Date Published: 19 May 2023
The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers supports the petition and call for the Aotearoa New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine as a state delivered to Parliament this week.
For more than 75 years, Palestine has been illegally occupied by Israel, resulting in the loss of lives of thousands and the displacement of many more. The human rights of the Palestinian people need to be upheld. The violence and occupation of Palestine must end. Restoration of and adherence to international law by Israel is needed.
The United Nations is promoting a two-state solution where both Israel and Palestine are recognised. The majority of UN member states recognise Palestine as a sovereign state but Aotearoa New Zealand does not yet do so. The ANZASW supports this solution and calls on the Government to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.
ANZASW urges for there to be an urgent peaceful end to the occupation, recognition of the rights of Palestinians to form their own state and live in their own democracy.
The ANZASW endorses the statement of the International Federation of Social Workers. You can read the statement here: https://www.ifsw.org/towards-peace-and-self-determination-in-israel-and-palestine-a-statement-from-ifsw/
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