Human rights/Sp. Rapporteur on freedom of religion report – GA Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee

Summary record of the 21st meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Wednesday, 22 October 2008, at 3 p.m.

 Chairman:   Mr. Majoor ……………………………………………..  (Netherlands)

 later:  Ms. Seanedzu (Vice-Chairman) ………………………….. (Ghana)

 later:  Mr. Majoor  ………………………………………………….. (Netherlands) 

Contents

Item 64: Promotion and protection of human rights (continued)* 

(b)   Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms ( continued)*

(c)   Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives ( continued)*

(e)   Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (continued)*

*   Items which the Committee has decided to consider together.

The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m.

Agenda item 64: Promotion and protection of

human rights (continued ) (A/63/123, A/63/281-S/2008/431 and A/63/370-S/2008/614)

/…  

 (c)   Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (continued) (A/63/322, 326, 332, 341, 356 and 459)

/…

1.  Ms. Jahangir (Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief), introducing her interim report (A/63/161), said that the Human Rights Council had in December 2007 reorganized and improved the terms of reference of her mandate according to four main axes.

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12.   Mr. Prabowo (Indonesia) …

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16.   Ms. Jahangir (Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief) …

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22.   With regard to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, she said that grass-roots action could help build confidence and bring people together. However, peace would ultimately require political will.

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25.   Ms. Rasheed (Observer for Palestine) welcomed references in the report (A/63/161) to violations of the religious rights of Palestinians through such elements as separate roads for settlers, the separation wall and checkpoints. However, the report had not discussed the desecrations of holy sites perpetrated with impunity by illegal Israeli settlers, including in East Jerusalem. She asked how the international community might address such violations, whether committed by Israeli forces or by settlers.

/…

31.   Mr. Bahreyni (Islamic Republic of Iran) … Lastly, he noted that many United Nations documents indicated that the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was cultural genocide. It should be considered as such.

32.   Ms. Jahangir (Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief) said that, in regard to illegal Israeli settlers, impunity should not be granted to those who violated the religious freedoms of others. Moreover, there were few examples of legislative reforms in granting citizenship that could be cited. The countries of the Middle East remained a serious gap in her mandate and she hoped to visit all the countries listed. …  In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, checkpoints had been devastating for those who could not go to worship; the system of barriers was a consistent violation of freedom of religion.

The meeting rose at 5.50 p.m.

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Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each Committee.