Request of Palestine for admission as a member of World Health Organization – WHO 42nd World Health Assembly – Resolution

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Resolution WHA 42.1, 12 May 1989

REQUEST OF PALESTINE FOR ADMISSION AS A MEMBER

OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The Forty-second World Health Organization,

Mindful of the basic principle established in the WHO Constitution, which affirms that the health of all people is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest cooperation of individuals and States;

Noting that, according to Article 3 of the WHO Constitution, membership of the Organization shall be open to all States;

Acknowledging the information provided by the Director-General in his note verbale of 14 April 1989 transmitting the letter in which the desire of Palestine to become a Member of the World Health Organization was formally expressed and the intention to further the humanitarian work of the World Health Organization as a means of achieving peace in the Middle East;

Noting United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/43/177;

Noting the political declaration of the Palestine National Council at its nineteenth extraordinary session, held in Algiers from 12 to 15 November 1988;

Aware that the Conference of the African Ministers of Health of the Organization of African Unity, at its third ordinary session, held in Kampala, Uganda, from 3 to 5 may 1989, adopted resolution CAMH/EXP/Res.8(III) which, inter alia, calls on WHO to ensure that the rights to good health of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories are strictly respected;

Emphasizing the importance of the continuing quest for peace in the Middle East;

Taking into consideration the relevant articles of the WHO Constitution;

Recognizing in this context that the legal and other issues related to the application of Palestine for membership of the World Health Organization require further detailed study;

1. EXPRESSES the hope that the Palestinian people will be fully represented within the World Health Organization by their legitimate representatives;

2. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to pursue his studies on the application of Palestine contained in the note verbale of 14 April 1989 and its implications for the work of WHO, in consultation with all appropriate organizations and bodies;

(2) to report on the outcome of his studies to the Forty-third  World Health Assembly for its decision;

(3) to undertake immediately, in cooperation with all Members of WHO, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and with others concerned, further assistance to improve the health conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories;

(4) to enter into discussion with all parties concerned with a view to ensuring extensive assistance in the field of health from WHO to the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.

Tenth plenary meeting, 12 May 1989