“To stand with Palestine is to stand with Humanity” – HRC first special session – NGO joint statement (ISMUN, WILPF, LIDLIP, World YMCA, World YWCA, Tebtebba Foundation, Union of Arab Jurists)

Joint written statement* submitted by the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status; and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples (LIDLIP), World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (YMCA) ,World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA) , Tebtebba Foundation (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education) and the Union of Arab Jurists, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status

  The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[4 July 2006]

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* The present document contains the statement that was to have been delivered orally by the organization(s) concerned at the first special session. It is issued, unedited and in the original language(s), as received. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the author(s).

To stand with Palestine is to stand with Humanity.

We are meeting at a time when the entire fabric of international law, human rights and humanitarian standards are challenged by a state determined to punish an occupied people into total submission.

This first special session of the Human Rights Council represent a defining moment for the future credibility of the United Nations human rights system which has a responsibility to act when human rights are violated systematically and on a massive scale. We welcome and appreciate the resolve of members of the Council in convening this first special session in response to the barbarous warfare of Israel.

We believe that now is the time for the world to come to the assistance of the people of Palestine and take every measure to force Israel to stop its cruel collective punishment of the people of Palestine, end the occupation and implement all the agreements for the peaceful resolution of the conflict it has refused to honour.

The comfort offered to Israel in the United Nations and the international community over the past years has produced no other result than continued defiance of international law and the resolutions of the United Nations. And indeed sanctions measures against a democratically elected Palestinian government affecting the livelihood of all Palestinians under occupation have further aggravated the crisis and intensified the feeling of despair among Palestinians.

The fact that the present Israeli assault is out of every proportion indicates that it has been carefully planned as part of a campaign to destroy Palestinian infrastructure and statehood and prevent the long term achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

Member States from all continents have correctly observed that grave violations of the Geneva conventions are committed by Israel in its all out offensive against people and infrastructure, violations that no doubt has reached the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In such a situation the United Nations and every member state have a duty to act in defence of humanitarian law.

We call on all the members of the Human Rights Council to act by consensus and unanimously approve the draft resolution on “Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. For to stand with Palestine is to stand with Humanity.

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