdeh had welcomed and received a delegation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in its psychosocial and educational support center at Baddawi camp.

The delegation members were SDC director-General Ambassador Manuel Sager, Ms. Nathalie Chuard – Head of MENA division, Mr. Philipp Sas – Chief of Staff South Cooperation, Jana Zemp, First Secretary, Deputy Head Swiss Cooperation Office, Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon, Swiss Cooperation Office, Christelle Moussallem, National Programme Officer (Protection), Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon, Swiss Cooperation Office, and other members from the Swiss embassy in Beirut. The Executive Director of Association Najdeh Ms. Leila El Ali and the Project Coordinator Intisar Abu Salem accompanied the delegation.

The Lebanese Palestinian-coalition of the right to work campaign for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon conducted a dialogue meeting in Saad Nayel at Najdeh Center. With the presence of political, religious and social representatives, and representatives of clubs, NGOs, popular committees, municipal councils, and media figures.

The session was moderated by the lawyer, Ms. Manar Zaiter, who clarified that the situation of deprivation of Palestinian refugee in Lebanon is due to his deprivation of the most basic human rights, and the right to work is in the top of the rights.

Also during the session, a documentary about the situation of graduates of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon was displayed.

On the behalf of the coalition, a statement was delivered by the coordinator of the campaign in the Beka’a Ms. Leila Said, that assured on the right of Palestinians to work in accordance with the norms and laws of human rights, and to amend the laws that had been issued by chamber of deputies in 2010, that contradict itself and some are inapplicable.

By the invitation of the Palestinian Lebanese coalition for the right to work a dialogue meeting was conducted on Saturday, 4th of May 2019 at the headquarters of Al fikr wa Al Adab forum in Tyre.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Hassan Fakhouri on behalf of deputy Hussein Aljishi, a number of political figures, representatives of clubs, NGOs, people’s committees, municipal councils and representatives of the Lebanese and Palestinian parties.

Opening session started by the Lebanese and Palestinian National anthems. Then a short film was presented on the right to work issue and a Presentation on the achievements of the coalition. The statement of the Lebanese-Palestinian coalition was given by Mrs. Leila Al-Mousa, that stressed on the right of the Palestinian to work in accordance with the norms and laws of human rights laws, and called on the Lebanese parliamentary parties to work to amend laws that hinder Palestinian refugees to work.

A statement by Fikr and Adab forum delivered by Secretary of the Forum Dr. Adnan Yaacoub, who assured on the right of Palestinian to work, away from spatial and economic marginalization, as stated in the Lebanese constitution and the Universal Declaration of human rights.

One of the sessions was facilitated by Mr. Samy Hamoud, who in turn stressed that securing economic and social rights contributes to enhancing the resilience of Palestine refugees until their return to their homeland in Palestine, emphasizing the refusal of resettlement and displacement.

The first paper presented by the researcher in the Palestinian affairs Mr. Fathi kleib, who has highlighted the real bad situation of Palestinian refugees due to unjust policies. Mr. Kleib stressed that there is a misleading strategy about the laws of the year 2010, where the Lebanese government shall take the responsibility towards the Palestinian Refugees and support them until their return to their homeland in Palestine. The second paper presented by the lawyer Ali Al Qara, who expressed that the injustice over Palestinians is due to Lebanese political sectors, Introversion from attendees stressed on the importance of granting the Palestinian refugees their economic rights, on the top of rights the right to ownership and right to work, according to international laws and conventions.

Main recommendations out of the meeting: -Stressing on the right of Palestinian refugees on their right to return, refusal of naturalization and displacement, granting economical and social rights.

-The responsibility of the international and Arabic communities of the suffering of the Palestinian refugees, and their role in forming a pressure over the Lebanese government to grant the right to work for them.

-The necessity to communicate with Lebanese political parties that support the Palestinian cause, to work on a proposal of modifying the laws that hinder granting the social and economical rights of Palestinian refugees.

-Support the Palestinian Lebanese dialogue, from a base of consolidated vision on the Palestinian refugee issues in Lebanon.

-Mobilizing the energies to conduct an expanded conference in Tyre, to study the possibility of approving the Law of the right to work, includes representatives of Lebanese trade unions, experts, jurists and Palestinians and Lebanese activists.

-Emphasizing on the consolidation of the Palestinian political stance before the Lebanese official bodies, and the agreement on the issues and the basic demands of Palestine refugees in Lebanon.

On the occasion of the World Labor Day, with the 72 anniversary of the Nakba, the Palestinian Lebanese coalition of the right to work campaign of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and under the theme “My right to work is not naturalization”, conducted an exhibition at Naher El Bared Camp, attended by representatives of NGOs, the Palestinian national forces and the Students of local universities.

Various local artists and children participated in the exhibition through drawings reflecting the prospect of the deprivation of Palestinian refugees from basic human rights in Lebanon.

Amina Khalil won first place, Jihad Awad won second place, Leila Awad third place, and Cedra Hussein won the fourth place.

NGOs participated in the exhibition are: Association Najdeh, Solidarity Association, Social Rehabilitation Association, Children & youth Association, Cultural Unity Center, Sawa for Change Initiative, Bait Almaqdis Association.