Rule of law at the national and international levels – GA Sixth Cttee debate – Summary records (excerpts)

Sixth Committee 

Summary record of the 12th meeting 

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Friday, 15 October 2010, at 10 a.m. 

 Chairperson:  Ms. Picco …………………………………………. (Monaco) 

Contents 

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Agenda item 82: Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts 

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The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. 

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Agenda item 82: Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts (A/65/138)  

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68.  Mr. Abdelaziz (Egypt) …

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71.  His country regretted and condemned the serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law perpetrated during the Israeli military operations against the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of facilities of the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The international community should ensure that such grave breaches did not recur, and should demand that Israel abide by its obligations under international law and international humanitarian law. Reprisals against protected persons were prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention. 

72.  In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 64/10 and 64/254, the international community had a responsibility to follow up the recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. In particular, it had been recommended that the Government of Switzerland, in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, should reconvene as soon as possible a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure its respect. As depositary of the four Geneva Conventions, the Government of Switzerland should follow up their applicability and ensure their implementation. All States in a position to do so should provide financial, technical and humanitarian assistance for mine clearance and social and economic rehabilitation of victims, in addition to ensuring that affected countries had full access to equipment, technology and funding for mine clearance. 

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77.  Mr. Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) …

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79.  His delegation expressed its concern at the grave violations perpetrated by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including East Jerusalem, the Syrian Golan Heights and the Lebanese territories that remained under its control. Those actions included mass killings; arbitrary imprisonment; an inhuman blockade targeted at civilians; the illegal appropriation of land, property and natural resources; the irresponsible destruction of civilian infrastructure, including that of the Palestinian Authority; and the illegal construction of the Separation Wall deep inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory. By its actions, Israel had flouted the relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as its obligations under the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

80.  His country insisted that the United Nations and, in particular, the five permanent members of the Security Council, must conduct effective investigations and prevent Israel from perpetrating further such violations. There was a need to revitalize the role of the United Nations and regional organizations in monitoring compliance with the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. 

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The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.