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Annual Report

2001

BADIL

BADIL resource

center for Palestinian

residency & refugee

rights

PO Box 728Bethlehem, PalestineTel/fax. 02-274-7346Email: info@badil.orgwebsite: www.badil.org

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BADIL Resource Center was established in January 1998

BADIL's Board and Oversight Committee were elected by the first General Assembly convened on 10 March 2000 and affirmed intheir position by the second General Assembly convened on 4 May 2001.

BADIL General Assembly; Members:

Adnan Abelmalik (Nur Shams RC/Nablus) Adnan Ajarmeh (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Afif Ghatashe (Fawwar RC/Hebron) Ahmad As'ad (Al-Far'ahRC/Nablus) Ahmad Muhaisen (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem) Anwar A. Hamam (Balata RC/Nablus) Anwar Abu Lafi (Jerusalem) Ashraf AbuKheiran (al-Arroub camp/Hebron) Atallah Salem (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem) Ayed Ja'aysah (Al-Far'ah RC/Nablus) Bassam Abu 'Aker (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Bassam Na'im Hawamda (Camp No.1/Nablus) Bilal Shakhsheer (Nablus) Buthaina Darwish (Beit Jala/USA) Dr. Abdelfattah AbuSrour (Aida Camp/Bethlehem) Dr. Adnan Shehadeh (Arroub RC/Hebron) Dr. Nayef Jarrad (Tulkarem) Eyad Jaraiseh (Beit Sahour) FaisalSalameh (Tulkarem RC/Tulkarem) Fayyez H. Arafat (Balata RC/Nablus) Ghassan M. Khader (Balata RC/Nablus) Hassan al-Barmil (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Hussam M. Khader (Balata RC/Nablus) Ibrahim Abu Srour (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Imad Shawish (Al-Far'ah RC/Nablus) IngridJaradat Gassner (Beit Jala) Issa Qaraq'a (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Issa Rabadi (Jerusalem) Jamal Ferraj (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem) Jamal Shati (JeninRC/Jenin) Kamal al-Qeisi (Azza RC/Bethlehem) Khalil al-Azza (Azza RC/Bethlehem) Muhammad al-Lahham (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem(Muhammad Fdeilat (Aksar RC/Nablus) Muhammad Jaradat (Beit Jala) Mustafa Y. Shahab (Nur Shams RC/Nablus) Naji Odeh (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem) Najwah Darwish (Beit Jala) Rajeh al-Til (Dahariya/Hebron) Rifa' Abu Rish (al-Am'ari Camp/Ramallah) Sahar Francis (Jerusalem)Salem Abu Hawwash (Doura/Hebron) Samir Ata Odeh (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Shaher J. al-Bedawi (Balata RC/Nablus) Tayseer S. Nassrallah(Balata RC/Nablus) Terry Rempel (Bethlehem) Wajih Atallah (Kalandia Camp/Jerusalem) Walid M. Ja'arim (Balata RC/Nablus) Walid Qawasmeh(Ramallah) Wissal F. al-Salem (Nur Shams RC/Nablus)

Board:

Head of Board: Salem Abu Hawwash (Doura/Hebron)Deputy Head: Tayseer Nasrallah (Balata Camp/Nablus)

Board Secretary: Adnan Ajarmeh ('Aida Camp/Bethlehem)

Board Treasurer: Bassam Abu Aker ('Aida Camp/Bethlehem)Faisal Salameh (Tulkarem Camp)

Ahmad Ass'ad (al-Far'ah Camp/Nablus)

Afif Ghatashe (al-Fawwar Camp/Hebron)Dr. Adnan Shehadeh (al-Arroub Camp/Hebron)

Dr. Nayef Jarrad (Tulkarem)

Oversight Committee:

Rajeh al-Til (Dhahariyya/Hebron)

Samir 'Odeh ('Aida Camp/Bethlehem)Wissal al-Salem (Nur Shams Camp/Nablus)

Executive Committee:

Director: Ingrid Jaradat Gassner

Admin-Finance Officer: Najwah Darwish

Coordinator/Campaign Unit: Muhammad JaradatCoordinator/Resource Unit: Terry Rempel

Coordinator/Legal Unit: Gail Boling

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Introduction: BADIL's Environment in 2001

I. Institutional Development and Public Relations

II. Progress Report 2001: BADIL Program and Projects

Introduction: 2001 Program DevelopmentCampaign for the Defense of PalestinianRefugee RightsResource and Information ProjectLegal Project for the Promotion of PalestinianRefugee Rights

III. Assessment: BADIL Program and Projects (1999 - 2001)

IV. Financial Report

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BADIL's Environment in 2001

Against the background of the higherthan average level of general communitymobilization in the context of the al-Aqsauprising, the Palestinian refugeecommunity continued to mobilize for theirright to return and restitution in 2001. Thismobilization was especially intensive thefirst two months of 2001, when Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were still beingheld in Taba, and in the month of May,when the Palestinian peoplecommemorated the 53rd anniversary of itsforcible displacement in 1948. Palestinianrefugee community organizations and theEmergency Committee of National andIslamic Forces , representing thePalestinian popular uprising in the 1967occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip,organized numerous local right-of-returnmarches, rallies and cultural events towhich BADIL provided material andfinancial support within the framework ofits limited means.

Israel's attempt to suppress the newPalestinian uprising by massive use offorce, and the lack of prospects forpolitical change in the short term, havehad a devastating impact on thePalestinian community in the occupiedWest Bank and Gaza Strip in general, andits refugees in particular. Refugees andtheir community organizations have hadto accomplish an extremely difficult set oftasks: to maintain the public demand andpressure for recognition andimplementation of their right of return on

the one hand, and cope with thetremendous new need for emergency reliefof the particularly vulnerable populationof the refugee camps on the other. ByDecember 2001, 75 percent (UNRWA data)of camp refugees lived under the povertyline, suffering from restrictions on accessto health and education services.Prolonged unemployment, moreover, alsohad a negative affect on access toadequate food. Rapid impoverishment,deaths and injuries, as well as destructionof homes and properties, triggered large-scale international emergency aidprograms. Local refugee organizationsand emergency committees havestruggled to come to terms with oftenbureaucratic procedures of internationalaid programs and contributed from theirown scarce resources. BADIL, as aninstitution lacking both the mandate andthe financial resources for substantialemergency aid, contributed to the localeffort mainly through small scale in-kindcontributions and a special project formedical services.

Palestinian community mobilization, aswell as concerted Palestinian advocacyand lobbying directed at internationalorganizations, especially the UnitedNations, the European Union, and theLeague of Arab States, were instrumentalfor the creation of increased awarenessof, and interest in, Israeli violations ofPalestinian rights and the quest forinternational protection. BADIL

contributed to the broad lobbying effortby raising the special protection needs ofPalestinian refugees, both in the shortterm and in the context of a durablesolution based upon UN Resolution 194.The broad support for Palestinian rights,including the rights of Palestinianrefugees, among the vast majority of civilsociety organizations in the world wasillustrated by the solidarity provided bythe some 3,000 NGOs present at the 3rdWorld Conference Against Racism(WCAR) in Durban, South Africa (27August -8 September 2001). The finalNGO Declaration and Plan of Actionissued by the WCAR criticized the over50-years-old discriminatory andapartheid-like practices of Zionist Israeligovernments, and affirmed the legitimacyand urgency of concerted action for thePalestinian right to self-determination,including Palestinian refugees' right ofreturn. An increase of internationalawareness and readiness to assist in thedevelopment of new strategies for theprotection of Palestinian refugee rightswas reflected also in UN reports andresolutions issued in 2001 and observedby BADIL during its missions abroad.

By mid-2001, however, the United States- with the complicity of Europe - hadsuccessfully marginalized Palestinian,Arab, and Non-Aligned states' politicalefforts to intervene for Palestinian rightsthrough the UN system. The report of theUN Commission of Inquiry ("Falk-

INTRODUCTION

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is cynically held responsible for theescalation of violence in the Middle East.

A balance of the Palestinianachievements in 2001 suggests thatthe current popular uprisingwill fail to bring about thedesired fundamentalchanges of internationalpolicy in the short term.A long-term effort aimedat affirming thelegitimacy of Palestinianresistance and rights istherefore the onlyalternative option for thePalestinian people, itsleadership andc o m m u n i t yorganizations. In thiscontext, BADILdedicated its efforts, inthe second half of theyear, to urgent researchrequired for theformulation of a rights-based Palestinian modelfor the solution of thePalestinian refugeequestion, strategizingwith expert partners andthe global right-of-returnadvocacy network, andcontinued advocacy andlobbying directed at theArab and internationalcommunity.

Dugard-Hossain Commission") and theresolutions issued by the 57th session ofthe UN Commission of Human Rightsremained without effective follow-up. Allefforts to obtain a UN Security Councilresolution for the deployment ofinternational observers to the 1967occupied territories were blocked by theUnited States. The Mitchell Committeeundertook - with some delay - its fact-finding mission in the 1967 occupiedPalestinian territories and, on 15 May,presented its final report. From then on,official international efforts for ending thecurrent crisis and re-launching politicalnegotiations between Israel and the PLOwere guided by the so-called Mitchell-Tenet-Zinni process, which failed toaddress the root causes (militaryoccupation, displacement, denial of theright to self-determination) of the conflictbetween the Palestinian people andZionism. Rights and claims of thePalestinian people and its leadership werefurther delegitimized in the wake of theSeptember 11 terror attacks in the UnitedStates and the new US "anti-terror"policy. Since then, a passive and stronglybiased international community haspermitted the Sharon government tolaunch an all-out military attack againstPalestinian infrastructure and the politicalleadership in the 1967 occupiedterritories. The Palestinian people, deniedinternational protection and engaged in adesperate effort for self-defense andresistance against the illegal occupation,

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Restriction of movement and the generalsituation of emergency created by Israel'smassive repression of the Palestinianuprising (Al-Aqsa Intifada) continued toobstruct institutional management,especially active involvement inadministrative and program planning andsupervision by the Board and membersof BADIL's General Assembly.

In 2001, only four regular Board meetingsincluding members from the northern andsouthern West Bank could be held. Atemporary Board Secretariat, composedof the Head of Board, two Boardmembers and one member of theOversight Committee living in theBethlehem and Hebron area, wasmandated to guide BADIL's work inregular meetings. While BADIL was thusenabled to operate more smoothly, thephysical exclusion of many Boardmembers from regular participation in themeetings has had a negative effect onStaff-Board integration and institutionaldevelopment.

On 4 May 2001, BADIL's GeneralAssembly convened for the second timein the spirit of defiance of the Israeli

repression and restrictions of movementimposed on the 1967 occupied PalestinianWest Bank. 42 members and guestsconvened in two sessions held parallel atBADIL's offices (Southern West Bank)and at Yafa Cultural Center/Balata Camp(Northern West Bank). The GeneralAssembly discussed and approvedBADIL's 2000 annual report and issuedrecommendations for BADIL's new three-year plan 2002 - 2004. In particular, theGeneral Assembly recommended to up-grade BADIL networking and cooperationwith partners in the Arab world and calledfor the expansion of BADIL communitysupport projects, in order to assist refugeecommunity organizations in coping withthe difficult circumstances caused byIsraeli violence and repression. Moreover,BADIL's General Assembly approved themembership of additional ten right-of-return activists, thus enlarging its size to51 members.

