Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination – Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee 

Summary record of the 42nd meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Friday, 16 November 2001, at 10 a.m.

Chairman:   Mr. Al-Hinii  …………………………………………………………….. (Oman)

Contents

Agenda item 118: Right of peoples to self-determination (continued)

Agenda item 119: Human rights questions (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)

(d)   Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (continued)

(e)   Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (continued)

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The meeting was called to order at 10.25 a.m.

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Agenda item 119: Human rights questions (continued)

 (b)   Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (continued ) (A/56/168, A/56/190, A/56/204, A/56/207 and Add.1, A/56/209, A/56/212, A/56/230, A/56/253, A/56/254 and Add.1, A/56/255, A/56/256, A/56/258, A/56/263, A/56/271, A/56/292 and Add.1, A/56/310, A/56/334, A/56/341, A/56/344 and A/56/608)

 (c)   Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives (continued ) (A/56/210, A/56/217, A/56/220, A/56/278, A/56/281, A/56/312, A/56/327, A/56/336, A/56/337, A/56/340, A/56/409 and Add.1, A/56/440, A/56/460, A/56/479 and A/56/505; A/C.3/56/4 and A/C.3/56/7)

 (d)   Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (continued) (A/56/36 and Add.1 and A/56/524)

 (e)   Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ( continued) (A/56/36 and Add.1)

4.  Mr. Cherif (Tunisia), …

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5.   His delegation, concerned by the serious human rights violations in situations of conflict, which particularly affected vulnerable groups — women, children and older persons — urged parties to conflicts to respect human rights and resolve their differences peacefully. The situation in the Palestinian territories was unacceptable, and he called on the international community to denounce the abuses committed by Israel, which had been debated at some length in the Fourth Committee, on special political questions and decolonization.

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44.  Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) …

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51.   His Government was satisfied with the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of the violation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967 (A/56/440); the report described the policies of the occupying Power and its practices, which were contrary to the principles set out in international human rights instruments, in particular with regard to civil, political, economic and social rights. He paid tribute to the courage of the Special Rapporteur, who had emphasized the selective and unjust manner in which the international community treated those violations.

52.   With regard to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/56/36), his delegation regretted the position adopted by some countries concerning human rights violations in the occupied Arab territories, in particular Palestine. There could be no justification for tolerance towards Israel, which was continuing to kill Palestinians and violate their rights while hiding behind hypocritical pretexts.

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The meeting rose at 1.10 p.m. 

This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned within one week of the date of publication to the Chief of the Official Records Editing Section, room DC2-750, 2 United Nations Plaza, and incorporated in a copy of the record.

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