Human rights situation in Palestine and other OATs/Sp. Rapporteur mandate – HRC seventh session – NGO statement (Nord-Sud XXI)

HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND OTHER OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES

Written statement* submitted by the Nord-Sud XXI, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[20 February 2008]

Nord Sud XXI wishes to express its appreciation to Professor John Dugard for the competence and courage that he has displayed in fulfilling his mandate as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

Fulfillment this mandate has required an extraordinary degree of persistence and commitment given the obstacles that were often placed in the path of the mandate holder. Despite these obstacles, Professor Dugard remained determined to report on the ongoing violations of Palestinians’ human rights throughout the term of his mandate.

Sometimes this determination even required him to put himself into danger, indeed no one in Palestine today can be assured of their physical security given the going attacks against the Palestinian people that are continuing even as the Human Rights Council meets for its 7th Session and as the United Nations family of states and civil society prepare to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an instrument whose promises still remain unanswered for the Palestinian people.

We hope that Professor Dugard’s determination to fulfill his mandate with expertise, honesty, and commitment, will set the standard for future mandate holders and we express our most sincere gratitude to him for this part of his life-long work to protect human rights.

________________

*   This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non-governmental organization(s).

– – – – –