Against the background of the logisticaldifficulties in convening the GeneralAssembly meeting, it was decided toextend the mandate of BADIL's currentBoard and Oversight Committee for asecond period (see membership lists on

the inside cover), and to postponeelections of a new Board until the thirdGeneral Assembly meeting in 2002.

In summer, BADIL's Board and ExecutiveCommittee drafted BADIL's new three-year plan (2002 - 2004), based on therecommendations of the GeneralAssembly and the mid-2001 programevaluation. The draft was shared anddiscussed with expert advisors andpartners and completed in October 2001.

Institutional Development

I. Institutional Developmentand Public Relations

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BADIL Program and Administrative Units, Staff (2001)

In January 2001, BADIL was able to staff all its vacant positions (secretary-receptionist, research officer, lawyer/coordinator BADIL Legal Unit). Thus, in 2001,BADIL was fully staffed for the first time since its establishment with 9 professionalstaff members operating in four BADIL units:

Administrative Unit and Management:Ingrid Jaradat Gassner, director;Najwah Darwish, admin-finance officer;Lama Ramadan, program secretary (on maternity leave, June-August 2001);Volunteers/interns:Bushra Darwish, secretary (June -August)

Resource & Information Unit:Terry Rempel, coordinator;Nihad Buka'ee, project officer/research;Atallah Salem, project officer/technical support;Volunteers/interns:Lama Habel, research assistant (January - August)Maren Zerrifi, resident researcher (June - August)Al-Majdal Editorial Advisory Board (17 researchers and right of return activistsin 10 countries);

Campaign Unit (Refugee Rights):Muhammad Jaradat, coordinator;Ibrahim Abu Srour, assistant coordinator;Contracted Personnell:Shaher Bedawi, field coordinator/Northern West Bank (January-December);Daoud Badr, coordinator/National Society, Internally Displaced (May-December);Volunteers/interns:Jamal Ferraj, journalist (January - December)Ata Mana', journalist (April - May)Naji 'Odeh, activities coordinator (January-June)Lama Habel, English teacher (February-March; June-August)Maren Zerriffi, English tutor (June - August)Hisham Zerriffi, computer trainer (June - August)BADIL Friends Forum (some 40 volunteer community activists);

Legal Unit/Refugee Rights:Gail Boling, lawyer/coordinator;Volunteers:5 legal expert advisors (cooperating on a regular basis);

BADIL's Executive Committee (director, admin-finance officer, unit coordinators)met approximately bi-weekly for staff management, program planning and supervision.

Organizational Capacity Buildingand Training

In February-March 2001, the ExecutiveCommittee undertook a renewed anddetailed analysis of BADIL administrativeand program needs/tasks, in order toensure coherence between BADIL by-laws, institutional needs, and jobdescriptions. The final recommendationswere presented to the Board, and 2001BADIL job descriptions were preparedbased on the results. External professionalevaluation of BADIL's performance,scheduled for the summer of 2001, couldnot be undertaken due to the ongoingviolence and crisis in the area.

BADIL's member of Board, Mr. AfifGhatasheh participated in the SpecialGraduate Diploma Programme onHuman Rights offered by the Institute ofSocial Studies (ISS) in The Hague,Netherlands, between 25 May to 6 July2001.

Community and ExpertParticipation, Partnerships

BADIL efforts to recruit voluntaryparticipation of local grass-roots activistsand local, regional, and internationalexperts and advocacy partners aremotivated by our vision of BADIL as acommunity-based organization, and byour firm belief in the effectiveness ofcollective action.

In the year 2001, BADIL communityprojects/Refugee Rights Campaigncontinued to be implemented with thevoluntary assistance of members ofBADIL's General Assembly and Board,Palestinian local radio and TV stations,and international volunteers/interns. ABADIL field coordinator/Northern WestBank hosted by Yafa Cultural Center inBalata Camp/Nablus, and the BADILFriends Forum, an informal network ofsome 40 West Bank refugee communityactivists formed in 1998, continued toassist BADIL in planning andimplementation of awareness-raisingactivities among the local refugeecommunity. Links with refugeeorganizations in the Gaza Strip weremaintained through coordination with theoffice of the Union of Youth Activity

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Moreover, BADIL research efforts greatlybenefited from regular advice andassistance provided by a growing numberof local and international independentexpert partners, the dialogue with expertsworking in official Palestinian institutions(PLO Department for Negotiation Affairs,PLO Department for Refugee Affairs,Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics),and the new and fruitful cooperationestablished with the Geneva based Centeron Housing Rights and Evictions(COHRE).

In appreciation of UNRWA's importantrole for Palestinian refugees - and of thesupport provided to BADIL, especiallyin the field of research - BADILsuccessfully nominated UNRWA for twoawards in 2001 (King HusseinHumanitarian Prize, received by UNRWAon 14 November 2001; Conrad N. HiltonHumanitarian Prize to be announced inthe fall of 2002).

Membership in NGO Networks,Affiliation with the United Nations

In 2001, BADIL renewed its applicationfor membership in the local PalestinianNGO network (PNGO). An application for"consultative status" with the UNEconomic Council on Social and CulturalRights (ECOSOC) was submitted and iscurrently being processed by the UnitedNations. Both applications, as well as anapplication for membership in the regionalArab NGO Network, will be followed upin 2002.

Centers /Gaza Strip. BADIL's long-standing relationship with the NationalSociety for the Defense of the Rights ofthe Internally Displaced in Israel wasformalized in May 2001, when BADILdecided to assist the National Society'scapacity-building effort by contributingto the costs of a paid part-time coordinator.On the other hand, BADIL providedadvice and support to rights-awarenessand advocacy activities, service and reliefprojects initiated by its communitypartners, thus underlining the relationshipof reciprocity and mutual support. Lackof personal safety and severe restrictionsof movement, however, severelyobstructed cooperation between BADILand the local community, especially in thesecond half of 2001. The latter gave riseto the need and suggestions for new andmore adequate mechanisms of localcoordination to be explored in 2002.

BADIL's ability to deepen and expandpartnerships with professional humanrights NGOs on the local, regional, andinternational level, as well as with old andnew right-of-return initiatives launchedoutside Palestine in the Middle East,Europe, and North America, was lesseffected by the situation of insecurity andviolence in the occupied West Bank andGaza Strip. Thus, in 2001, coordination ofglobal right-of-return advocacy effortscould be improved with the establishmentof a permanent coordination committeecomposed of a dozen key-partners,participants at the annual Right-of-ReturnStrategy Workshops (Cyprus, 2000;Brussels, 2001). Concerted advocacy andlobbying at the 3rd World ConferenceAgainst Racism (WCAR) and UN foraresulted in stronger cooperation betweenBADIL and other Palestinian, Arab, andinternational NGOs and NGO networks(e.g. PNGO, Ittijah, NGO Forum-Lebanon,Arab NGO Network, SANGOCO/SouthAfrica, Habitat International).

Infrastructure Improvements

Following BADIL's move to new andlarger office space in December 2000, themajor improvement of BADILinfrastructure in 2001 was the purchaseof a 24-hour "lease line" internetconnection. This step has greatlyfacilitated access to the internet by allBADIL units for research,correspondence and informationdissemination.

BADIL Fundraising and Finances

BADIL's proposed 2001 budget was US$355,000.Unfortunately, fundraising forrefugee rights advocacy proved extremelydifficult in 2001, as the donor communityremained reluctant to support rights-based efforts for Palestinian refugees andchanneled the majority of its funds intolarge-scale emergency aid and reliefprograms operated by international NGOsand UN agencies. As a result, BADILremained some US $85,000 short of its 2001target budget. This budget deficitrequired painful cut-backs in spending inthe second half of the year, as well as arevision of BADIL's budget frameworkproposed for the coming three-yearperiod (2002 - 2004).

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BADIL Services to Visitors andDelegations

As a result of the violent crisis, the numberof foreign visitors to Palestine in general,and BADIL in particular, reached anunprecedented low in 2001. BADILnevertheless received some 350 individualvisitors and delegations, who werebriefed on political developments, thesituation of Palestinian refugees and theirrights, and taken on guided tours toPalestinian refugee camps in the area.Among the visitors were internationaljournalists (BBC, Le-MondeDiplomatique, Sueddeutsche Zeitung,Austrian TV, a.o.); researchers, solidaritygroups and NGOs; representatives ofinternational organizations (e.g. DanishRefugee Council; UNRWA HighCommissioner Peter Hansen); legalexperts (e.g. National Lawyers Guild,United States); and, representatives offoreign governments (e.g. Canada,Sweden, United States).

Hundreds of additional informationrequests were handled via the internet,and some 50 interviews with foreign presswere provided via phone (BBC, ABC,National Public Radio/USA, AustrianPublic Radio, a.o).

BADIL Participation in Regional and International Conferences/Workshops

BADIL Head of Board; Terry Rempel/Coordinator, BADIL Research &Information; Muhammad Jaradat/Coordinator, BADIL Refugee Campaign).

International Seminar: "The Emergenceof the German, Palestinian, and JewishRefugees' Problem" organized by theFriedrich Naumann Foundation ,Istanbul, 8-10 November 2001 (GailBoling/Coordinator, BADIL LegalProject).

2nd Annual Right-of-Return StrategyWorkshop of the Coalition for thePalestinian Right of Return , Brussels, 27-30 November 2001 (Muhammad Jaradat/Coordinator, BADIL Refugee RightsCampaign).

Public Lecture and Workshop Series:"The Palestinian Right of Return, A HumanRight?" organized by the Swiss Forum forHuman Rights in Israel/Palestine,Switzerland, 4-11 December 2001 (IngridJaradat Gassner/Director, BADIL).

International conference: "The Future ofPalestinian Refugees under the CurrentSettlement Process" organized by CairoInstitute for Human Rights Studies(CIHRS) in Al-Rabat (Morocco), 10-12February 2001 (Salem Abu Hawwash/BADIL Head of Board).

Right-of-Return workshops andseminars in the framework of the "Weekof Palestinian Culture and Identity" (1 -7 March 2001) organized by Sanabel, aPalestinian NGO based in Lausanne,Switzerland (Ingrid Jaradat Gassner,BADIL Director).

International seminar: "PalestinianReturn Migration: Socio-economic andCultural Approaches" organized byShaml Center, Ramallah, 12-14 June 2001(Terry Rempel/ Coordinator, BADILResearch & Information).

3rd World Conference Against Racism(WCAR), Durban, 27 August - 4September 2001 (Salem Abu Hawwash/

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PROGRESS REPORT:BADIL Program and Projects - 2001II.

INTRODUCTION: Program Development (2001)

Program/Project Focus andImpact

BADIL Refugee Rights Campaign(2001):

Local Community Awareness-Raising andEmpowerment

n Contributed to sustained publicawareness-raising and mobilization for theright of return by the local refugeecommunity in the context of Al-AqsaIntifada, and especially on the occasion ofthe 53rd anniversary of al-Nakba. Theadditional target of launching a communitydebate about principles and mechanismsrelated to refugee return and restitution hadto be abandoned and postponed to 2002,as the situation in the occupied West Bankand Gaza Strip permited neitherorganization of public workshops in therefugee camps nor the implementation ofrefugee study tours to their villages/townsof origin in Israel.

n Failed to achieve significant progressin networking, coordination andstrategizing with refugee communityorganizations and right-of-return initiativesin the 1967 occupied territories. This target,including stronger integration of refugeewomen initiatives and refugees living

outside the camps could not be tackledseriously, due to the devastatingrestrictions of movement and theemergency situation caused by Israelimilitary attacks and occupation.Community coordination, networking andstrategizing on the local level in Palestinehas therefore remained informal,unsystematic and fluctuating, with upsand downs mainly determined by thepolitical and military situation on theground.

n Responded to the drastic increase oflocal need for rapid emergency aid andrelief among the Palestinian refugee camppopulation by offering immediate aid,within the narrow margins of its mandateand resources, and by raising "relief gaps"to international NGOs, the solidaritymovement and professional relief agencies.

