Human rights situation in the OT – CHR/57th session – Summary record (excerpts)

  COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Fifty-seventh session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 8th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Thursday, 22 March 2001, at 6 p.m.

    Chairperson : Mr. DESPOUY  (Argentina)

      later: Ms. AL-HAJJAJI  (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)

        Vice-Chairperson

        later: Mr. DESPOUY  (Argentina)

CONTENTS

THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO PEOPLES UNDER COLONIAL OR ALIEN DOMINATION OR FOREIGN OCCUPATION (continued)

RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION

The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m.

THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO PEOPLES UNDER COLONIAL OR ALIEN DOMINATION OR FOREIGN OCCUPATION

(agenda item 5) (continued ) (E/CN.4/2001/17, 18 and 19)

/…

3. Ms. LUPING (Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies), speaking also on behalf of the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), said that the ideals of tolerance and an end to discrimination were not shared by Israeli political and military leaders, who believed that enjoyment of the Jewish right to self-determination required the violation of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

4. Contrary to what it claimed, Israel continued to exercise ultimate control over the occupied territories, in defiance of relevant United Nations resolutions. Only certain civil government and policing functions had been transferred to the Palestinian Authority, and only in relation to designated areas A; and the Palestinian Authority was obliged to communicate all legislation to the Israeli Government. The Israeli military retained control over security matters in areas B and C. In addition, Israel continued to issue military orders affecting the territories and military courts continued to administer justice. The areas within the occupied territories were not contiguous and some towns and villages were under siege. Israel controlled Palestinian foreign policy and access to goods and services, including humanitarian aid. Its policies were crippling the Palestinian economy and impeding its right to development.

5. Israel had failed to meet its obligations under international human rights law and humanitarian law, and she called upon the Commission and the international community to take steps to ensure that Israel adhered to the terms of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and ended its denial of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

/…

11. Mr. QADRI (World Muslim League) said that the denial of self-determination undermined all other fundamental human rights and was responsible for the persistent threat of war and conflict. The key to lasting peace and stability in areas such as the Middle East and Kashmir was the freedom to exercise the right to self-determination.

/…

The meeting rose at 9 p.m.