PNGO Network has been
awarded the French Republic Human Rights Award 2009
On 10 December 2009, PNGO Network
was awarded the Human Rights Award at a ceremony held at the Institute of Political
Studies in Paris,
France, on the
occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. PNGO Network has been awarded this prize in recognition of its
role in defending public freedoms and human rights in Palestine.
Bernard Kouchner, the French
Foreign Minister, attended the ceremony in addition to the Human Rights,
representatives of the French non-governmental organizations who are supporters
of the Palestinian people, and the PNGO Network delegation consisting of Dr
Allam Jarrar, Mohsen Abu Ramadan and Rania Kutteneh.
Mr Kouchner, in his speech during
the ceremony and after giving the award to the PNGO Network, praised the role
of PNGO as an important body in Palestinian civil society, in defending human
rights, and being committed to principles of democracy, human rights and the values
of freedom and justice.
In their attempts to prevent the
PNGO Network from receiving this prize, Zionist groups launched a campaign
against PNGO and its role in strengthening the national conciliation, its statements
published at the national level against Israeli occupation, its launching of
the National Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, and for its
participation in the Durban World Conference Against Racism in 2001. However
these attempts failed and the ceremony was held in the presence of the French
Foreign Minister along with other French officials and with large media coverage.
In its acceptance speech, PNGO
expressed its deep commitment to its steady national positions on different
levels including its commitment to facing the Israeli occupation's policies and
plans, defending and strengthening rights in Palestine, and achieving national
conciliation.
PNGO asked the French government
to work hard in pressuring Israel
to stop all violations of human rights against the Palestinian people as well
as to end the occupation, settlement building in Jerusalem
and enable the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
PNGO also called on the French
government to play its complete role in lifting the siege on Gaza, to open all crossings to the movement
of people and goods and to begin reconstruction work there.
In its visit to Paris, the PNGO delegation met with the Human
Rights Commissioner to the French government. The delegation reiterated the
necessity to face the Israeli violations and protect human rights in Palestine.
The delegation also had meetings
with representatives of French civil society organizations and different media
agencies to inform them about the realities faced by Palestinians living under
Israeli occupation. The occupation violates international human rights
resolutions and the Geneva
conventions.