Human rights situation in the OPT – Draft report of ECOSOC on CHR 60th session

REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
ON THE SIXTIETH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

Draft report of the Commission

Rapporteur: Mr. Mike OMOTOSHO (Nigeria)

CONTENTS*

 VIII.   Question of the Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Arab Territories, including Palestine    

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* Documents E/CN.4/2004/L.10 and addenda will contain the chapters of the report relating to the organization of the session and the various items on the agenda. Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission, as well as draft resolutions and decisions for action by, and other matters of concern to, the Economic and Social Council, will be contained in documents E/CN.4/2004/L.11 and addenda.

GE.04-13396 (E) 190404

VIII. Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine

1.   The Commission considered agenda item 8 at its 12th meeting, on 19 March, at its 19th and 20th meetings, on 24 March, and on its 49th meeting, on 15 April 2004.

2.   For the documents issued under agenda item 8, see annex VI to the present report. For a list of all resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission and Chairperson’s statements, by agenda item, see annex V.

3.   At the 12th meeting, on 19 March 2004, Mr. John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, introduced his report (E/CN.4/2004/6 and Add.1).

4.   In the general debate on item 8, statements were made by members of the Commission, observers and representatives of non-governmental organizations. For a detailed list of speakers, see annex III to the present report.

Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan

5.   At its 49th meeting, on 15 April 2004, the representative of Saudi Arabia introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2004/L.12, sponsored by Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Bangladesh, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Togo and Viet Nam subsequently joined the sponsors.

6.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the observers for Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic.

7.   Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Ireland (on behalf of the States members of the European Union that are members of the Commission – Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the acceding country that is a member of the Commission – Hungary – aligned itself with the statement) and the United States of America.

8.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted by 31 votes to 1, with 21 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Against:   United States of America.

Abstaining:   Australia, Austria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

9.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2004/8.

Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories

10.   At the same meeting, the observer for Ireland (on behalf of the European Union) introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2004/L.19, sponsored by Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand and Turkey subsequently joined the sponsors.

11.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the observers for Israel and Palestine.

12.  Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Australia, China, Costa Rica, Pakistan and the United States of America.

13.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted by 27 votes to 2, with 24 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bhutan, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Against:   Congo, United States of America.

Abstaining:   Australia, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Honduras, Indonesia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

14.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2004/9.

Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine

15.  At the same meeting, the representative of Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) introduced draft resolution E/CN.4/2004/L.6, sponsored by Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Zimbabwe. China, Malaysia and the Syrian Arab Republic subsequently joined the sponsors.

16.   The representative of Pakistan orally revised the eighth preambular paragraph.

17.   Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the observers for Israel and Palestine.

18.  Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Ireland (on behalf of the States members of the European Union that are members of the Commission – Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the acceding country that is a member of the Commission – Hungary – aligned itself with the statement) and the United States of America.

19.   At the request of the representative of the United States of America, a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, as orally revised, which was adopted by 31 votes to 7 with 15 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:   Armenia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Zimbabwe.

Against:   Australia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

Abstaining:   Argentina, Austria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Sweden.

20.   For the text of the resolution as adopted, see chapter II, section A, resolution 2004/10.

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