In a historic move the UN is commemorating the Palestinian people’s Nakba (catastrophe) for the first time since 1948 organizing official events at its headquarters in New York today.
The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in collaboration with the Division for Palestinian Rights in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs will mark the 75th anniversary of the Nakba on Monday.
The decision to commemorate the Nakba at the UN headquarters was made following a pro-Palestinian resolution passed by the UN General Assembly.
The resolution received 90 votes in favor with 30 against and 47 countries abstaining from voting on the initiative.
As a result the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat is requested to dedicate its activities in 2023 to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba.
The UN intends to organize two major events in collaboration with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
A special high-level meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (New York time) in Conference Room 4 at the UN Headquarters. Chaired by Ambassador Cheikh Niang Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People the meeting will feature a speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Additionally statements will be delivered by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini along with representatives of regional groups and civil society.
Furthermore a special commemorative event and concert will be held in the UN General Assembly Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (New York time).
The aim of the event is to provide a comprehensive experience of the Palestinian Nakba through the presentation of photos videos testimonies and two concerts. The concerts will be performed by Palestinian singer Sana Mousa and Nasim al-Atrash a Grammy-nominated cellist and composer in the presence of the New York Arab Orchestra.