Regional/International Networking andAdvocacy

n Expanded networking and improvedcoordination with Palestinian, Arab, andinternational partners. Significant progresswas achieved on the level of regional/international coordination with theformation of a formal right-of-returncoordination network ("Coalition for thePalestinian Right of Return") composed of

Program Organization

In 2000, BADIL re-adapted its programoutlined in its three-year plan (1999-2001),in order to guarantee better coherence andstronger focus on Palestinian refugeerights advocacy. In 2001, three coreprojects were implemented by BADIL'sthree program units:

n Campaign for the Defense ofPalestinian Refugee Rights (CampaignUnit);

n Research and Information Project(Resource Unit);

n Legal Project for the Promotion ofPalestinian Refugee Rights (Legal Unit):a new unit and project, which startedoperation in 2001.

The three BADIL projects/units operatedin an integrated fashion, with theResearch/Information Project and theLegal Project providing support andadditional professional capacity to thebasic advocacy agenda set by BADIL'sRefugee Campaign project.

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a dozen key organizations and advocacyinitiatives from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria,Jordan, North America and Europe,participants in two annual strategyworkshop (Cyprus, October 2000;Brussels, November 2001). This, and theformation of numerous new right-of-returninitiatives by Palestinian communities inexile, have led to a situation where globalnetworking and coordination around theright of return have become self-sustainable.

n Set a first step towards a Palestiniandebate about international principles andmechanisms guiding refugee return andproperty restitution, as well as comparativeexperience and lessons to be learned. Anexpert presentation by Paul Prettitore, legaladvisor, Office of the High Representativein Bosnia-Herzogovina at the 2nd AnnualRight-of-Return Strategy Workshop(Brussels) was received with much interest,especially by Palestinian activists inEurope, who are planning to follow-up onthis debate in 2002.

n Initiated and participated in regional/international advocacy efforts directed atArab, European, and internationalpolitical and human rights fora (UnitedNations, European Union, Arab League,WCAR/Durban, international humanrights and solidarity movement), in orderto ensure that the Palestinian demand forimmediate international protection and anew, rights-based framework for MiddleEast peace is received by policy makers,media, and the solidarity/NGO communityabroad.

BADIL Research-InformationProject (2001):

Production/Dissemination of Researchand Information

n Responded to immediate research andinformation needs resulting from thecurrent crisis in the 1967 occupiedterritories by highlighting the specialvulnerability of Palestinian refugees andimmediate protection needs of Palestinianrefugees in the broader context ofinternational protection of the Palestinianpeople in the 1967 occupied West Bankand Gaza Strip.

n Continued systematic researchtowards a rights-based model for thesolution of the Palestinian refugeequestion (e.g. comparative study onrefugee return and real propertyrestitution; the role of internationalagencies/UNHCR), and initiated newresearch projects/information tools,which will serve to illustrate BADIL'srights-based approach in 2002 (e.g.Survey: Palestinian Refugees 2001; mapproject: refugee return).

n Produced advocacy tools required byBADIL's community-based RefugeeCampaign (Info-Packet, stickers, pressreleases, Occasional Bulletins,memoranda).

Developing Quality and Impact of BADILResearch/Information

n Consulted and strategized withPalestinian and international experts

through participation in conferences andregular research dialogue.

BADIL Legal Project (2001):

Legal ResearchInitiated professional legal analysis of thecore-rights of Palestinian refugees underinternational law (return, real propertyrestitution, compensation).

Professional Advocacy and Lobbying

n Initiated a systematic advocacy effortdirected at the United Nations, both withregard to immediate protection needs ofPalestinian refugees and their rights in thecontext of a durable solution. Theseefforts showed some initial results, suchas: the adoption by the UN SpecialCommission of Inquiry of BADIL'srecommendation that Palestinian refugeesare entitled to protection by the 1951Refugee Convention; and, a first-ever callfor protection measures for thepopulation of the 1967 occupied territoriesissued by the UN Committee on Social,Economic and Cultural Rights (CESCR)to the president of the highest UN HumanRights Forum (ECOSOC).

n Initiated a systematic dialogue withUN agencies, international organizations,and relevant PLO departments, in orderto clarify principles, which are to guideprotection and a solution for Palestinianrefugees under international law. Thisinitiative was successful, and resulted ina dialogue, which will be continued byBADIL in 2002.

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One year of systematic and intensivereporting to, and lobbying of, UN humanrights fora and strategizing with UN andinternational agencies has shown clearlythat BADIL will have a more sustainedimpact if it can secure permanentprofessional lobbying assistance inGeneva. A request for such assistancewas sent to a series of BADIL partners inOctober 2001, and discussion of a jointUN lobbying project with the Geneva-based Center on Housing Rights andEvictions (COHRE) was launched inDecember 2001.

Conclusion: 2001 Impact of BADILAdvocacy (Refugee RightsCampaign, Research andInformation, Legal Project)

The combination of BADIL's community-based campaign with professionalresearch and advocacy has proven apowerful mechanism for the promotion ofPalestinian refugee rights. By 2001, thequality of BADIL research andinformation has become widely respected,a fact which is reflected in a steadilygrowing number of request for advice andinformation, as well as positive feedbackprovided by Palestinian, Arab, andinternational professionals and experts.BADIL's lead role in dissemination andcoordination among right-of-return

initiatives and NGOs worldwide wasexplicitly recognized in 2001 by the globalCoalition for the Palestinian Right ofReturn and the Rabat Conference on theFuture of Palestinian Refugees. Sustainedinformation dissemination by BADILabout events organized with, anddemands raised by the Palestinian(refugee) community has, moreover,contributed to a more extensive coverageof the Palestinian refugee question andthe right of return by the international andIsraeli media, and has led - for the firsttime in BADIL's history - to sincereinterest in a rights-based solution forPalestinian refugees also amongrepresentatives of several foreigngovernments.

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Statement of Purpose (BADIL 3-YearPlan and 2001 Project Proposal)

Long-term aim:Implementation of a durable solution tothe Palestinian refugee question in theframework of a peaceful settlement of theMiddle East conflict, which meets thestandards set by international law asaffirmed in UN resolutions (especiallyUN Resolution 194/right of return), andis accepted as just and adequate by therefugees themselves.

Objectives:n Protect Refugee Identity in order toencounter the negative effects ofmarginalization on individual andcollective memory and self-esteem;n Promote Refugee Unity in order toassist refugees to overcome their isolationin the respective countries of exile;facilitate coordinated action betweenrefugees in 1967 occupied Palestine, inIsrael, and the diaspora;n Empower Initiatives of Refugee Self-Organization in order to supportcommunity-based structures which canspeak out for and defend refugees' rightsvia the Palestinian Authority, the PLO,Israel, and the international community.

Project Activities and Beneficiaries

Community Awareness Raisingand Empowerment

Public debates and workshops

The initial plan to launch, in 2001, a more in-depth community debate about principlesand mechanisms to guide implementationof Palestinian refugee return and restitutioncould not be implemented. A series of publicworkshops with international experts onrefugee return and real property restitutionhad to be postponed three times, due to thesevere restrictions of movement and the lackof personal security. Finally, in September2001, BADIL decided to introduce thissubject at the 2nd annual strategy workshopof the global right-of-return network (see1.2 below), and to postpone the launchingof the public debate in Palestine until 2002.

One public debate and one workshop werefinally held at the end of the year:

Public debate: "The Right of Return fromthe Refugee Perspective vs. thePalestinian Intellectual Debate:"

Based on the strong demand among thelocal refugee community to discussappropriate ways of response to thechallenge of Palestinian refugees' right ofreturn represented by statements ofPalestinian intellectual and PLO officialDr. Sari Nusseibeh, BADIL and YafaCultural Center/BADIL Friends Forum

organized a public meeting and debate inBalata refugee camp/Nablus on 14November 2001.

Some 40 refugee community activistswere joined by members of thePalestinian Legislative Council (PLC) andNational Council (PNC) and academics,in order to formulate steps for aneffective public response. The meetingdecided to launch a series of activities,which will serve to challenge the politicalenvironment that opens the gate toPalestinian individuals who do not reflectthe public consensus and officialposition of the PLO. The Balata campmeeting decided among others, toactivate and improve coordinationamong grass-roots organizations andPalestinian institutions, especially thoseoperating among Palestinian refugees;to hold a series of rights awarenessraising activities during the month ofRamadan; to launch a renewed mediaeffort aimed at clarifying the Palestinianconsensus on the right of return; toconvene a popular refugee conferenceat the earliest date possible; and, tosubmit a memorandum of protest to theofficial Palestinian leadership against thesuggestions promoted by Dr. Nusseibeh.

Refugee Activist Workshop:"Networking and Coordination amongRefugee Grass-roots Initiatives in theWest Bank in the Context of IsraeliRepression; Stocktaking of 2001 andRecommendations for 2002:"

a project implemented byBADIL's Campaign Unit

CAMPAIGN FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEE RIGHTS

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Media Projects

BADIL and community partnersconducted two media projects withPalestinian radio and TV stations reachinga Palestinian audience of more than100,000.

BADIL Radio Series " Natreen Awda"(Awaiting Return): this series, launchedin 2000 in cooperation with RadioBethlehem 2000, was continued on aweekly basis in January - December 2001.Audience: some 20,000 mainly youngpublic in the Bethlehem-Jerusalem area.

BADIL TV Project "Nakba Memorial2001": A media series produced andbroadcast in cooperation with localPalestinian TV stations included:

n Video spots featuring refugees andtheir demands broadcast on 10 days priorto 15 May (Nakba Day) by some 13Palestinian TV stations in the West Bank;

n A series of five video clips, entitled"Shawq as-Sabbar" (Cactus Thorn),featuring refugee life in the camps ofDeheishe, 'Aida, Azza/Beit Jibrin,'Arroub, and Fawwar located in thesouthern West Bank. Theses video clips

This workshop, facilitated by BADIL andorganized/hosted by Yafa CulturalCenter in Balata Camp on 11 December2001 convened some two dozen activistsin refugee community organizations (e.g.Committee for the Defense of RefugeeRights, Popular Service Committees) andmembers of the PNC and political parties.It was the first of a series of similarworkshops to be initiated and facilitatedby BADIL in 2002 in other areas of theWest Bank and Gaza Strip with the aim ofre-building grass-roots networking andcoordination for local refugee rightsadvocacy and lobbying.

The workshop concluded with thefollowing recommendations: to organizea public rally to affirm Palestinian refugees'right of return; to call on BADIL to launchan intensive public information effortdirected at the refugee community; tocoordinate activities between refugeecommunity organizations and theirpolitical leadership; and, to hold a seriesof meetings with all relevant institutions,initiatives, and individuals in the Nablusarea, in order to examine the option ofestablishing a permanent coordinationcommittee for the city and its surroundingcamps.

