Human rights situation in the OPT – CHR 60th session/High-level segment/Statements – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Sixtieth session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 4th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Tuesday, 16 March 2004, at 10 a.m.

Chairperson:   Mr. SMITH  (Australia)

later:  Mr. AL-FAIHANI  (Bahrain)

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

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STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SWEDEN

14. Ms. FREIVALDS (Sweden) …

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28. Sweden was deeply concerned at the ongoing violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly the killing or injuring of a growing number of children on both sides. Children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were subjected to inappropriate conditions of detention and often denied access to health and education, in clear violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

29. It was regrettable that the Syrian Arab Republic had taken no decisive steps towards political liberalization and that censorship, strict restraints on political activities and arrests of political activists were common practices. She urged the authorities to lift the state of emergency.

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STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF YEMEN

72. Ms. ALSOSWA (Yemen) …

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73. The human rights which were enshrined in so many national and international instruments and which were also consonant with the precepts of divine law were unfortunately still being violated in many parts of the world, especially since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. The Palestinian people had been suffering under Israeli oppression for over half a century. The Israeli Government consistently ignored Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, destroying property and quite openly subjecting civilians to all kinds of torture and inhuman treatment. The latest step had been the building of the apartheid wall in the West Bank.

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The meeting rose at 1.05 p.m.