COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Fifty-second session
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 44th MEETING
Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,
on Tuesday, 16 April 1996, at 6 p.m.
Chairman: Mr. LEGAULT (Canada)
(Vice-Chairman)
CONTENTS
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QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND OTHER DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, …
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In the absence of Mr. Vergne Saboia (Brazil), Mr. Legault (Canada),
Vice-Chairman, took the Chair.
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m.
QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND OTHER DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, …
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17. Mr. EL KHAZEN (Observer for Lebanon) said that the human rights situation in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa was deteriorating day by day under Israeli occupation and aggression. Israel persisted in refusing to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which called for its immediate withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, and was violating the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 by using heavy artillery, aircraft, helicopters and fragmentation bombs to bombard towns and villages inhabited by unarmed civilians. It was currently engaged in a major offensive against over 50 towns and villages in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa and the suburbs of Beirut. In addition to the numerous civilian casualties, mostly women and children, incalculable material damage had been inflicted and over half a million people had fled to Beirut. The so-called terrorist operations that had served as a pretext for the bombardment had been legitimate attacks by the Lebanese resistance movement on Israeli military targets and would continue until the occupying forces withdrew.
18. The Israeli army and its proxy militia also persistently violated the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War through their treatment of the 200 prisoners held since 1985 in the Marjayoun and Khiam detention centres, where conditions were deplorable and irrefutable evidence of torture had been obtained from released detainees. The provisions of the Convention regarding family contacts were also flouted. A number of Lebanese nationals abducted by the Israeli forces during the 1982 invasion were held in Israeli prisons and nothing was known of their circumstances.
19. Lastly, the Israeli naval blockade off the southern Lebanese coast had deprived local fishermen of their livelihood for more than a year.
20. He urged the Commission to put pressure on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law as contained in the Geneva Conventions and Protocols and to respect the International Bill of Human Rights.
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29. Mr. VITTORI (Pax Christi International) noted that very little progress had been made in southern Lebanon during the previous year and lamented the acts of terrorism which had led to the exodus of more than 400,000 persons only days earlier. …
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The meeting rose at 9.05 p.m.
Document Type: Summary record
Document Sources: Commission on Human Rights
Subject: Human rights and international humanitarian law, Situation in Lebanon
Publication Date: 16/04/1996