Human rights situation in the OPT/Syrian Golan – Draft report of ECOSOC on CHR 61st session

REPORT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ON THE

SIXTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

Draft report of the Commission 

Rapporteur: Ms. Deirdre KENT (Canada)

CONTENTS* 

VIII.   Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine    

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* Documents E/CN.4/2005/L.10 and addenda will contain the chapters of the report relating to the organization of the session and the various items on the agenda. Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission, as well as draft resolutions and decisions for action by, and other matters of concern to, the Economic and Social Council, will be contained in documents E/CN.4/2005/L.11 and addenda.

VIII.   QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

IN THE OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES, INCLUDING PALESTINE

1.   The Commission considered agenda item 8 at its 17th meeting on 22 March 2005, at its 18th and 19th meetings on 23 March and at its 49th meeting on 14 April. ¹ 

2.   For the documents issued under agenda item 8, see annex VI to the present report. For a list of all resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission and Chairperson’s statements, by agenda item, see annex V.

3.   At the 17th meeting, on 22 March 2005, Mr. John Dugard, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, introduced his report (E/CN.4/2005/29 and Add.1). During the ensuing interactive dialogue, the observers for Israel and Palestine, as concerned countries, made statements on the report. The observer for Luxembourg also addressed questions to the Special Rapporteur, to which he responded.

4.   In the general debate on item 8, statements were made by members of the Commission, observers and representatives of non-governmental organizations. For a detailed list of speakers, see annex III to the present report.

Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

and the occupied Syrian Golan

5.   At the 49th meeting, on 14 April 2005, the observer for the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (on behalf of the Arab Group) introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2005/L.2/Rev.1, sponsored by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (on behalf of the Arab Group) and Malaysia. Austria, Belgium, Cuba, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey subsequently joined the sponsors.

6.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the representative of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group) as well as the observers for Israel, Palestine and the Syrian Arab Republic.

7.   Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Canada, Honduras and the United States of America.

8.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted by 39 votes to 2, with 12 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Argentina, Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Ukraine, Zimbabwe.

Against:  A ustralia, United States of America.

Abstaining:   Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

9.   Statements in explanation of vote after the vote were made by the representatives of Argentina and Italy (also on behalf of Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

10.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2005/6.

Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

11.   At the same meeting, the representative of Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2005/L.4, sponsored by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (on behalf of the Arab Group) and Indonesia. China, Cuba, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), Venezuela and Zimbabwe subsequently joined the sponsors.

12.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the representative of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group) as well as the observers for Israel and Palestine.

13.   Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Netherlands (on behalf of the States members of the European Union that are members of the Commission – Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as Romania which aligned itself with the statement) and the United States of America.

14.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted by 29 votes to 10, with 14 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Zimbabwe.

Against:   Australia, Canada, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America .

Abstaining:   Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation, Ukraine.

15.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2005/7.

Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan

16.   Also at the same meeting, the observer for the Syrian Arab Republic (on behalf of the Arab Group) introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2005/L.15, sponsored by Bangladesh, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Guinea, Indonesia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (on behalf of the Arab Group), Malaysia, Pakistan, Togo and Zimbabwe. Brunei Darussalam and Cuba subsequently joined the sponsors. 

17.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the representative of Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group) as well as the observers for Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic.

18.   Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Canada, the Netherlands (on behalf of the States members of the European Union that are members of the Commission – Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as Romania which aligned itself with the statement) and the United States of America.

19.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted by 32 votes to 2, with 19 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Argentina, Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Zimbabwe.

Against:   Australia, United States of America.

Abstaining:   Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

20.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2005/8.

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