Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women – ECOSOC Debate, Vote on Draft Resolution – Summary Record (excerpts)

Summary record of the 27th meeting 

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 2 June 2016, at 10 a.m. 

President:    Mr. Shava (Vice-President) …………………………….. (Zimbabwe) 

Contents 

Agenda item 12: Coordination, programme and other questions

(c)  Mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system

Agenda item 18: Economic and environmental questions (continued) 

(j)  Women and development

Agenda item 92: Social and human rights questions

(a)  Advancement of women 

 In the absence of Mr. Oh Joon (Republic of Korea), Mr. Shava (Zimbabwe), Vice-President, took the Chair.

  The meeting was called to order at 10.15 a.m.

  Agenda item 12: Coordination, programme and other questions

(c) Mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system (E/2016/57 and E/2016/L.17)

Agenda item 18: Economic and environmental questions

(j) Women and development

Agenda item 19: Social and human rights questions

(a) Advancement of women (E/2016/12 and E/2016/27)/…

Draft resolution II: Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women

28. A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Congo, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Against:

Australia, United States of America

Abstaining:

Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

29. Draft resolution II was adopted by 27 votes to 2, with 19 abstentions.

30. Ms. Rasheed (Observer for the State of Palestine) said that Israeli violations and intransigence had dramatically reduced hopes of a just, comprehensive, lasting and peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The occupying Power had violated all the rights of the defenceless Palestinian people, including the rights to life and self-determination. The resolution sent a strong message of solidarity and reaffirmed that Israeli policies towards the Palestinian people and their land were illegal and that the occupying Power must be held accountable. The delegations that had voted in favour had shown themselves to be true supporters of peace by firmly demanding respect for the law and for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. A just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, at the centre of which were the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and freedom in an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, was the only way in which peace, security and coexistence would become a reality for Palestinian and Israeli people.

/…