Human rights situation, religious and cultural rights in the OPT – HRC sixth session – Draft report (excerpts)

ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS

Vice-President and Rapporteur: Mr. Alejandro Artucio (Uruguay)

Draft report of the Council* 

[ Note: The present document contains the chapters of the report relating to the organization of the session and the items on the agenda up to the conclusion of the first part of the sixth session at its 22nd meeting, on Friday, 28 September 2007. The Council is scheduled to resume its sixth session from 10 to 14 December 2007.

The present draft report, together with the draft report on the second part of the sixth session, will be submitted to the Council for adoption at the conclusion of the sixth session. ]

*  Resolutions, decisions and President’s statements adopted by the Council during the first part of the sixth session are contained in document A/HRC/6/L.11.

PART TWO: SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

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VII. HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PALESTINE AND OTHER OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES

180. At the 9th meeting, on 20 September 2007, the President of the Human Rights Council and the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, on behalf of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported “on their efforts for the implementation of Council resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1 and on the compliance of Israel, the occupying Power, with these two resolutions” as requested by Council resolution OM/1/2 entitled “Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1” of 20 June 2007. The observers for Israel, Palestine and Syrian Arab Republic made statements, as concerned countries, or parties.

181. During the ensuing general debate on the implementation of Council resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1 and on item 7, at the same meeting, the following made statements:

(a) Representatives of States members of the Council: Bangladesh, Canada, China, Cuba (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), Egypt (also on behalf of the Group of African States), France, Iraq  Observer State of the Council speaking on behalf of States members and observer States. (on behalf of the Group of Arab States), Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), Portugal  See footnote 2 above (para. 33). (on behalf of the European Union, candidate countries – Croatia and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; countries of the stabilization and association process and potential candidates -Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia;  a country of the European Free Trade Association and member of the European Economic Area – Liechtenstein; as well as Moldova and Ukraine), Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa and Switzerland;

(b) Observers for the following States: Algeria, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Yemen;

(c) Observer for an intergovernmental organization: League of Arab States;

(d) Observers for the following non-governmental organizations: Amnesty International, B’nai B’rith International (also on behalf of Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations), Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights (also on behalf of International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples and Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l’Amitié entre les Peuples), European Centre for Law and Justice, Human Rights Watch, Indian Movement Tupaj Amaru (also on behalf of World Peace Council), International Commission of Jurists, Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, Union of Arab Jurists, United Nations Watch and World Union for Progressive Judaism.

182. At the 10th meeting, on the same day, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the observers for Israel and Palestine.

183. At the same meeting, the Secretariat responded to a question raised by a delegation.

B.  Consideration and action on draft proposals

Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1

184. At the 21st meeting, on 28 September 2007, the representative of Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Group of Arab States) introduced draft resolution A/HRC/6/L.2, sponsored by Iraq (on behalf of the Group of Arab States) and Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference). Belarus, Cuba, South Africa and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) subsequently joined the sponsors.

185. In accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the attention of the Council was drawn to the estimated administrative and programme budget implications  See annex II. of the draft resolution.

186. Statements in connection with the draft resolution were made by the representatives of Egypt and Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council).

187. A statement in connection with the draft resolution was made by the observer for Palestine, as a concerned party.

188. A statement in explanation of vote after the vote was made by the representative of Canada.

189. The draft resolution was adopted without a vote. For the text as adopted, see part one, chapter I, resolution 6/18.

Religious and cultural rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

190. At the 21st meeting, on 28 September 2007, the representative of Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Group of Arab States) introduced draft resolution A/HRC/6/L.4 (superseding A/HRC/4/L.3 deferred from the fourth session of the Council), sponsored by Iraq (on behalf of the Group of Arab States), Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). Belarus, Cuba and South Africa subsequently joined the sponsors.

191. A statement in connection with the draft resolution was made by the representative of Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council).

192. A statement in connection with the draft resolution was made by the observer for Palestine, as a concerned party.

193. At the request of the representatives of Slovenia (on behalf of States members of the European Union that are members of the Council), a recorded vote was taken on the draft resolution, which was adopted, by 31 votes to 1, with 15 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Zambia.

Against:  Canada.

Abstaining:  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

194. Statements in explanation of vote after the vote were made by the representatives of Canada and Mexico.

195. For the text of the draft resolution as adopted, see part one, chapter I, resolution 6/19.

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