60 jaar UNRWA: SCOREN VOOR DE VREDE

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UNRWA, het VN-Agentschap voor Hulp aan de Palestijnse Vluchtelingen in het Nabije Oosten, vierst zijn 60-jarig bestaan wereldwijd. Ook in België (Brussel) laten zij dit niet zomaar passeren.

De Vereniging voor de Verenigde Naties informeert u dan ook met plezier over de persmededeling en de activiteiten die UNRWA Brussels (met een aantal partners) voor eenieder voorziet: onder meer een vriendschappelijke voetbalwedstrijd, en een academische conferentie…

PRESS RELEASE – 20 APRIL 2009

A GOAL FOR PEACE

FRIENDLY FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN THE FC MOLENBEEK BRUSSELS ? PALESTINIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM, ON 6 MAY, EDMOND MACHTENS STADIUM OF MOLENBEEK-BRUSSELS-BELGIUM

UNRWA sees its 60-year anniversary in 2009-2010 as a unique chance to further strengthen relations with its target population while maintaining, building and extending its partnership with the European Union and its institutions.

The ‘UNRWA at 60’ commemoration will stage a series of events, putting refugees themselves, and the people who worked with- and alongside the agency as the focal point.

In Brussels, this translated into the ‘EU-UNRWA Partnership for Peace & Humanity’ initiative covering two events funded by the European Commission:

– an academic conference on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Palestine Refugees at the end of June

– friendly football match ?A Goal for Peace? on 6 May between the Palestinian National
Team and the FC Molenbeek-Brussels team.

A Goal for Peace game will also be a fund raising event for the benefit of Palestine Refugees. It will be hosted at the Edmond Machtens stadium of the Commune Molenbeek and will be preceded by a musical performance from the famous Palestinian musical group SABREEN. This event is bringing together 7,000 participants who wish to promote understanding and support for sport as a tool for development and peace. All the proceeds of the tickets will benefit the UNRWA Scholarship Endowment Fund which will support young Palestine Refugees in achieving their university education.

On 20 April, the public information campaign for A Goal for Peace was kicked off in Brussels at a press conference hosted by the UN Regional Information Office Brussels in the presence of :

Mr. Philippe Moureaux, Mayor of the Commune of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Ms. Christiane Hohmann, Spokesperson of the European Commissioner for External Relations, Ambassador Leila Chahid, General Delegate of Palestine to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, Mr. Johann Vermeersch, President of the FC Molenbeek-Brussels, Mr. Matthias Burchard, Head of UNRWA Liaison Office Brussels & Representative Office Geneva. The conference was moderated by Mr. Rik Lamoral, Secretary General of the European Union of Sports Press.

The campaign foresees the distribution of 10,000 posters, and 25,000 leaflets across the Capital Region of Brussels, as well as placing
posters on 100 trams and busses for two weeks in addition to emailing and website information.

A Goal for Peace initiative is grateful and proud to have found partners in the Capital Region of Brussels, the Belgian Ministry of Social Integration, the UN Office for Sport Development and Peace, the UN Regional Information Office Brussels, and the General Delegation of
Palestine in Brussels, and is assisted by various NGOs, among them the Belgo-Palestinian Association, and individuals such as Simone
Susskind.

Tickets for the match on 6 May, starting at 18:45, are only available in pre-sale at the ticketing office of the FCM Brussels at the Machtens stadium (www.fc-brussels.be)

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS :

FCM Brussels: Mr. Jo de Rop, 0032.2.412 71 75

Municipality of Molenbeek: Mr. Jamal Ikazban, 0032.2.412 37 81

European Commission: Christiane Hohmann, 0032.2.299 11 96

General Delegation of Palestine: Mrs. Leila Chahid, 0032.2.735 16 39

UNRWA Brussels: Matthias Burchard, 0032.2.256 75 85