Some 2,000 BADIL Information Packetsand some 260 copies of BADIL videodocumentaries were disseminated amongthe (refugee) community organizations inPalestine (West Bank, Gaza Strip, 1948Palestine/Israel).

were broadcast by al-Rou'ah (Shepherd's)TV, Bethlehem, and al-Manar TV, Hebron.The video clips were copied on CD, andcontinue to be available for the public.

n A five-day live call-in program anddebate with studio guests about the past,present, and future of the Palestinianrefugee question. This progam includeda unique debate with Palestinian and Arabartists and politicians in Lebanon, Jordanand Egypt. The program was organizedand broadcast by BADIL and al-Rou'ahTV in cooperation with the PopularCommittees-West Bank and Gaza Strip,Union of Youth Activity Centers -Palestine Refugee camps, the Union ofWomen's Activity Centers-West Bank,and the National Society/InternallyDisplaced.

Audience of the Nakba Memorial series:some 100,000 persons in the West Bank.

Refugee study tours to towns andvillages of origin in Israel

scheduled as a focal point of BADILcommunity awareness-raising in 2001 hadto be cancelled due to tight and ongoingmilitary closures imposed by Israel.

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Community Training

BADIL organized nine training coursesfor 160 refugee women, youth, andchildren in partnership with three localrefugee organizations.

Six Informal English courses intended tocomplement formal language trainingreceived in school and improveparticipants' verbal and conversationalskills: children's course, Aida Camp(partner: Shahida Amal Center; 19 hours,2-2 to 16-3, 2001); three courses forchildren, Aida camp (partner: al-RowwadChildren's Theater; 18-6 to 31-8); a basiccourse for refugee women and girls; and,advanced refugee rights/mediaawareness course for refugee women, al-Am'ari camp (partner: Union of Women'sActivity Centers; from 19-6 to 31-8).Beneficiaries: 96 children; 28 girls andwomen.

English Training for Tawjihi (high schoolgraduation exam) Students: The coursewas held in BADIL's offices by a localEnglish language school teacher between3 March to 1 May 2001. Beneficiaries: 11high school students from Bethlehem area

BADIL Support of Community Advocacyand Lobbying:

Right-of Return March organized by theEmergency Committee of National andIslamic Forces /Bethlehem, 9-1-2001.BADIL provided information materials,logistical support, and mediadissemination;

Right-of Return Rally organized by theEmergency Committee and refugeeorganizations/Bethlehem in A'idaRefugee Camp, 13-1-2001. BADILprovided information materials, logisticaland financial support, and mediadissemination.

"Al-Awda Week" organized by thePalestinian National Institutions in theNablus area and the BADIL FriendsForum-Northern West Bank, 5 to 12February 2001. Activities include a photoexhibition ("Refugees and Al-AqsaIntifada") and "Al-'Awda Tent" in al-Far'ah camp, and an "Awda March" in NurShams camp.

Palestine Community Events in theFramework of the World Wide Right-of -Return Marches and Rallies on 7 April2001 (Al-Awda network): BADIL servedas a liaison between the internationalorganizers and local communityorganizations, provided informationmaterials and financial support to theright-of return rally held in Hebron, andensured coordinated mediadissemination.

refugee camps preparing for high schoolgraduation exams.

Computer Training : two courses forchildren, Aida camp (partner: Al-RowwadChildren's Theater; 18-6 to 15-8).Beneficiaries: 25 children.

Facilitation and Support ofCommunity Initiatives

Based on recommendations made by theBADIL Friends Forum, BADIL providedoffice equipment, volunteers, logistic,material and small-scale financialsupport, as well as assistance in planningand media dissemination to more than80 community initiatives serving aconstituency of thousands of Palestinianrefugees in the West Bank and in 1948Palestine/Israel. Initiatives were selectedbased on their ability to contributeactively to concerted efforts at lobbyingfor Palestinian refugee rights and/or theirurgent need for one-time assistance forthe operation of community services. Inaddition, BADIL provided limitedemergency relief services to more than2,000 refugees in the Bethlehem area andthe wider West Bank.

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The April 7 Rallies were launched on theoccasion of the 52nd anniversary of theDeir Yassin massacre and all othermassacres committed against thePalestinian people by the Zionist forcesand the governments of the Israeli state.Rallies and marches were held on this dayin: New York/USA; Vancouver/Canada;Sidney, Melbourne and Perth/Australia;Madrid/Spain; Amsterdam/ Netherlandsand other European capitals; Osaka/Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong, as wellas in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, andPalestine 1948/67.

In the 1967 occupied West Bank and theGaza Strip refugees were unable to launchlarge public events due to the severerestrictions on freedom of movementimposed by Israel. Palestinian communityorganizations thus joined the worldwideright-of-return rallies with a series ofdecentralized activities in the city ofHebron and in the camps of the West Bankand in the Gaza Strip. Activities includedchildren's marches, exhibitions featuringthe history of Palestinian refugees andPalestinian martyrs of the current uprising,theater and dance performances, andpublic debates about issues related to thePalestinian right of return.

Video-Screenings ("Children of Shatila,"by May Masri, 1998; "Yoom Ilak, YoomAleik," BADIL, 1998): 32 presentationsin schools and insti tutions in theBethlehem and Hebron area.

2001 Nakba Commemorations: BADILprovided material (information materials,

photographs, stickers) and financialsupport to the following initiatives:

n al-Nakba memorial program organizedby Yafa Cultural Center/Balata camp,Nablus;

n Children's festival organized by theSocial Welfare Society in al-Far'ah camp,Nablus;

n Human chain from the Nur Shams campto the Tulkarem camp and exhibition "al-Nakba and the Refugees" in Tulkaremrefugee camp organized by local popularcommittees and the BADIL FriendsForum;

n al-Nakba - Al-'Awda cultural event/Hebron organized by BADIL and thePalestinian Children's Arts Center.

n BADIL networked with Nakbamemorial initiatives in other Arabcountries, Europe and North America andcoordinated media dissemination ofactivities in Palestine.

n BADIL also facilitated a letter-writingcampaign of refugee communityorganizations to UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan, the European Union andEuropean governments, and

n participated in public debates (Qalqilya,10-5; Nablus, 13-5) and in a study day on"The Future of the Palestinian RefugeeQuestion and Return" organized by thePNC in Nablus (13-5), and presentedBADIL's program to students and staffof Al-Najah University, Nablus.

Palestinians, including refugees andinternally displaced Palestinians held anunprecedented week of activities in theoccupied homeland and in the diasporain commemoration of the 53rd anniversaryof their displacement and expulsion byZionist/Israeli forces in 1948. Under thetheme, Al-Nakba - Al-'Awda, (TheDisaster - The Return), national marches,called by the High Committee for the 53rd

Anniversary of al-Nakba formed by theintifada leadership, were held in alldistricts in the 1967 occupied West Bankand Gaza Strip. The May 15 marchesreiterated the Palestinian nationalconsensus - i.e., the right of return, self-determination, and a Palestinian state withJerusalem as its capital. At 12:00 p.m.,sirens, churches, mosques, and thehonking of car horns signaled the start ofa three-minute moment of silence inmemory of Palestinians killed by Israeliforces, followed by a speech to the nationby President Yasser Arafat and Palestinianpoet Mahmoud Darwish, broadcast by allPalestinian media.

Public Commemoration/1982 Sabraand Shatila Massacre (16-17September): among the memorial eventsorganized by the National and IslamicForces /Bethlehem District, BADILfacilitated the launch of a children's wall-painting project depicting Palestinianhistory (conducted by al-RowwadChildren's Theater in Aida refugee camp).

Public Statements of Protest againstRenewed Delegitimization of the Rightof Return: In the wake of the massive

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Bethlehem were attacked especiallyseverely by the Israeli occupation army,and BADIL was called to participate inimmediate community efforts to care forthe civilian victims. BADIL contributedblankets and clothing for families who hadto leave seriously damaged homes, basicfood supplies for camp residents undermilitary siege, and medicine for theinjured.

Regional-InternationalNetworking and Advocacy

Significant progress was achieved onthe level of regional/internationalcoordination with the formation of aright-of-return coordination networkcomposed of some one dozen key-initiatives from Palestine, Lebanon,Syria, Jordan, North America and Europe,participants in the first annual strategyworkshop (Cyprus, October 2000). In thisframework, and in cooperation withnumerous Arab and international NGOs,BADIL undertook the following activitiesin 2001:

Dissemination of BADIL Informationamong the Partner Network:

In addition to information and advocacymaterials regularly disseminated via theinternet (BADIL partner list/RefugeeRights Campaign: some 400 subscribers,individuals and organizations world-wide), some 1,000 print copies of BADIL'sadvocacy oriented Information Packet/Right of Return and additionalpublications were regularly shipped to the

Israeli and international media campaignagainst Palestinian refugees' right ofreturn triggered by statements of Dr. SariNusseibeh (PLO Jerusalem portfolio),BADIL assisted starting from October2001 with the dissemination of numerousstatements of dissent and protest issuedby Palestinian (refugee) communityorganizations and political groups.

BADIL Support of CommunityInfrastructure and Services

In kind contributions (use of BADILoffice equipment, stationary, printer toner,painting and drawing materials, notebooks,etc.) were offered to some 35 refugee grass-roots organizations and Palestinianinstitutions, including the MonitoringCommittee formed by refugeeorganizations in the southern West Bank,the Popular Committee of Jelazoun camp,the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, thePalestinian Workers Union, Beit Jala Boys'Elementary School (Aida refugee camp),children summer camps and projectsorganized by community organizations inthe camps of the southern and northernWest Bank during the summer vacation, a.o.

Financial contributions: Al-Laji Centerin Aida camp (sports equipment); WelfareCare Society in al-Far'ah camp (children'sfestival); Aida Camp Girls School (outfits/Dabka dancing team); Yafa Cultural Center(school equipment for orphan students);Al-Anqa Society/Hebron (publication oforal history collection); Yafa CulturalCenter (training and outfits, AidunChildren's Choir).

BADIL Emergency Relief: A Series ofSix Medical Health Clinic Days inPalestinian refugee camps and areas ofrefugee concentration:n Deheishe refugee camp and theadjacent neighborhood of al-Doha,Bethlehem; 23 February 2001 (430patients);n Aida and 'Azza refugee camps,Bethlehem; 9 March 2001 (170 patients);n Al-Fawwar refugee camp, Hebron; 13August 2001 (250 patients);n Al-Arroub refugee camp, Hebron; 24August 2001 (135 patients);n Al-Fara'a refugee camp, Nablus; 26August 2001 (160 patients).

Professional NGOs (Elehssan Society;Union of Health Work Committees) werecontracted to provide medical teamscomposed of gynecologists, pediatricians,dermatologists, ENT and GP, as well ascommonly required drugs and medication.The clinic days were advertised to thecamp public and hosted by Palestinianrefugee community organizations at eachsite. Some 1,150 patients, most of themchildren and elderly unable to obtainmedical services elsewhere, receivedtreatment and medication. The healthclinic days also resulted in referrals tohospitals or specialist in several cases ofpatients, who had forgone timely medicaltreatment due to economic hardship andrequired special attention.

