Human rights situation in southern Lebanon/west Bekaa – CHR resolution

Human rights situation in southern Lebanon and west Bakaa

Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/16

The Commission on Human Rights,

Gravely concerned at the persistent practices of the Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, which constitute a violation of the principles of international law regarding the protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as a grave violation of the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law as contained in the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and the Fourth Hague Convention of 1907,

Reiterating its deep regret at the failure of Israel to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978,

Reminding all parties concerned to abide by the April 1996 understanding,

Censuring the Israeli attacks, in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, which cause death and injuries among civilians, displace families and destroy dwellings and properties,

Reaffirming that the continued occupation and practices of the Israeli forces constitute a violation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the conventions in force on this matter,

Hoping that the efforts made in order to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and to achieve peace in the Middle East will put an end to the violations of human rights that are being committed in the zone in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa occupied by Israel and that the peace negotiations will be resumed and conducted with a view to reaching a settlement of the Middle East conflict and achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region,

Gravely concerned at the persistent detention, ill-treatment and torture by Israel of many Lebanese civilians, among whom are minors, women and the elderly, in the detention centre of Khiyam, and at the death in previous years of some detainees,

Expressing its indignation at the ruling handed down on 4 March 1998 by the Israeli Supreme Court permitting the Israeli authorities to retain Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons without trial and to hold them as hostages and for bargaining purposes and to renew their incommunicado detention, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of human rights,

Reaffirming its resolution 1999/12 of 23 April 1999, and expressing its deep regret at the failure of Israel to implement that resolution,

1. Deplores the continued Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied zone in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, demonstrated in particular by the abduction and arbitrary detention of civilians, the destruction of their dwellings, the confiscation of their property, their expulsion from their land, the bombardment of villages and civilian areas, and other practices violating human rights;

2. Calls upon Israel to put an immediate end to such practices, in air raids and the use of prohibited weapons, and to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 requiring Israel's immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal from all Lebanese territories and respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon;

3. Also calls upon the Government of Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, to comply with the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;

4. Further calls upon the Government of Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, to refrain from holding the abducted Lebanese citizens incarcerated in its prisons as hostages for bargaining purposes, and to release them immediately, as well as other persons arbitrarily detained in prisons and detention centres in the occupied territories in Lebanon in violation of all the Geneva Conventions and other provisions of international law;

5. Affirms the obligation for Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa, to commit itself to allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross and the families of the detainees to intensify their visits, as well as to allowing other international humanitarian organizations to visit the detainees and to verify their sanitary and humanitarian conditions and, in particular, the circumstances which have in previous years led to the death of some of them as a result of ill-treatment and torture;

6. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To bring the present resolution to the attention of the Government of Israel and to invite it to provide information concerning the extent of its implementation thereof;

(b) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session and to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session on the results of his efforts in this regard;

7. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa at its fifty-seventh session.

55th meeting

18 April 2000

[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 51 votes to 1,

with 1 abstention. ]