Establishment:

The Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI) is an alliance of eleven civil society organizations established during the preparation for the 2005 World Social Forum in Porte Alegre. It is composed of Palestinian and Syrian-Arab organizations who were engaged in consultation throughout 2004 regarding the ways and means necessary to improve their advocacy message and strategy towards building a Palestinian democratic social movement. OPGAI operates as an informal alliance, meets regularly, and relies on the voluntary efforts of its member organizations as well as support from international partners who share common values and objectives.

Definition:

Coalition of civil society institutions of the Democratic Progressive identity in Palestine and the occupied Golan, working on the effective contribution in the promotion and development advocacy, with the aim of ending the occupation and building a of progressive social democratic movement that can play an effective role in building a society where the values of equality, democracy and social justice.

Looking forward for free, democratic civil society, free from occupation and all forms of exploitation, and where the values of equality, social justice and human rights.

Core Value System:

• OPGAI member organizations share a commitment to the struggle for justice, equality and freedom of the oppressed worldwide.
  
  
• OPGAI member organizations are committed to the struggle against the illegal Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian and Syrian land in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
  
  
• OPGAI member organizations are committed to establishing a right of return, restitution and compensation for the Palestinian refugees in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, in particular UNGAR 194.
  
  
• OPGAI is committed to strengthening and supporting progressive social movements and transforming internal conflicts.
  
  

Mission Statement:

To enable, lobby, and organize the main social actors, unions, womens movements, student movements and Palestinian political groups, towards strengthening their role in the greater Palestinian social movement towards just political, social and economic conditions.

Vision:

To have a plenary democratic social movement with the core values of justice, freedom, and equality among all; women and men, Jews and Arabs and all people in historic Palestine. OPGAI will work diligently and cooperatively to effectively identify and address the root causes of conflict, as well as work to achieve self-determination of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel and the Diaspora. As a prerequisite for achieving this vision OPGAI seeks to guarantee that the treatment of Palestinians is in accordance and compliance with international law and the inalienable rights granted to all human beings.

Mission:

To work with individuals and groups of civil society both domestically and internationally, as well as strengthen the structure and role of existing active social movements in order to achieve a unified vision. The Defense Initiative on Occupied Palestine and Golan is working with currently active Palestinian organizations and their public constituencies that will enable the development of a new structure. This new structure will unify a popular and effective Palestinian social movement capable of playing an influential and central role in the process of tangible change. In order to achieve unity there must be justice, access to rights and services, and freedom on which peace and development in the region can be drafted. In addition, the Defense Initiative's programs are aimed at raising awareness of the root causes of conflict. Together we will work towards building an international force capable of influencing international standards and enforcing the application of the principles of human rights and dignity.

Members:

OPGAI is a joint initiative consisting of:

• YWCA-YMCA Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI)
• Alternative Information Center (AIC), 
• Alternative Tourism Group (ATG)
• Defense for Children-Palestine Section (DCI)
• Environmental Education Center (EEC)
• Golan for Development (GvD)
• Land Research Center-Jerusalem (LRC)
• Arab Center for Human Rights in the Golan Heights Al-MARSAD
• Health Work Committees.
• Methaq for Development.
  
  

OPGAI and BDS Campaign:

With the mission of lobbying the international community towards pressuring Israeli compliance with international laws and universal human rights principles, OPGAI started the Boycott–Divestment–Sanction Campaign (BDS). The BDS Campaign is endorsed by 171 organizations, unions, networks and political parties. It provides the central forum by which Palestinian civil society can express to the international community the necessity of international boycott, divestment and sanctions towards Israel until it ceases its violations against Palestinian society.

Activities' Archive

OPGAI Youth Work Camp 2011
20^th, July 2011

A Political and Intellectual demonstration in OPGAI conference
3^rd, June 2011

OPGAI Education Annual Conference 2010
Education as a Tool for Building, Interaction and Freedom
30^th, October 2010

International Seminar: Economic Perspectives and Advocacy Strategies

26^th October 2009

OPGAI Youth Volunteers Camp - August 2009

Day 1 | 2 | 3

OPGAI workshop and NCBO training course
1^st, March 2007

OPGAI delegation at WSF 2007

February 2007

Calls and Statements

Action is crucial

13^th March 2010

Join March 30, the Global BDS Action Day, and endorse the Palestinian Call

30^th March 2009

Declared Holocaust against the Gaza people
Press Release
3^rd, March 2008

Statement at the World Social Forum 2005

February 2005