Supporting UNRWA's Neutrality Efforts is an International Responsibility

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Published Jun 22, 2024

Press Conference by Catherine Colonna, Chair of the Independent Review of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Catherine Colonna, who on Saturday submitted her Final Report as Chair of the Independent Review Group on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), today (22 Apr) told reporters in New York that UNRWA has in place “a more developed system than other UN organisations or agencies” to ensure compliance with the humanitarian principle of neutrality.

Colonna pointed out that “there's always room for improvement and some issues related to neutrality persist.”

She stressed that the international community “has a responsibility in helping and supporting UNRWA in addressing neutrality issues.”

Among those issues, Colonna said, “UNRWA’S installations have been used for - misused, rather I should say - for political or military purposes, by various groups,” which is “undermining the neutrality of the installation.”

She recommended “preventive measures, enhanced monitoring of these violations, transparent reporting” in order to “address this issue effectively.”

The Chair of the Independent Review Group told reporters that “although UNRWA has made considerable progress in the past few years to mitigate the risk addressed to some content promoting hate or inciting violence, in the textbooks in the classroom, it now needs, now needs to implement, zero tolerance policy.”

She noted that “some of the content – marginal, but even if marginal - we write, is problematic.”

This includes, Colonna said, “glorification of jihad, incitation to violence, maps of the current world - not historical maps - not showing the existence of Israel, so many other problematic issues, with lots of examples.”

She added, “this is unfortunately a really well documented area.”

To conclude, Colonna said, “I'm confident that implementing these measures will help UNRWA in delivering on this mandate. I would, you know, strongly encourage again the international community to be side by side with the agency so it can perform its mission and overcome the challenges, when they are there.”

The Report, entitled “Independent review of mechanisms and procedures to ensure adherence by UNRWA to the humanitarian principle of neutrality" was produced with the help of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the Chr. Michelsen Institute, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.  

The Secretary-General accepted the recommendations contained in the report, and has agreed with Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, that UNRWA, with the Secretary-General’s support, will establish an action plan to implement its recommendations.