Palestinian Avocate to Visit Australia, Raising the Profile of her People

Sylvia Haddad, a well-known advocate for Palestinian refugees, is to visit Australia under the auspices of the National Council of Churches.   From Wednesday, July 11 - Tuesday July 24, Sylvia Haddad will speak to various audiences around Australia about the plight of her people.

As the Executive Secretary of the Joint Christian Committee (JCC) - a branch of the Middle East Council of Churches - Sylvia works to empower the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon, of which she is a member.  

The JCC seeks to provide educational and vocational opportunities to Palestinian refugees, in the hope that members of the refugee population will be able to secure employment.   The JCC also co-ordinates other humanitarian efforts of the Middle East Council of Churches with regard to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.   This work is funded by the partner organizations of the Middle East Council of Churches, of which the National Council of Churches in Australia is one.  

The Middle East Council of Churches "believes in empowering Palestinians, regardless of age or gender, with knowledge and skills leading to self-reliance, to create in each person a provider for the family and community and to preserve Palestinian identity, heritage and culture."  

Sylvia will speak about her work with the Middle East Council of Churches on July12 at a breakfast in Newcastle.   Also on July 12, Sylvia will attend a forum in Sydney with members of the Australian Palestinian community.   Sylvia will then take her message to Canberra, where she will speak at a lunchtime forum on July 13 at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Loy,
NSW Ecumenical Council (02) 9299 2215
Email: cloy@ncca.org.au

16 May 2007