Ad-hoc Support during Military Attacksagainst Refugee Camps : Twice, in thespring of 2001 and in late September 2001,the refugee camps of Aida and Azza/

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members of the right-of-returncoordination network in Jordan, Lebanon,Syria, Europe, Canada and the UnitedStates.

Facilitation/Participation in Activism-oriented Conferences, Advocacy andLobby Activities:

n BADIL participation in the conference"The Future of Palestinian Refugeesunder the Current Settlement Process"organized by Cairo Institute for HumanRights Studies (CIHRS) in Al-Rabat(Morocco), 10-12 February 2001: TheRabat Declaration issued by theConference urged Arab and westerngovernments to work for a just solutionof the Palestinian refugee question inaccordance with UN Resolution 194 (rightof return) and called for international andregional financial support of UNRWA,Palestinian NGOs and communityorganizations, and the PalestinianNational Authority. The final resolutionalso called upon BADIL to continue itsrole in networking and informationdissemination for Palestinian refugeerights.

nRight-of-Return workshops andseminars were conducted by BADIL inthe framework of the "Week of PalestinianCulture and Identity" organized bySanabel, a Palestinian NGO based inLausanne, Switzerland (1 - 7 March 2001):Meetings with the Swiss Human RightsForum Israel/Palestine, AVPJP-OneLand for Two Peoples", SocialistAlternative-Solidarity, the World

Council of Churches, and the Center onHousing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)gave evidence of new interest in andconcern about the requirements for a justsolution for the plight of Palestinianrefugees among the local and internationalsolidarity and human rights community,progressive Jewish activists and Christianorganizations in Switzerland. Thesemeetings resulted in the establishment ofregular cooperation between BADIL andCOHRE, and set the ground for a seriesof seminars and workshops on thePalestinian right of return organized bythe Swiss Human Rights Forum Israel/Palestine in December 2001 (see below).

n 3rd World Conference Against Racism(WCAR), Durban (27 August - 7September 2001): BADIL was activelyinvolved in all stages of the WCAR,which was to become the majorPalestinian NGO advocacy event of the

year 2001. In the preparatory stage led bythe Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO)and LAW in summer 2001, BADILcontributed to the joint Palestinian NGODeclaration and to the international NGO-drafting process conducted from Geneva,and successfully promoted the adoptionof "End the Ongoing Nakba" as centralWCAR slogan by all Palestinian and ArabNGOs participants. At the WCAR inDurban, BADIL was represented by asmall three-person delegation, which wasnonetheless able to make a significantimpact on the final drafting of the NGODeclaration; to engage in efficientlobbying and networking with otherNGOs, caucuses, and officials; to take anactive role in the preparation of Palestinesolidarity demonstrations (with 50-80,000participants at the main demonstration);and, to make numerous presentationsabout the Palestinian refugee question atworkshops. Some 160 BADIL information

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packets/Right of Return and 1,500 postcards and stickers were distributed. Mapsillustrating the history of Palestiniandisplacement were presented for furtheruse to BADIL's host in Durban, the MediaReview Network . During theConferences, regular updates andbulletins issued by the Arab Caucus inDurban were disseminated via internetfrom BADIL's offices in Bethlehem.BADIL continues to be involved also inthe ongoing WCAR follow-up processcoordinated by PNGO in Palestine, i.e.strategizing for a new Palestinian anti-apartheid campaign based on the NGOPlan of Action issued by the WCAR - aprocess which has been severelyobstructed by the unfavorable balance ofpowers in the wake of the 11 Septemberterror attacks in the United States and therapid deterioration of the situation on theground in Palestine.

n Public lectures, debates and workshopsseries: "The Palestinian Right of Return,A Human Right?" organized by the SwissHuman Rights Forum in Israel/Palestinein Basel, Berne, Geneva, Zurich, andLucerne, 4-11 December 2001 (BADIL,

Susan Akram/Associate Professor,Boston University School of Law, andYa'el Stein/Director of Research, B'tselem):presented the history and scope of therefugee problem, the Palestinian position,Palestinian refugee rights underinternational refugee law, and the Israelidebate on the right of return to anaudience, which included solidarityactivists, professionals in the field ofasylum/migration, academics, journalistsand members of the liberal Jewishcommunity in Switzerland. (The SwissHuman Rights Forum Israel/Palestine,operates as a coalition of AmnestyInternational/Switzerland, ChristianPeace Service/CFD, Centrale SanitaireSuisse/CSS Zurich, OeME/ReformedChurches, Society for ThreatenedPeoples Switzerland, and Society Suisse-Palestine.) The speakers also met withSwiss parliamentarians to discuss thestatus of Palestinian refugees, includingtheir status as refugees in Europe underinternational refugee law. Theparliamentarians responded positively tothe initiative, and the possibility ofholding a Europe-wide legal conferenceon the status of Palestinian refugees will

be explored in 2002. BADIL also met withrepresentatives of the Swiss ForeignMinistry , a major contributor tohumanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees,and urged them to formulate a clear,rights-based position regarding thesolution of the Palestinian refugee issue.

n BADIL-MAP (Media Alternatives onPalestine) Appeal to the UN SpecialCommission of Inquiry and UNCommissioner on Human Rights (MaryRobinson) calling for intervention of theUnited Nations to protect the Palestinianright to self-determination and Palestinianrefugees' right of return. The appeal waspresented to the Special UN InquiryCommission on 16 February (52,000signatures) and to the 57th session of theUN Commission on Human Rights inMarch 2001 (more than 60,000signatures).

n Coordination of Joint Memoranda andStatements for Palestinian Refugee Rightsand International Protection issued by theGlobal Right-of-Return Network, such as:open letter to the 27 March summit of theArab League in Amman (signed by 10refugee organizations and right-of-returninitiatives in Palestine and Jordan); "LandDay" media statement (endorsed by 11refugee unions and organizations inLebanon, Syria, Palestine and Europe, 30March 2001); public statement against theproposals of Dr. Sari Nusseibeh(endorsed by 19 Palestinian popularinstitutions and unions, 20 November2001).

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Achievements of the GlobalPalestine Right-of-Return Coalition

n Reviewing the achievements of theprevious year, all participants at the 2ndannual right-of-return workshop/Brusselsagreed that the first annual meeting/Cyprus(2000), as well as information disseminatedby BADIL during 2000-2001 gave a push tothe formation of new right of return initiativesand the regrouping of existing ones. Ingeneral, 2001 witnessed the expansion ofthe right of return network, which succeededto develop more efficient lobbying strategieswith politicians (especially in Europe and inthe US). Several right of return conferenceswere held in Europe, including Denmark,Norway, Germany and France, in order toform a Europe-wide coalition. A conferenceheld in Copenhagen just prior to the Brusselsworkshop in November elected a SteeringCommittee for the Palestinian Right of ReturnCoalition/Europe. In Sweden 18 Palestinianinstitutions formed a new Coalition of thePalestinian Community residing in the country.

n In North America and in the UK, the al-Awda network has provided a new platformfor identity and expression since itsestablishment in the spring 2000. Media andlobby work were evaluated especiallypositively, along with several large annualdemonstrations in support of the right of returnin Washington, DC and New York. The al-Awda network also organized the deliveryof humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees inLebanon (in coordination with the NGO ForumLebanon). Membership in al-Awda continuesto grow (now standing at 1,800 activemembers).

n Participants noted that the participation ofthe NGO Forum Lebanon in the annualcoordinating meeting this year was aparticularly positive step towards thebroadening of coordinated right of returnactivities in the Middle East.

n Participants agreed to maintain the existingstructure of the global umbrella network"Coalition for the Palestinian Right of Return",which includes all current memberorganizations. Additional NGOs, committeesand centers working for the right of returnwill be invited to join the coalition. It was agreedthat the Coalition should be broadened andstrengthened, both within the Palestiniancommunity and also by building networks withsolidarity organizations and groups outsidethe Palestinian community (in a south-southtype of international solidarity campaignapproach). The participants agreed that thegeneral principles on return, which were partof the Concluding Statement of last year'sworkshop (See,www.badil.org\Campaign\principles.htm),remain the unified basis for the Coalition.BADIL will continue to serve as a coordinatorfor this coalition-broadening work in the year2002.

2nd Annual Strategy Workshop for thePalestinian Right-of-Return Network(Coalition for the Palestinian Right ofReturn):

The global coordination networkCoalition for the Palestinian Right ofReturn successfully concluded its secondannual coordinating meeting in Brussels,27-30 November 2001. The meeting wasorganized by BADIL in cooperation withOXFAM/Belgium and the tenparticipating organizations: Committeefor the Defense of Palestinian RefugeeRights & Yafa Cultural Center -Palestine; Union of Youth Activity Centers- Palestine Refugee Camps; NationalSociety for the Rights of the InternallyDisplaced - 1948 Palestine/Israel; HighCommittee for the Defense of the Right ofReturn - Jordan; 'Aidun Group - Syria;'Aidun Group - Lebanon; Forum of NGOsin Lebanon- Lebanon; Palestine Right toReturn Coalition (Al-Awda Network) -North America; Al-Awda-UK; PalestineRight to Return Coalition Europe -Europe; and, BADIL Resource Center forPalestinian Residency and RefugeeRights - Palestine.

Over the course of four days, theparticipants evaluated the achievements

of the right of return coalition in 2000-2001, discussed agenda and priorities for2002, developed a joint plan of action, andheld stocktaking discussions withrepresentatives of European solidarityand human rights organizations.International principles, mechanisms andexperience with refugee return and realproperty restitution in Bosnia wereintroduced by guest expert Paul Prettitore,legal advisor to the Office of the HighRepresentative in Bosnia. Four paperswere presented outlining prospectivefuture activities in various regions.

Participants also held a one-day stocktakingand planning session with the EuropeanSolidarity movement represented by theEuropean Coordinating Committee onPalestine (ECCP), the Belgian-PalestinianAssociation (ABP), the Flemish PalestineCommittee (VPK), Oxfam Solidarity, theFrench NGO Platform on Palestine, andthe Comite Inter-Mouvements Aupres DesEvacues (CIMADE). Following the session,participants attended a public meetingmarking the annual International Day ofSolidarity with the Palestinian People (29November), which included a panel on thePalestinian-Israeli conflict and theinalienable right of return of Palestinianrefugees.

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Statement of Purpose (BADIL 3-YearPlan and 2001 Project Proposal)

Long-term aim:BADIL's Resource Project is a tool in theservice of BADIL's community-basedCampaign for the Defense of PalestinianRefugee Rights. It investigates, analyses,monitors, and documents issues ofconcern and relevance to BADIL's targetcommunities and communicates theirmessage to the international communityin the quest for a just solution based oninternational law and UN Resolutions,especially UN General AssemblyResolution 194. BADIL's information andmedia work is thus not motivated byacademic or journalistic interest, butaims to develop innovative resourceswhich can advance the Palestinianrefugees' right to return, restitution andcompensation.

Objectives:n Produce and disseminate informationrequired for the progress of BADILcampaigns;n Develop BADIL's capacity to provideinnovative research input into thestrategic Palestinian debate on Palestinianrefugee rights;n Inform and raise awareness ofPalestinian refugee rights among thePalestinian and Arab societies, theinternational community and Israelisociety;n Compile and archive Palestinian, Araband international documents related toPalestinian refugee rights;n Prepare and develop BADILinformation facilities and servicesaccessible for the interested public as wellas provide professional guidance.

