HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PALESTINE
AND OTHER OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES
Written statement* submitted by the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV),
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.
[28 August 2009]
The subject of Palestine and the fundamental human rights of Palestinians is a long subject full of ups and downs. For years now the Palestinians and Israelis have been confronted with challenges in the way of the realisation of the rights of Palestinians. And the lengthiness of this process and changes in the human and environment factor over the period of time, have constantly affected the process of these changes.
Over the last six months, several geographic developments have taken place in Palestine, some of which can be helpful in the just and fair peace talks process for Palestine, and some other developments have sadly been placed as obstacles against this process. The following is a confirmation of the aforementioned claims:
- The re-election of Mahmoud Abbas as the leader of Fath
- 11% economic growth in the West Bank and reduction in Israeli imposed restrictions in the region.
- Agreement to continue talks between two Palestinian sides following the month of Ramadan.
- Arrest of Al-Qaeda associated elements in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas authority.
- International community’s pressures – EU and the United States in particular – on Israel to continue the peace talks.
- Halt in the expansion of the settlements in the existing settlements and halt in the construction of new settlements in the occupied territories.
- Wish for continued talks between Hamas and Israel for the fate of the captured Israeli soldier.
- Continuation of imposed Israeli restriction against the Gaza Strip regarding food, medicine and people’s general needs.
- Delay in the talks process due to the existence of political differences between the Palestinian factions.
- The revelation of documents regarding the trafficking of organs of Palestinian martyrs by the Israeli military.
- The disclosure of documents regarding the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in the 33 day Gaza War.
As a non-governmental organization active in the field of human rights, the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, reaching a conclusion to the abovementioned points, hopes and calls for an increase in the positive points and decrease in the negative points, and hopes for a future for a free, independent, and peace-seeking sovereign state of Palestine, in peaceful coexistence in the region.
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Document Type: Statement
Document Sources: Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), General Assembly, Human Rights Council, Organization for Defending Victims of Violence
Subject: Economic issues, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Peace process, Settlements
Publication Date: 28/08/2009