Religious and cultural rights in the OPT – HRC seventh session – UNHCHR note

HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND OTHER OCCUPIED

ARAB TERRITORIES

Human Rights Council resolution 6/19 on religious and cultural rights

in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

Note of the High Commissioner for Human Rights*

1. The present note is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/19 of 28 September 2007 on religious and cultural rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Council, at its seventh session, on the implementation of that resolution.

2. The issue of access of Palestinians to their holy sites is dealt with, albeit to a limited extent, in the report that the High Commissioner recently submitted to the Council pursuant to its resolution S-6/1. The High Commissioner intends, however, to report in greater detail on any policies or measures taken by Israel which limit access of Palestinian residents in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (both Christians and Muslims) to their religious sites located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

3. From 20 to 27 January 2008, Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Following her visit, the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine and the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations Office at Geneva were requested to share any comments or observations in relation to resolution 6/19 with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In order to benefit from the visit of the Special Rapporteur and her conclusions as well as from the information on the issue that might be provided by the respective permanent missions, and in the light of the report before the seventh session following resolution S-6/1, the report of the High Commissioner pursuant to resolution 6/19 will be submitted to the Council at its eighth session.

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*  Late submission.

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