(August 29, 2025)

(Washington D.C., August 29, 2025) – In response to the U.S. State Department‘s decision to deny visas to Palestinian Authority officials ahead of the September UN General Assembly meeting, DAWN issues the following statement:

„The UNGA should hold its September meeting in Geneva to allow Palestine to participate,“ said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN‘s executive director. „Moving the meeting there will send a message to the Trump administration that the international community does not tolerate these breaches of long standing law requiring access to all representatives.“

The UN Headquarters Agreement of 1947 requires the United States to provide unfettered access to UN proceedings for all representatives, regardless of bilateral disputes. Section 11 establishes an „unrestricted right“ for officials to enter the U.S. for UN business, while Section 12 states these provisions apply „irrespective of the relations existing between the Governments“ and the U.S.