Project Activities and Beneficiaries

Research, Information, andMedia Services

Print Publications (also published onwww.badil.org)

Al-Majdal Magazine (English; 36-40pages): Issues nos. 9/March, 10/June, 11/September, and 12/December (to beprinted and disseminated in January 2002).

Number of copies printed: 1,200 per issue;Distribution: 610 subscribers (mailing list); 100copies reserved for bound collection; remainingcopies by hand sale and distribution free ofcharge;

BADIL's English language quarterly,previously issued in newsletter format,was upgraded to magazine format startingfrom issue no. 9 (March 2001). A neweditorial advisory board was composedof 17 experts and right-of-return activistsin Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait,Europe and the United States in order toguarantee quality of content. Asproduction costs increased slightly dueto these improvements, the number offree subscriptions was limited to relevantinstitutions and partners, reducing themailing list from more than 800 addressespreviously to 610.

BADIL Information and Discussion Briefs(English and Arabic)BADIL Briefs is a publication serieslaunched in 2000 (nos. 1-6), in order toenrich the local and international debateabout strategies for the defense ofPalestinian refugee rights. Briefs arewritten by BADIL research and legalstaff, interns and expert partners. Briefsare designed in language and scope (24pages) as easy-to-read booklets foractivists.

Reprints of Briefs No. 1 and 2: (500 copieseach);

Brief No. 8: "Palestinian Refugees and theRight of Return: An International LawAnalysis" (Gail Boling, coordinator ofBADIL Legal Unit, January 2001; 1000copies);

Brief No. 7: "UNHCR and a DurableSolution for Palestinian Refugees" (TerryRempel, coordinator, BADIL ResourceUnit, December 2001); draft copies weredistributed to a dozen Palestinian andinternational experts for comment.

Additional Briefs currently under productionare: Internally Displaced/Legal Framework;Refugee Children's Rights; RefugeeWomen's Rights; Case Study: Return-Restitution in Bosnia.

a project implemented byBADIL's Resource Unit

RESOURCE AND INFORMATION

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Distribution: Electronic copies of the Briefs aredisseminated via special BADIL email lists(Partner List/Refugee Rights Campaign, some400 subscribers; Arabic Media list, 120subscribers); hard copies are disseminated as partof BADIL's Information Packet/Right of Return.

BADIL Occasional Bulletins (Englishand Arabic)

BADIL Occasional Bulletins (four-pageformat) was launched in November 2000(Bulletins 1-3) as a means to addressurgent issues raised by the Al-AqsaIntifada. The series was continued in2001:

Bulletin 4 : "The Right of Return and theMeaning of Refugee Choice"Bulletin 5: "The Right of Return - AnAnalysis of Recent Israeli Debate"Bulletin 6 : "Physical Protection forRefugee Populated Areas"Bulletin 7 : "The World ConferenceAgainst Racism - Overview andAnalysis"Bulletin 8 : "A Climate of Vulnerability -International Protection: PalestinianRefugees and al-Aqsa Intifada One YearLater"Bulletin 9: "A Two-State Solution &Palestinian Refugee Rights: ClarifyingPrinciples"Bulletin 10: "Principles and Mechanisms

for a Durable Solution for PalestinianRefugees: The 'Taba Proposals;" withAnnex (Israeli and Palestinian positionpapers presented at the Tabanegotiations).

Number of copies printed: 1,000 each;Dissemination: Electronic copies of the Bulletinsare disseminated via special BADIL email lists(Partner List/Refugee Rights Campaign, some400 subscribers; Arabic Media list, 120subscribers); hard copies are disseminated as partof BADIL's Information Packet/Right of Return.

BADIL Information Packet/Right ofReturn (3rd revised edition, Arabic andEnglish)

The Information Packet includes keyadvocacy material produced by BADILand is regularly distributed to visitors andpartners in the framework of BADIL'sRefugee Rights Campaign. In addition toBriefs and Occasional Bulletins, mapsand advocacy post cards, the followingmaterials were produced for the Packet in2001:

Advocacy Guideline/The Right of Return(English: 500 copies, March 2001; Arabic:2,000 copies, June 2001);

BADIL Public Relations Brochure(English and Arabic; 1,000 copies, May2001);

Stickers/Right of Return (10 stickers/10,000 copies for the 2001 Nakbamemorial).

BADIL Legal Papers (English andArabic)Legal Papers are written by BADIL's legalstaff in order to promote Palestinianrefugee rights among the expertcommunity, policy makers, andinternational organizations. They includedetailed legal analysis of core issues ofthe Palestinian refugee question withextensive references (scope: 50-80 pages)and are published in English and Arabicby BADIL's Resource Unit. Legal Papersare published on BADIL's website, printcopies are distributed among visitors andpartners upon request. The followinglegal resources were published in 2001:

Legal Paper No. 1 : " The 1948Palestinian Refugees and the IndividualRight of Return: An International LawAnalysis " (Gail Boling, coordinator,BADIL Legal Unit; 50 pages, January2001; 500 copies/language edition);

Submission to the Committee forEconomic, Social, and Cultural Rights(CESCR) : "Follow-up InformationRegarding the Committee's 1998Concluding Observations RegardingIsrael's Serious Breaches of itsObligations under the ICESCR;" a printcopy of this submission presented inNovember 2000 was prepared in order toallow wider dissemination (64 pages;January 2001, 500 copies/languageedition).

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Submission to the Committee forEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights:"General Item: Follow-Up Procedure(Israel);" (26 pages; April 2001; 500 printcopies/language edition).

Workshop Report (Arabic)Based on the request by partners in theright-of-return coordination network,BADIL has taken on responsibility fordocumentation and dissemination of thefinal report of the network's annualstrategy workshops. In 2001, BADILproduced:

Proceedings of the 1st Annual Right-of-Return Strategy Workshop, Cyprus,October 2000 (Arabic; 1,500 copies, June2001). Some 1,300 print copies of this reportwere disseminated among partners in Palestineand the Palestinian exile.

BADIL Annual Report 2000 (June 2001)Number of copies printed: 250 copies/English,750 copies/Arabic;Dissemination: English copies among donors andinternational partners; Arabic copies amonglocal and regional partners.

Additional Research in Production(postponed due to budget constraints andscheduled for release in 2002)

Survey: Palestinian Refugees (2001): Anew BADIL project aiming to presentcomprehensive data and analysis of thesituation of Palestinian refugees in thecontext of a framework for durablesolutions (return, restitution,compensation), in order to challengecommon mis-representations of the

Palestinian refugee case in surveys issuedby international organizations and NGOs.

Research Report: Comparative study ofinternational principles and mechanismsguiding refugee return and restitution,with focus on the relevance for thePalestinian case.

Mapping Palestinian Refugee Return :This project aims to illustrate visually andin concrete terms using (a) maps and, (b)supplementary written material the returnof Palestinian refugees and internallydisplaced persons to their places of origin.Research was begun towards thepreparation of maps showing amongother: location of Palestinian refugeevillages in relation to current built-upareas in Israel; location of Palestinianrefugees after the Nakba and today; casestudy of return of a single village. Mapswill be designed by a professionalcartographer; existing historical maps (e.g.Israeli update of the last British map ofPalestine; UNCCP map illustrating landownership in Palestine) will be included.

Electronic Information

BADIL Website (www.badil.org; Englishand Arabic). Both websites werecompletely redesigned in 2001 in a moreprofessional format for improved useraccess. BADIL websites were updatedregularly, and special sections were addedaccording to need (e.g. Al-Aqsa Intifadaand International Protection;international law and mechanisms for theadjudication of war crimes).

Number of beneficiaries since November1999:31,000 (i.e. 40 hits/day).

BADIL Press ReleasesBetween January - December 2001, BADILdisseminated 67 English language pressreleases to over 1,200 subscribers. 40Arabic language press releases weredisseminated to 150 subscribers,approximately half of them werepublished/reported by the localPalestinian press.

Networking and Advocacy

Expert Consultation:Project staff participated in a series ofmeetings with experts and professionalsin international organizations and UNagencies in Geneva in May 2001, and inthe systematic consultation of relevantPLO departments launched in December2001 (for details see: 3. Legal Project).

BADIL Contributions to Conferences,Seminars:

n "Principles, Obstacles and Mechanismsfor Durable Solutions for PalestinianRefugees: an Overview of ExistingResearch and A Proposed ResearchAgenda" by Terry Rempel/ResearchCoordinator, BADIL; presented to theworkshop Palestinian Return Migration:Socio-economic and CulturalApproaches organized by Shaml Center,12-14 June 2001.

n"Die palaestinensische Fluechtlingsfrage:Zeit fuer einen internationalenNeuansatz?" (The Palestinian Refugee

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Question: Time for a New InternationalApproach?) by Ingrid Jaradat Gassner,director, BADIL; published in:Befreiungskampf in Palaestina - Von derMadrid-Konferenz zur Al-Aqsa Intifada(The Struggle for Liberation in Palestine -From the Madrid Conference to the Al-Aqsa Intifada), publisher: Fritz Edlinger,Vienna: Pro Media, 2001.

n "Palestinian Rights, Al-Aqsa Intifadaand International Commissions ofInquiry: A Survey and Critical Reflection"by Ingrid Jaradat Gassner, director,BADIL; in: Shu'un al-Tanmawiyeh (Vol.10, No. 1 & 2/Summer 2001); publisher:The Arab Thought Forum, Jerusalem.

n Palestinian NGO Position Paper forthe World Conference Against Racism,Racial Discrimination, Xonophobia andother Forms of Intolerance (BADIL co-editor), Durban, South Africa, August-September 2001.

n "Palestinian Refugees: Exluded fromthe International System of Refugee RightsProtection; The Need for a Concerted, Inter-Agency Effort to Make the InternationalRefugee Regime Relevant for PalestinianRefugees"; a BADIL Memorandumpresented to the Special Hearing on theFuture of Asylum and Migration, SID-Netherlands, De Hague, 14-15 September2001; and, to the UNHCR Pre-Excom NGOmeeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 24-26September 2001.

Documentation

Library and Archives Development

Some 30 new books and periodicals werepurchased for BADIL's research library.Library purchases were discontinued inthe second half of 2001 due to the need tocut back on project expenses. Systematiclibrary development could not be begundue to the heavy research workload ofunit staff. Systematic library maintenanceand development will require assistanceby a professional librarian.

Oral History Documentation

Oral history recording in the frameworkof BADIL's Oral History Project wasdiscontinued during the al-Aqsa Intifada.Systematic computer archiving of thesome 50 interviews with eyewitnesses ofthe 1948 displacement gathered in the pastwill be completed in 2002, in the frameworkof the construction of a new oral historysection on BADIL's website.

Reconstructing a Palestinian Village:LUBYA

This project aims to publicize the extensivedocumentation of village life in pre-1948Lubya, as well as displacement and exileof this Palestinian community compiledby Palestinian researcher Dr. MahmoudIssa (Denmark) over several years. Thedocumentation includes some 700 oral

history interviews, photographs, as wellas documents (a total of some 1,500pages). The project will be implementedin two stages:

Stage 1: Publication (English and Arabic)of a 200 Page Summary Report (includingphotos and documents): This summarywas prepared by Dr. Mahmoud Issa andwill be published in Danish language inCopenhagen. Production of the Englishand Arabic language summary report wasbegun by BADIL in 2001, but notcompleted due to budget constraints.The summary report is scheduled forrelease in 2002.

