Situation of the Palestinian people and other Arab territories – HRC 16th session – NGO statement (Federation of Cuban Women)

Written statement*submitted by the Federation of Cuban Women, a non-governmental organization 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.

 [10 February 2011]

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*This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non-governmental organization(s).

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The situation of the Palestinian people and other occupied Arab territories

The Federation of Cuban Women, NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC since 1997, Special Category with over 4 million members; wants to pronounce itself on the situation of the Palestinian people and other occupied Arab territories.

The FMC, that supports the Goldstone Report, welcomes the report done by the Special Rapporteur Richard Falk, on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

The introduction of this document illustrates the continued refusal of the Israeli government to allow the Rapporteur's visit to the occupied Palestinian territories in flagrant violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

As it is shown in the report, the Gaza Strip remains blockaded and occupied. This exacerbates the hardship of its inhabitants, mostly of their children, women, elderly and the sick ones. Israel continues building homes in the occupied territories; shooting, arresting, interrogating and prosecuting innocent children; displacing Palestinians from their communities as well as violating the human rights of its people.

The FMC agrees on considering Israeli behaviour, as a form of colonialism and apartheid. We condemn the criminal terrorist attack carried out by the special forces of the army of the state of Israel last 31 May in international waters, against the humanitarian Flotilla that was taking medicines and basic items for the survival of the suffering population of the Gaza Strip. We also condemn the daily abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, which are exemplified in this report.

Once more, the Federation of Cuban Women reaffirms the permanent responsibility of the United Nations regarding the question of Palestine until it is integrally solved according to the international law and in total compliance with the UN Charter.

We ratify our commitment of fighting together with all the progressive women of the world, against war, in favour of peace, justice and freedom and to continue supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination and sovereignty in an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.