Palestinian women – CSW 42nd report (Excerpts) – resolutions

Commission on the Status of Women

Report on the forty-second session

(2-13 March 1998)

Economic and Social Council

Official Records, 1998

Supplement No. 7

CONTENTS

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DRAFT RESOLUTION II

  Palestinian women

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation of Palestinian women and assistance provided by organizations of the United Nations system,

Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 260 concerning Palestinian women and children, and the Beijing Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, Recalling also its resolution 1997/16 of 21 July 1997 and other relevant United Nations resolutions,

Recalling further the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women as it concerns the protection of civilian populations,

Concerned about the stalemate facing the Middle East peace process, including the lack of implementation of the agreements reached in Washington D.C. between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel, and the deterioration of the socio-economic conditions of the Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli positions and measures,

Concerned also about the continuing difficult situation of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and about the severe consequences of continuous illegal Israeli settlements activities, as well as the harsh economic conditions and other consequences for the situation of Palestinian women and their families, resulting from the frequent closures and isolation of the occupied territory,

1. Stresses its support for the Middle East peace process and the need for speedy and full implementation of the agreements already reached between the parties;

2. Reaffirms that the Israeli occupation remains a major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance and integration in the development planning of their society;

3. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 16/ the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907 17/ and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,18/ in order to protect the rights of Palestinian women and their families;

4. Calls upon Israel to facilitate the return of all refugees and displaced Palestinian women and children to their homes and properties in the occupied Palestinian territory, in compliance with relevant United Nations resolutions;

5. Urges Member States, financial organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and other relevant institutions to intensify their efforts to provide financial and technical assistance to Palestinian women for the creation of projects responding to their needs, especially during the transitional period;

6. Requests the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to monitor and take action with regard to the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 260 concerning Palestinian women and children, and the Beijing Platform for Action;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to review the situation and to assist Palestinian women by all available means, and to submit to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-third session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.

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NOTES

16/ General Assembly resolution 217 (III).

17/ See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915).

18/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

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FOLLOW-UP TO THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN

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22. The observer for Palestine also made a statement.

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Palestinian women

60. At the 12th meeting, on 12 March, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China, introduced and orally corrected a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1998/L.9) entitled "Palestinian women".

61. At the 13th meeting, on 13 March, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as corrected, by a recorded vote of 34 to 1, with 5 abstentions (see chap. I, sect. B, draft resolution II).  The voting was as follows: The delegation of Peru subsequently indicated that, had it been present during the voting, it would have voted in favour of the draft resolution.

In favour: Angola, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Against: United States of America.

Abstaining: Lebanon, Lesotho, Norway, Rwanda, Uganda.

62. Before the draft resolution was adopted, statements were made by the representative of the United States of America and the observer for Israel; after it was adopted, statements were made by the representatives of Lebanon, Norway and the Russian Federation and the observer for the Syrian Arab Republic.  The observer for Palestine also made a statement.

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B. Human rights of women:  Moderator's summary

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22. … Concern was expressed about the situation of women and children in Algeria and Palestine and for Palestinian women, who remained refugees and were unable to return to their homeland.  …

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