Stage 2: Publication of AdditionalDocumentation (interviews, photographs,documents) in two additional volumes(English and Arabic).

Guidance and ResearchAssistance

Hundreds of requests for information andresearch assistance were handled via theinternet. BADIL also assisted visitingresearchers and Palestinian NGOs with theconceptualization of their research reportsrelating to Palestinian refugees (e.g.Refugee Children Rights - ThePalestinian Case: A BADIL BriefingMemo prepared for DCI-Palestine, March2001), and facilitated international factfinding and research missions. Amongothers, such assistance was provided tothe British Parliamentary Commission ofEnquiry on Palestinian Refugees whohad traveled through the Middle East inSeptember 2000, and issued its 200-pagereport on Palestinian refugee choice inMarch 2001. BADIL provided assistancewith editing and the Hebrew translation.

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Statement of Purpose (BADIL 3-YearPlan and 2001 Project Proposal)

Long term aim:BADIL's Legal Project providesprofessional, legal support to BADIL'scommunity-based Campaign for theDefense of Palestinian Refugee Rights,in order to place Palestinian refugeerights, especially the right of return andrestitution (UN General AssemblyResolution 194) on the agenda ofinternational, regional, and domestichuman rights fora.

Objectives:n To obtain maximum support forPalestinian refugees' right of return andrestitution from international, regional,and domestic human rights fora(declaratory rulings, missions of inquiry,reports, etc.) by means of preparation andsubmission of reports and actual litigationof Palestinian refugee claims.n To work for international protection,in addition to assistance, for Palestinianrefugees according to international lawsand standards applied to other refugeegroups in the world, in order to guaranteethat their rights of return and restitutionare respected in the framework of a futuresolution of the Israeli-Palestinian/Arabconflict.

a project implemented byBADIL's Legal Unit

LEGAL PROJECT: PALESTINIAN REFUGEE RIGHTS

2001 Activities and Impact

Due to the fact that this project is a newBADIL project, which began operationonly in January 2001, major efforts werededicated to the exploration of effectivelegal advocacy and lobbying strategiesin the most immediate target fora, i.e. UNtreaty-based bodies and the UNCommission on Human Rights.Considerable effort also was dedicated tonetworking and the establishment ofcooperation with Palestinian andinternational NGOs, partners in BADIL'slegal advocacy effort.

One year of systematic and intensivereporting to, and lobbying of, UN humanrights fora and strategizing with UN andinternational agencies has shown clearlythat BADIL can have greater sustainedimpact if it can secure permanentprofessional lobbying assistance inGeneva. A request for such assistancewas sent to a series of BADIL partners inOctober 2001, and discussion of a jointUN lobbying project with the Geneva-based Center on Housing Rights andEvictions (COHRE) was launched inDecember 2001.

BADIL Submissions to/Lobbyingof United Nations Human RightsFora

UN Commission on Human Rights(Israeli human rights violations/al-AqsaIntifada):

BADIL Report to the Special InquiryCommission/UN Commission on HumanRights: Palestinian Refugees and the al-Aqsa Intifada - The Impact of the Lack ofInternational Protection: The report,including BADIL field data on deaths anddamage incurred by the refugeecommunity in Palestine was presented tothe Dugard-Falk-Hossain Commission inRamallah on 16-2-2001. BADIL'srecommendations were adopted in theCommission's final report presented tothe 57th session of the UN Commissionon Human Rights held in Geneva inMarch-April 2001.

Memorandum to the UN Commission onHuman Rights, 57th Session : BADIL,unable to send a delegate to thissession in Geneva, highlighted urgentissues of international protection forPalestinian refugees in a memorandumsent to NGO and state participants on13 March 2001.

Submissions to/Lobbying the Committeeon Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(CESCR):

BADIL's November 2000 submission toCESCR had identified three main Israeliviolations of rights of Palestinian refugees

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confiscation laws and restitution ofproperties to their rightful Palestinianowners; return and restitution, as well asthe immediate cessation of Israel's militaryoccupation in the 1967 occupiedterritories, as a condition for the exerciseof the Palestinian people's right to self-determination enshrined in Article 1 of theCovenant.

n Identify specific Covenant mechanismsfor implementing the above-mentionedremedies, namely: to inform other UNorgans, especially ECOSOC and theCommission on Human Rights, about thegraveness of Israel's Covenant breaches;and to request UN organs with anenforcement mandate to take action forthe international protection of Palestinianrights enshrined in the Covenant.

Lobbying the CESCR April-May Session(Geneva, 3-5 May 2001): Given the factthat this was BADIL's first-time presenceand lobbying effort of a treaty-monitoringUN body, its outcome was extremelypositive. Productive working relationsand cooperation were established withPalestinian and international NGOs (e.g.CESR, Habitat, Adalah, LAW), and jointlobbying of CESCR members had apositive, concrete impact on theCommittee's decisions concerning follow-up procedures with Israel:

In its April-May session, the CESCRdecided to take two concrete actions. Itsent a letter to Israel announcing that anextraordinary session in August wouldexamine Israel's performance, and it

alerted, for the first time in CESCR'shistory, the president of the UN Economicand Social Council (ECOSOC) of theurgent need for protection measures forthe population of the 1967 occupiedterritories.

Lobbying the CESCR's ExtraordinarySession/General Item "Follow-UpProcedure (Israel)" (Geneva, 17 August2001): In this session, the Israelirepresentative walked out of theconference room after an angry verbalattack on Committee members. TheCESCR failed to issue substantiveConcluding Observations on Israel. It didnote, however, the Committee's ongoingconcern about Israel's denial of the rightof return to Palestinian refugees.

Lobbying the UN Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC):

BADIL Letter and Joint Appeal toECOSOC: In order to add emphasis to theearlier call for ECOSOC action issued bythe CESCR, BADIL submitted on 3 July aletter to ECOSOC, calling for immediateinternational protection for the Palestinianpeople under Israeli occupation and forthe commission of a study on the rootcauses of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.BADIL's letter was consequentlyendorsed by 53 NGOs, networks, unionsand concerned individuals and re-submitted to ECOSOC on 17 July. BADILapplied for ECOSOC "consultativestatus," in order to gain better and moredirect access to this important UN bodyin the future.

protected by the Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights , i.e.obstruction of the right of return,obstruction of the right to restitution, andobstruction of the right of self-determination. It was argued that byviolating these "core, foundational"rights of Palestinian refugees andinternally displaced (i.e. private propertyownership rights, the right to citizenshipin one's country of origin, and the right toself-determination), Israel completelyviolates the remaining set of Covenant-enumerated social, economic and culturalrights of this large population group ofover 5 million in their entirety.

Follow-up Submission for CESCR's April-May 2001 Session: General Item: Follow-up Procedure Israel: In this follow-upsubmission BADIL requested theCommittee to:

n Strengthen its 1998 ConcludingObservations regarding Israel(observations 11, 13, 25, 39) by clearlyidentifying Israeli violations of the three"core, foundational" rights of thePalestinian refugees as breaches of theCovenant.

n Identify appropriate remedies requiredfor Israel to come into compliance with itsCovenant obligations, namely:annulment/amendment of Israel'sdiscriminatory Nationality Law (1952) inorder to grant effective right of return andcitizenship status to all Palestinians exiledfrom areas under Israel's sovereigncontrol; annulment of all illegal Israeli land

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of the PLO Negotiation Support Unit):exploratory consultations anddiscussions about how effectively andefficiently to advance Palestinian refugeerights in various UN and international forawere held with numerous organizations,including the International Committee ofthe Red Cross (ICRC), the Office of theHigh Commissioner for Human Rights, theInternational Organization for Migration,the UN Claims Commission, and theWorld Council of Churches. Issues ofmandate were examined, and potentialroles of international agencies in a rights-based mechanism for durable solutionsfor Palestinian refugees, as well as variouslegal and political obstacles, werediscussed.

First Structured Debate with UNHCR(held in the framework of BADIL'sexploratory meetings in Geneva on 10May): the meeting resulted in a decisionto cooperate for the following aims : a)exchange of information and data,especially about Palestinian refugees inareas outside areas of UNRWA operation;b) identification of specific protectiongaps with negative effects on specificPalestinian refugee population groups; c)formation of an international expertworking group/task force which willdevelop a model for multi-agencyinvolvement for the protection ofPalestinian refugees' rights to return andproperty restitution.

International Seminar: The Emergence ofthe German, Palestinian, and Jewish

The 54 member states of ECOSOC failed toaddress the issue of protection during itssession (New York, 2-27 July 2001). Itapproved visits of Special Rapporteurs/UNHuman Rights Commission to the occupiedPalestinian territories, and issued aresolution on Palestinian women calling,inter alia, upon Israel to protect the rightof all refugees and displaced Palestinianwomen and children to return to theirhomes and properties. The resolution wasvoted against by the United States.

Reports to UN Special Rapporteurs:

Joint NGO Appeal to the UN SpecialRapporteur on the Right to Food: Basedon a decision among NGO partnersinvolved in joint lobbying of UN humanrights fora, and as part of BADIL's effortsto gather experience with the UNCommission of Human Rights' mechanismof Special Rapporteurs, BADIL took thelead role in the preparation of this jointappeal calling for an urgent country visitof the Special Rapporteur on the Right ofFood to the 1967 occupied Palestinianterritories. The appeal was signed by 12Palestinian, international and Israeli NGOsand submitted in June 2001.

Report to the UN Special Committee toInvestigate Israeli Practices Affectingthe Human Rights of the PalestinianPeople and Other Arabs of theOccupied Territories:

BADIL Report to the UN SpecialCommittee: Palestinian Refugees and theal-Aqsa Intifada - The Legal Obligationto Provide International Protection andto Work for a Durable Solution: the reportwas presented to the Committee inAmman in July 2001, as part of theevidence gathered for the Committee'sannual report to the UN GeneralAssembly.

Strategizing for Protection ofPalestinian Refugee Rights:Networking with UN Agencies,international organizations and thePLO

In a first informal meeting between BADILand UNHCR (Geneva, March 2001), it wasagreed that BADIL would prepare aninitial agenda for a structured and informalfollow-up debate with UNHCR at theearliest possible date. A memorandumoutlining BADIL's agenda andsuggestions was consequently preparedin cooperation with legal expert partnersand presented to UNHCR and UNRWA.

BADIL Exploratory Meetings withInternational Organizations (Geneva, 5 -10 May, BADIL legal and research teamand expert partners Susan Akram/BostonUniversity School of Law and a legal expert

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citations was prepared in January 2001(and published in English and Arabic byBADIL's Resource and InformationProject).

Legal Paper-2 : Detailed analysis ofinternational law and UN resolutionspertaining to refugees' right of realproperty restitution was started inNovember 2001 and will be completed in2002.

Legal Research/Submission on Israel'sConfiscation of Private Palestinian Land(1948 - 2001), including presentation ofrelevant Israeli law and illustrative casedocumentation, Israeli court rulings, anda legal argument based on relevantinternational law: Mechanisms for theselection of appropriate cases, Israeli lawand court rulings were examined withPalestinian lawyers in the spring of 2001.A closer examination of the strategicoptions for submission of this researchto powerful UN human rights bodies ledto the conclusion that an extensiveresearch project of this kind merits greaterprofessional lobbying and advisoryassistance at the UN at key stages of thisproject. Consequently, research washalted temporarily, until such assistancecan be achieved.

