Geneva Conference Preparations

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Geneva ConferencePreparations

• Update for the Steering Committee
• 19 May, 2004

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Core Group

• Includes all office holders and host authorities
• Will have met a total of six times to date (next
  meeting on 26 May)
• Four WG Chairs provide updates
• Meetings have addressed
• cross-cutting themes, including access and
  standards
• UNRWAs medium term plan
• development of the programme
• Substantive discussions on working groups and
  conference documents
• Decision taken April 21 to proceed with
  Chairmans Summary, en lieu of agreement on draft
  declaration

3
Geneva Based Briefings

• Two meetings of the HLWG in Geneva
• Briefing of Geneva based international agencies
  and NGOs
• Informational in nature

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Working Groups

• Four themes have been explored by the WGs
• Promoting the Well-Being of Palestine Refugee
  Children
• Community Development Housing, Infrastructure
  and Environment in Palestine Refugee Camps
• Promoting Socio-Economic Development of the
  Palestine Refugees
• Conditions for the Successful Management and
  Mobilization of Resources on behalf of Palestine
  Refugees

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Working Groups

• Extensive meetings of the four groups over the
  four-six months in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman
• Through the preparatory process of the
  Conference, broad participation was sought and
  relevant expertise brought in
• This process provided greater tri-partite
  engagement in the development of themes and
  subthemes important to all stakeholders
• Each Working Group has provided recommendations
  to the international community, host authorities
  and UNRWA

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Workshops

• Each discussion paper will provide the background
  for the discussion at the Workshops, on June 7
  with draft recommendations
• A workshop schedule has been developed, and is
  being circulated today
• Based on the discussions at the Workshops,
  respective Chairs will produce a summary
• Chairs will report on the outcomes of their
  workshops to the Plenary on June 8

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Finalization of Conclusions and Recommendations

• Draft background papers distributed to
  participants (17 May)
• Concentration and prioritization of conclusions
  and recommendations (17 May 6 June)
• Workshop discussions on key conclusions and
  recommendations and a structured debate on
  sub-themes
• (7 June)
• 4. Summary of Workshop proceedings finalized by
  Chair and other office holders.

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Finalization of Conclusions and Recommendations

• Core Group Meeting, 7 June
• Review outcomes from the Workshops
• Outcomes fed into the Chairmans Summary
• Report by Workshop Chairs to Plenary and debate
  on implications of conclusions and
  recommendations
• Chairs Summary concluded and read out to
  participants

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High Level Panel Debate

• Human Security and Economic Progress
• Improving the Lives of the Palestine Refugees
• Purpose
• Stimulate debate on how to improve the lives of
  the Palestine Refugees and reduce vulnerability
• Include conceptual and practical constraints and
  conditions, including political and social
  challenges
• Reflect on how the Conference outcomes can
  improve the environment in which we operate over
  the next five years

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High Level Panel Debate

• Confirmed participants
• Mr. Edward Mortimer (Moderator)
• Mr. Peter Hansen
• Mr. Poul Nielson
• Mr. Adnan Abu Odeh
• Ms. Hanan Ashrawi
• Mr. Amos Elon

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Other Activities

• Video Link
• Link to refugees in Amman, lasting about 22
  minutes
• Mix of live and recorded segments
• Opportunity for delegates to see, first hand,
  refugees and UNRWA in action
• Refugees will discuss their lives, their
  problems, their needs, their hopes, their
  aspirations
• Discussion on human rights, womens empowerment,
  and health conditions

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Facilities

• CICG and CCV rooms blocked and assigned
• Office space for SDC, UNRWA Staff and Secretariat
  assigned
• Interpreters, translators and facilities staff
  engaged
• Internet terminals available for delegates (
• No dedicated workspace for delegations
• If required, office space can be rented directly
  with the CICG (through your permanent missions)

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Documents and Translation

• Conference documents distributed 17 May
• Programme
• Rules of Procedure
• Discussion Papers I-IV
• Workshop schedule
• All documents posted to our site in English
• Delivered to regional representatives to UNRWA,
  as well as through Geneva and New York Missions
  to the UN
• Translations available on the site as they become
  available www.un.org/unrwa/genevaconference

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Questions and Answers?