Resolution on Human rights in the OPT – Int’l Conference on Human Rights (Tehran) – Letter from Jordan

LETTER DATED 10 MAY 1968 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JORDAN

ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the resolution adopted, by the International Conference on Human Rights at its 25rd meeting on 7 May 1968, in Teheran, on "Respect for and Implementation of Human Rights in Occupied Territories."*

The above resolution expresses, inter alia, grave concern for the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, calls on Israel to desist forthwith from acts of destroying homes of Arab civilian population, and "affirms the inalienable rights of all inhabitants who have left their homes as a result of the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East to return, resume normal life, recover their property and homes and rejoin their families according to the provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

This resolution is of special importance in view of the continuous Israeli violations of human rights in the Arab territories and the United Nations resolutions and, due to the fact that it was adopted in 1968, the International Year for Human Rights.

I have the honour to request that this letter and its enclosure be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.

Please accept, etc.

IV.  Resolution on "Respect for and Implementation of Human Rights

in Occupied Territories" adopted, "by the International Conference

on Human Rights at its 25rd meeting on 7 May 1968

The International Conference on Human Rights.

Being guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Having heard the statements made in the Conference with regard to the question of "respect for and implementation of human rights in occupied territories", and noting the note submitted by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (A/CONF.52/22),

Bearing in mind the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 regarding the protection of civilian persons in time of war,

Recalling Security Council resolution 257 (1967) and General Assembly resolution 2252 (ES-V) in which the Council and the Assembly considered that essential and inalienable rights should be respected even during the vicissitudes of war and called upon the Government of Israel to facilitate the return of those inhabitants who have fled the areas of military operations since the outbreak of hostilities,

Recalling further articles 2, 18 and 50 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and resolutions 2255 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967 and 2254 (ES-V) of 14 July 1967 adopted by the General Assembly, calling upon Israel to rescind all measures already taken and to desist forthwith from taking any action which would alter the status of Jerusalem and deploring the failure of Israel to implement that resolution,

Mindful of the principle embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights regarding the right of everyone to return to his own country,

Further recalling:

(a)  Resolution 6 (XXIV) of the Commission on Human Rights affirming the rights of the inhabitants who have left since the outbreak of hostilities in the' Middle East to return, and that the Government concerned should take the necessary measures in order to facilitate the return of those inhabitants to their own country without delay,

(b)  The telegram dispatched, by the Commission on Human Rights on 9 March 1968, calling upon the Government of Israel to desist forthwith from acts of destroying homes of Arab civilian population inhabiting areas occupied by Israel,

1.   Expresses its grave concern for the violation of human rights in Arab territories occupied as a result of the June 1967 hostilities;

2.   Draws the attention of the Government of Israel to the grave consequences resulting from disregard of fundamental freedoms and human rights in occupied territories;

3.   Calls on the Government of Israel to desist forthwith from acts of destroying homes of Arab civilian population inhabiting areas occupied by Israel, and to respect and implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 in occupied territories;

4.   Affirms the inalienable rights of all inhabitants who have left their homes as a result of the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East to return, resume normal life, recover their property and homes, and rejoin their families according to the provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

5.   Requests the General Assembly to appoint a special committee to investigate violations of human rights in the territories occupied by Israel and to report thereon;

6.   Requests the Commission on Human Rights to keep the matter under constant review.

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*  The text of the resolution has been circulated in document A/7098.