Legal Opinion, Advice, and Information:

Upon Request, Legal Opinion and Adviceon the rights and status of Palestinianrefugees in international law and humanrights conventions, as well as applicable

Refugees' Problem, organized by theFriedrich Nauman Foundation in Istanbul,8-10 November 2001: BADIL presented apaper on Historical Legal Aspects of thePalestinian Refugee Situation. Based onthe conference, the F. NaumanFoundation decided to publishconference papers and proceedings, andto organize a follow-up conference onPalestinian refugee rights in 2002, in whichBADIL is expected to participate.

Legal Strategy Consultation with the PLOand PNA : In October 2001, BADILsubmitted a memorandum to the PLODepartment for Refugee Affairs (DORA),the PLO Negotiation Affairs Department(NAD), and the PNA Ministry ofPlanning and International Cooperation(MOPIC), outlining key-issues(principles and mechanisms) to beaddressed in the context of a rights-basedPalestinian vision and strategy for refugeereturn and real property restitution. A firstconsultation session with DORA washeld on 29 December 2001, and a jointagenda for further research and debatewas prepared. Legal consultations withPLO and PNA institutions will becontinued in 2002.

Legal Research and ResourceDevelopment

Legal Research:

Legal Paper-1: "The 1948 PalestinianRefugees and the Individual Right ofReturn: An International Law Analysis,"a detailed 60-page legal monograph with

domestic law, was presented toimmigration and asylum boards,Palestinian and international NGOs, andindividual Palestinian refugees in searchof help.

WCAR Durban: Contributions to theLanguage-Drafting Process for the NGOdraft declaration and program of actionwere made to the International NGOSteering Committee in June-July 2001;

(Open) Letters Clarifying BADIL's LegalAnalysis and Opinion were sent to: Dr.Sari Nusseibeh, PLO Jerusalem portfolio(clarification of the relationship betweenPalestinian collective and individualrights); and, to UN Secretary Kofi Annan,UN member states and UN agencies/organs on the occasion of the 53rdanniversary of UN General AssemblyResolution 194 ("Call for Full andImmediate Implementation of UNResolution 194: Prerequisite for a Justand Durable Peace in the Middle East").

Legal Resources and LibraryDevelopment:

Basic equipment (computer, programs)were purchased for the set up of the newlegal project. Purchase of legal resourcesfor BADIL's library were postponed to2002, due to the need to cut back onproject expenses. Systematic librarydevelopment could not be begun due tothe heavy research workload of unit staff.Systematic library maintenance anddevelopment will require assistance by aprofessional librarian.

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Institutional Development

In the period of 1999 - 2001 BADIL wassuccessfully established as anindependent, community-basedPalestinian NGO officially accountable toa General Assembly, led by an electedBoard, and registered with the PalestinianNational Authority. In this context,BADIL's first three-year plan (1999 - 2001)provided a useful framework for settingout the goals of institutional growth andbudget planning - although by 2001BADIL remained some US $85,000 shortof the budget targeted initially. Theshortage of funding, however, did notrequire a proportionate cut-back ofactivities, as BADIL has been able torecruit substantive communitycontribution to and voluntary assistancein program implementation.

Development of Programand Projects

BADIL's first three-year plan was lessuseful as a tool for program planning. Itwas designed at a time when awarenessand knowledge of Palestinian refugeerights were at a substantially lower levelthan today, both among Palestinians/Arabs and the international humanrights and solidarity community.Coherent strategies for the promotionof refugee rights were absent among thePalestinian community and itsleadership, and research and advocacyagenda were undefined. In the absence

BADIL staff, in jointly clarifying anddefining the agenda of BADIL as aprofessional research and advocacyNGO in the service of the refugeecommunity;

n the launch of final status negotiationsbetween the PLO and Israel in 1999,leading to heightened public awarenessof, and media attention to, the refugeeissue, and the professional upgrading ofPLO departments involved in the politicalnegotiations and refugee affairs;

n the rapid response by Palestinian exilesin the Middle East, Europe and NorthAmerica to BADIL networking andadvocacy efforts, and the strong supportprovided by numerous independentexperts.

Due to the above, BADIL outgrew itsinitial 1999-2001 program by the year 2000.BADIL's 2001 program was adapted to thisreality. The adaptation resulted in theclosure of BADIL's legal aid department,the addition of a new legal research andadvocacy project, and the streamlining ofBADIL's program focused on theadvancement of a professional advocacystrategy for Palestinian refugee rights (seeBADIL Annual Report 2000).

By the end of 2001, BADIL hadaccomplished most objectives defined forits research, information, and advocacyeffort in 1999 - 2001. In some areas,achievements went significantly beyondinitial targets and expectations.

of networks providing dialogue andcoordination, Palestinian refugeecommunities in Palestine and in exilewere isolated and marginalized by the"Oslo process," which was designed tobring about a political settlement of the50-years old Palestinian/Arab - Zionistconflict at the expense of Palestinianrefugees' right of return, propertyrestitution and compensation. A seriesof popular conferences of refugees(1967 occupied West Bank and GazaStrip) and internally displacedPalestinians (Israel) held in the mid-1990s had concluded with much populardetermination to defend their rights asenshrined in UN General AssemblyResolution 194, but provided littlestrategic guidance and no mechanismsfor efficient professional advocacy andlobby work.

Looking back over the past three years,therefore, it seems no surprise that theadvocacy agenda defined in BADIL's firstthree-year plan was rather vague andundefined, and - based upon BADILprojects and activities existing at that time- suggested various areas of focus(residency rights in Jerusalem and other1967 occupied/PNA administered areas,legal aid services, and refugee rights).Numerous factors have since contributedto the rapid development of BADIL'sprogram and projects, among them mainlythe following:

n creativity and patience shown bygrassroots and expert partners, and

Assessment:BADIL 1999 - 2001III.

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Achievements: BADILCampaign for the Defense ofPalestinian Refugee Rights

Community Awareness-Raising andEmpowerment: Over the past three-yearperiod, general awareness of, andcommunity mobilization for, Palestinianrefugee rights have increaseddramatically among the local Palestiniancommunity and its institutions, and inparticular among refugees. Thisdevelopment is reflected in sustainedcommunity-organizing and lobbying, anongoing Palestinian media debate, and theaffirmation of the Palestinian consensusabout the centrality of the Palestinianrefugee question and individual refugeerights (return, property restitution,compensation) in the context of anyfuture political settlement with Israel. Anadditional indicator is the fact thathistorical events symbolizing thePalestinian displacement andexpropriation, especially "Nakba Day" (15May), have become permanentcomponents of the Palestinian publiccalendar. While not attributable solely toBADIL's efforts, we consider thatsustained BADIL awareness-raising andsupport of refugee community initiativeshave contributed to this development.

Networking among Palestinian RefugeeCommunities and InternationalAdvocacy: While in 1998 dialogue andcoordination among the scattered refugeecommunities in Palestine, Jordan,Lebanon, Syria, Europe and North

America were virtually absent, jointstrategizing and advocacy efforts via theinternet, as well as annual coordinationmeetings organized by BADIL, havebecome routine by 2001. While BADILnetworking and information disseminationhave been instrumental for triggering theglobal Palestinian right-of-return network,it could not have become sustainablewithout the enthusiasm and voluntaryeffort shown by hundreds of right-of-return initiatives launched in this periodby Palestinian exile communitiesworldwide. Political developments, butalso joint Palestinian awareness-raisingand advocacy for refugees' right of return,have led to a significant increase ofattention to Palestinian refugees' rightsand demands among internationalsolidarity and human rights groups,experts, policy makers, and theinternational and Israeli media.

Achievements: BADILResearch and InformationProject

Production/dissemination of AdvocacyTools : Timely production anddissemination of high quality advocacytools (e.g. Information Packet/Right ofReturn, website, press releases) havecontributed substantially to the successof BADIL's refugee rights advocacycampaign, a fact which was explicitlyrecognized by BADIL's regional andinternational partners in 2001.

Innovative Research and ExpertNetworking : The ability of BADIL'sresearch team in the past three-yearperiod to translate the general guidelinesreceived from the refugee community intoa coherent agenda for professionalresearch and right-of-return advocacybased on international law and UNresolutions has allowed BADIL toprovide significant new input into thePalestinian debate on the one hand, andto receive respect, recognition, andsupport from among the Palestinian andinternational expert community for itsrights-based approach to the Palestinianrefugee issue on the other.

Achievements: BADILAdvocacy

While it is yet too early for a conclusiveassessment of the achievements of thisBADIL project, there is no doubt - afterone year of project operation - thatprofessional legal analysis, networkingand lobbying of the UN system havefurther increased the impact of BADIL'sadvocacy efforts. Permanent lobbyingassistance within the UN system isrequired, however, for systematicnetworking and activation of UN fora andinternational organizations.

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Towards the New BADILThree-Year Plan (2002-2004)

According to the new three-year planproposed to BADIL's General Assembly,BADIL's program and projects will focuson the following priorities in the period2002 - 2004:

Refugee Rights CampaignProject:

n Improve coordination of community-based right of return initiatives inPalestine; expand membership (womeninitiatives, refugees residing outside thecamps); develop new tools for debate andcoordination (e.g. Arabic newsletter,encouragement of use of email/internet);

n Launch of a public debate aboutprinciples and mechanisms to guideimplementation of refugee return, realproperty restitution and compensation, inorder to advance the Palestinian consensusand strategy towards a rights-basedsolution of the Palestinian refugee question.

n Continue systematic dialogue,advocacy and lobbying for a rights-basedsolution of the Palestinian refugee issuewith Palestinian, Arab, and internationalpolicy makers; develop professional

advocacy and lobby support amongEuropean policy makers (European Unionand governments).

n Search for constructive dialogue withindividuals/groups in Jewish-Israelisociety who are willing to support andadvocate for a solution of the Palestinianrefugee question as provided byinternational law and UN Resolution 194.

Research and InformationProject:

n Develop and publish research andadvocacy tools, which illustrate acoherent model (principles andmechanisms) for the implementation of arights-based solution of the Palestinianrefugee question (e.g. comparativeresearch; research of concrete options forreturn, real property restitution andcompensation that are supported byinternational law and practice);

n Continue networking and expandcooperation with Palestinian, Arab andinternational experts towards theformation of a rights-based strategy andinternational mechanism for theprotection of Palestinian refugee rights(day-to-day rights and rights in thecontext of a durable solution).

Note: For additional details about BADIL'snew three-year plan (2002 - 2004), pleaserequest a copy of the draft document.

Legal Project:

n Continue to prepare legal analysis andsubmissions, which clarify and highlightthe basic rights of Palestinian refugeesunder international law and challengeZionist Israeli law and policy (return, realproperty restitution, compensation);

n Strategize for and present submissionsto international human rights fora,especially within the United Nations;obtain resolutions which affirm - andprepare the path for enforcement of -Palestinian refugees' right of return, realproperty restitution and compensation.

n Continue consultations, networking,and advocacy for a rights-based modelof international refugee protection, bothon a day-to-day basis, and in the contextof a durable solution (with Palestinian,Arab, and international experts/organizations and UN agencies).

n Develop a network of legal expertsupport, and establish permanentlobbying assistance for targeting the UNsystem;