6 for 6:30pm, Wed 23 June
Ross Lecture Theatre, Physics building, UWA
Diana Buttu is one of the most eloquent and effective spokespersons for the Palestinian cause, representing a voice of reason, the empowerment of Palestinian women, and the essential value of justice in finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ms Buttu is known for her contribution to the litigation team at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which resulted in their 2004 landmark opinion against Israel’s wall, which cuts through Palestinian territory in the West Bank, dividing people from their families, schools, hospitals and places of employment.
In 2000, shortly after the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada (“uprising”), Ms Buttu joined the PLO Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) to work as a negotiator on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Ms Buttu has laboured extensively to influence the depiction of Palestine and Israel in the media.
In 2005, Ms Buttu left the NSU and moved to the President’s office, after which she taught at Bir Zeit University from 2006-2007. Ms Buttu’s work for justice for Palestinians continues through collaboration with the Institute for Middle East Understanding in the USA. Buttu believes that someday freedom and equal rights will come to the Palestinians.
Ms Diana Buttu’s visit to Australia is organized by the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) and supported by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), Australian Education Union (AEU), and Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU – NSW Branch).
