Human rights situation in the OT – CHR – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Fifty-seventh session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 33rd MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Tuesday, 3 April 2001, at 3 p.m.

Chairperson : Mr. DESPOUY (Argentina)

CONTENTS

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ( continued)

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

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (agenda item 10) (continued)

(E/CN.4/2001/8, 10, 49-53, 54 and Add.1 and Corr.1, 55 and Add.1, 56, 57, 62 and Add.1-2, 123 and 148; E/CN.4/2001/NGO/1, 4, 14, 15, 26, 30, 58, 60, 63, 80, 82, 103-106, 108, 109, 125, 131, 148, 154, 166 and 186; E/CN.4/2000/33; E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/13)

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44. Ms. AL TABAL (North South XXI) said that, for the past six months, many Palestinians had been prevented from reaching their places of employment or had lost income; indeed, 50 per cent of the population of the Gaza Strip relied on income generated by work in Israel. Since the start of the intifada, the number of Palestinians working in Israel had been reduced to 20,000. Daily direct losses of income due to lost work were estimated at US$ 2.7 million.

45. In view of the sustained nature of the violation of the human rights of the Palestinians: the Commission should request the Security Council to establish an international protection force; call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take action, and urge the General Assembly to adopt economic sanctions and other measures, such as the suspension of Israel’s membership of the Organization, to oblige Israel to comply with United Nations resolutions. In addition, a human rights monitoring force should be sent to the occupied territories and a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights should be developed.

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The meeting rose at 6.10 p.m.