« back

Thabit - Palestinian Organization For The Right of Return

Introduction:

(Thabit) is a Palestinian cultural informational independent non-governmental organization, active in the Palestinian arena, with headquarters in Lebanon. It concerns itself with the Palestinian refugees' cause and their right of return to their homeland of which they were driven out at the time of the Catastrophe (al-Nakbah) in the year 1948. Its activities target various age groups and different cultural levels among the elite and decision-makers, in addition to diverse sections of Palestinian refugees' masses in various camps, gatherings, and regions.

The Vision:

(Thabit) aspires to preserve the Palestinian identity, to cling to the customs, traditions and prevalent culture of Palestinian society, to document the Palestinian memory and conserve it for the coming generations by letting all factions of the Palestinian people cooperate with those concerned with achieving the goals of return to their homes and properties in Palestine.

Goals:


1- To preserve the Palestinian identity.
2- To fight all forms of naturalization and displacement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
3- To contribute to the raising of the level of awareness of the cause of refugees and their right of return in the Palestinian, Arabic and international quarters.
4- To hold fast to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) as an international organization that came into existence because of the Catastrophe, and became a witness to the crime of expulsion and deportation of Palestinians, until their return to their homeland.
5- To work with concerned and specialized parties to improve the living conditions of and secure a humane life for the refugees in Lebanon, while preserving the camp as a political concept.
6- To work with decision-makers and local, Arabic and international civil organizations to form a pressure group, i.e. a lobby, that would contribute to explaining the issue of refugees and their right of return in the news media and in regional and international circles.

Means to achieve the goals:

There are various means that can serve the goals of (Thabit), such as conferences, seminars, lectures, discussion groups, organizing exhibitions, commemorating events, producing visual and written communication materials, cultural and informational pressure campaigns, training sessions, public relations, organizing field visits for foreign and Arab delegations to camps, gatherings, and the regions where refugees reside.

The organization's mission:

Proceeding from deep convictions of the Palestinian refugees' right of return to their homes and properties from which they were expelled at the time of the Catastrophe in l948, the (Thabit) organization along with its constituent assembly and volunteers, and in coordination with international and local civil societies, people's committees, village associations, Palestinian factions, institutions, societies, religious authorities, and local society, works to raise the level of awareness in elite groups as well as in the masses, regardless of color, race, belief or age, through its integrated programs and activities.

The organization's working policies:

1- (Thabit) along with other civil society organizations working in Palestinian circles form an important and effective frame for preserving and defending the right of return, proceeding from steadfastness in clinging to this right and not deviating from it, using the method of coordination, integration and honorable competition with alternate organizations.
2- (Thabit) believes in a policy of open-mindedness toward the ideas, suggestions and latest developments that are likely to improve the job and realize the goals.
3- (Thabit) is a non-governmental organization; it is not affiliated with any party or group.
4- It rejects any conditional financial or material aid that is likely to affect negatively the orientations and goals of the organization.

The organization's structure:

The body of the organization is made up of: the general assembly (members will be formally inducted), the administrative body (is elected by the general assembly, and it is the leadership frame of the organization), the president of the administrative body, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, and the subsidiary committees.

Projects and Activities of Thabit:

• Commemorating Al Nakbah (The Palestinian Calamity) and organizing activities of “The Week of Return”.
• Organizing lectures for public and elites.
• Issuing Banners and Stickers.
• Publishing books on Palestinian Villages and Refugee Camps.
• Launching “The Narrator of Home Land and Return” Project.
• Commemorating Palestinian national events.
• Organizing galleries, conferences, and seminars.
• Organizing cultural contests about the Palestinian refugees issue and The Right of Return.
• Organizing visits to officials.
• Issuing statements and press releases.
• Preparing Reports and articles.
• Attending TV and radio programs and interviews.
• Issuing introductory brochures.
• Issuing Al- Awda annual calendar.
• Participating in local, regional and international conferences.
• Coordinating and networking with other NGOs.

» Website of Thabit - Palestinian Organization For The Right Of Return (arabic)

» Palestinian Woman Center for Embroidery and Handicrafts - A Project of Thabit (english)