Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women – ECOSOC vote – Provisional summary record (excerpts)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Substantive session of 2006

General segment

PROVISIONAL SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 38th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Tuesday, 25 July 2006, at 3 p.m.

President:  Mr. MÉRORÈS (Haiti)

(Vice-President)

CONTENTS

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(a) ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN

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In the absence of Mr. Hachani (Tunisia), Mr. Mérorès (Haiti),

Vice-President, took the Chair

The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m.

/…

SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONS (continued)

(a) ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN (E/2006/27[Link] and Corr.1, E/2006/65, E/2006/80 and E/2006/CRP.4)

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Draft resolution II: Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women

Mr. MILLER (United States of America) called for a vote to be taken on the draft resolution.

The vote was taken by roll-call.

Albania, having been drawn by lot by the President, was called upon to vote first.

In favour: Albania, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Against: Australia, United States of America.

Abstention: Haiti.

The draft resolution was adopted by 38 votes to 2, with 1 abstention.

Mr. MILLER (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote, said his country was highly concerned about the situation of Palestinian women and provided millions of dollars a year to help them. Unfortunately, the resolution just adopted presented a very inaccurate assessment, both of the causes of the plight of Palestinian women and of potential actions to improve their situation. It was for that reason that his delegation had voted against it.

Mr. O’BRIEN (Australia) said his country remained concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, including that of women. Total aid flows from Australia to the Palestinian territories and Palestinian refugees in surrounding countries had been around US$ 16 million in 2005 and 2006. Australia had voted against the draft resolution on the grounds that it was unbalanced and politicized humanitarian concerns in an unhelpful manner.

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The meeting rose at 4.25 p.m.