Press Release, Action Palestine , 13 November 2008
Dear Editors,
One of the less reported aspects of the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip is the daily infringements faced by Palestinian students on their fundamental human right to an education. Given that the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – ratified by Israel in 1991 – underlines the fact that “Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realizing other human rights,” the daily obstructions presented by check points, regular curfews, amongst other oppressive measures, represent a serious infringement of Palestinian entitlements to unhindered access to education. These infringements are particularly harmful because of the importance Palestinian society attaches to education and the equally important role played by Palestinian students in contributing to the resistance of Israeli oppression.
As students in this country we feel it important that as part of our on going campaign of solidarity, we raise awareness of the plight of Palestinian Students. Accordingly, we have accepted a request from Palestinian Student Unions to receive a delegation of Palestinian Student Representatives on a speaking tour of British University campuses. This tour is organised as part of the Right to Education Week starting on the 17th of November; the week of activities aims to mobilise and strengthen partnerships between UK and Palestinian student bodies in order to highlight the severity of the situation, as well as build a solidarity movement that can begin to strategically challenge the prevalent injustices faced by Palestinian students.
This tour will include visits to the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, SOAS, Oxford, Birmingham, Liverpool, Strathclyde and Cambridge, in the hope of relating their experiences living under the Israeli occupation and provide first hand accounts of how the occupation hinders their ability to study in an environment free of oppression.
Two of the students on the delegation represent an affiliate of Action Palestine, the Right to Education Campaign, which is currently based in three universities in the West bank. According to the Campaign, the R2E week is an excellent way of raising international awareness of the obstacles faced by Palestinian students in exercising their right to education, and a means of building an international coalition of organizations to collectively campaign in support of Palestinian students, teachers and educational institutions.
In addition to the speaking tour, the R2E week will comprise of a series of events, activities and campaigns to raise awareness about the issues surrounding the right to education.
To find out more about the R2E campaign or the struggle of Palestinian students for freedom and justice through education contact Action Palestine on media@actionpalestine.org or 07845275197 or visit:
www.actionpalestine.org
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