Civil society groups to discuss situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory at UN forum

In a bid to give civil society organizations a forum to discuss the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, a United Nations panel on Palestinian rights announced plans today to convene an international conference next month at UN Headquarters in New York.

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People said the two-day meeting under the theme, "End the Occupation!," is scheduled to open on 23 September.

In addition to giving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world an opportunity to exchange views, the conference also aims to renew efforts to coordinate their activities and develop action-oriented proposals in support of the Palestinian people.

Scheduled panellists for the event include Hanan Ashrawi, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy, and Terry Greenblatt, Director of Bat Shalom, the Israeli Women's peace organization.