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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.

On Saturday, 20th April , Association Najdeh welcomed in Shatila center a German delegation from the German daily Taz in the so-called “travel to civil society”. The delegation included 17 people, represented by lawyers, judges, doctors, social workers, specialized in social welfare and refugee issues.

The Executive Director of Association Najdeh Ms. Leila Al-Ali, briefed the delegation on the conditions and history of the camp and the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. She also introduced Najdeh and its programs and services provided in the center for children and local community.

At the end of the visit, the delegation visited the camp and the memorial statue of Sabra and Shatila massacre and the Martyrs’ Cemetery inside and outside the camp. The delegation is part of “Travels into the civil society”, which has been operating since 2008, to communicate with NGOs, projects to learn more about the social, cultural or political dynamic of the communities. The visits are organized by the daily newspaper “TAZ” in Berlin, where newspaper staff contact NGOs and identify destinations.

The Grammy Award-winning artist Dua Lipa visited Burj El Barajneh camp and Association Najdeh educational and psychosocial Support center in the camp,  with UNICEF and MAP delegations.

To watch the full video please check the artist Dua lipa’s officially channel on Youtube

Dua Lipa was welcomed by Palestinian Folklore – Dabka – dancing by association Najdeh Children. The Executive Director of Association Najdeh Ms. Leila Al-Ali, briefed the artist on the conditions and history of the camp and the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. She also introduced Najdeh and its programs and services provided in Lebanon and the in the center for children and local community.

The artist Dua lipa and the accompanying delegation toured in the center and participated in the different children’s activities on protection from exploitation, gender equality, relaxation and expression, where children shared Lipa their dreams and aspirations.  Dua responded to a child question about the reasons of her visit to the refugee camp where she said: “I understand at the personal level because I sought asylum from kosovo, and I want to be here and meet the children, to help and show the world how amazing what are you doing here, how inspired to be here, and how so hard to achieve your dreams”.

At the end of the tour, a girl from najdeh center, and on behalf of the children and the association, presented gift Lipa which is Jerusalem city painting.

With the support of UNICEF and Medical Aid for Palestinians, within the project of strengthening Community-Based Child Protection, Gender Based Violence Intervention and Psycho-social Support in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon, and the Right-to-Play “TAALOM” Project, Association Najdeh organized on the occasion of Mother’s and children’s days ceremonies and recreational activities in the psychosocial centers and kindergartens. The ceremonies included several educational, entertaining, traditional dancing and carnivals.

On the occasion of Land day, the kindergartens and psychosocial support Centers at Association Najdeh, organized national and traditional activities.