The 58th Session of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights, meeting in Geneva, discussed on April 2, 2002
the Agenda Item Number 8: "Question of the Violation of Human Rights
in the Occupied Arab Territories, including Palestine." During the
session, the following joint NGO Statement was delivered addressing the
situation. This statement, co-signed by the World Alliance of YMCAs, has
not been processed through the Executive Committee of the World Alliance.
Joint NGOs Statement to the Commission
on Human Rights -58th Session
ITEM 8. QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES, INCLUDING PALESTINE.
I speak on behalf of the World Young Women's Christian Association along with other non governmental organizations about the deteriorating human rights situation of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Chairperson, thank you for giving us the floor.
The dramatic escalation of violence against the Palestinian population in the Occupied Territories has resulted in increased suffering and in the loss of the lives of innocent men, women and children. Upholding the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories has caused the escalation of the Israeli military actions and violations of human rights, the past eighteen months. The statistics of deaths and permanent disabilities are horrifying.
The Palestinian civilian population is constantly targeted by the Israeli army. Their homes and official buildings are destroyed. They face severe restrictions to their mobility. Their precious olive orchards are uprooted. They lack access to water because of unjust distribution. They are living with extensive closures, senseless killings, severe torments, arrests, torture and in constant fear and with the uncertainty of what is going to happen today, tonight and tomorrow.
The collective punishment and humiliation of the Palestinian people is not a means to bring about peace and justice. This type of punishment and its abuse of human rights has created a situation of unbearable oppression and loss of hope. The only product has been young people without hope who turn to desperate means to change their situation.
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the pertinent United Nations resolutions, the Palestinians have the right to self determination the same as any other people of the world. The occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territories is the root of the violations. It has to end.
The current armed conflict has drawn large numbers of combatants and weapons into areas populated by civilians and has brought the conflict into the homes, making women and children extremely vulnerable.
The unjust restrictions enforced by the Israeli government on the mobility of Palestinian people are grave human rights violations and endanger the health of many people who cannot access medical health, including pregnant women, sick children, elderly and the handicap. The percentage of women receiving pre-natal care during pregnancy has gone down dramatically since the beginning of the imposed Israeli closure over a year and half ago. Limitations to women's mobility also restricts them from access to markets and other means of procuring food for their families; it restricts their ability to farm, trade and to live a normal life.
The most tragic victims of the suffering are the children who live each day with the fear of losing their parents and other family members and sadly as we have all too often witnessed, their own lives. Today there exists a multitude of abuses to the provisions contained in International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws such as: the right to health care, the right to go to school, the right not to be victims of violence and war or to be abused and detained as prisoners of war and equally as important, the right to childhood. Their situation cries out for the adults in our global village to work together using every means in our power as expeditiously as possible to end these shameful acts.
We ask this Commission to call on those involved in the conflict to uphold the protection of the civilian population enshrined in International Humanitarian Law and the provisions of relevant UN resolutions.
We also draw attention to the urgency of developing and implementing actions under Security Council Resolution 1325.
We call on and urge this Commission to strongly recommend to the Security Council,
- That immediate action be taken to provide international protection for the Palestinian people.
- End the Israeli occupation of all the Palestinian Territories occupied in 1967.
- Creation of a Palestinian State with East-Jerusalem as its capital.
- A just and legal addressing of the Palestinian refugees question.
April 2nd , 2002
SIGNATORIES
World Young Women's Christian Association
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Association
General Federation of Arab Women
World Movement of Mothers
International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations