Women – Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee

Summary record of the 17th meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Tuesday, 10 October 2000, at 3 p.m.

Contents

Agenda item 103: Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family (continued)

Agenda item 104: Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (continued)

Agenda item 105: Crime prevention and criminal justice (continued)

Agenda item 107: Advancement of women (continued)

Agenda item 108: Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 3.15 p.m.

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Agenda item 107: Advancement of women (continued) (A/55/3, A/55/38, A/55/138-S/2000/693, A/55/162-S/2000/715 and A/55/271, 293, 308, 322, 385 and 399; A/C.3/55/3 and 4)

Agenda item 108: Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” (continued) (A/55/74, A/55/162-S/2000/715 and A/55/341; A/C.3/55/4)

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22. Mr. Al-Suwaidi (Bahrain) …

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26. The situation of the Palestinian women living under occupation contrasted sharply with the current interest in involving Arab women effectively in the building of society. If Palestinian women were to make an effective contribution to their society, it was incumbent upon the international community to consider how the Israeli occupation affected the promotion of women.

27. Mr. Shobokshi (Saudi Arabia) …

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30. While much progress had been made, women continued to be the object of discrimination. Palestinian and Syrian women in the occupied Arab territories were suffering greatly as a result of the Israeli occupation of their lands. Such occupation was in contravention of all norms and values and every international convention, including the fourth Geneva Convention. Those women were denied the opportunity to make the progress achieved by women in other societies or to enjoy their rights and a life of dignity. He therefore urged the occupying Power to honour its obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention. He agreed with previous speakers who had stated that the international community must shoulder its responsibilities and find a just and comprehensive solution to the problems of the region, based on the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and the principle of land for peace.

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97. Mr. Al-Mohanndi (Qatar) …

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99. In any discussion of the promotion of women, the women in the occupied Arab territories, both in Palestine and the occupied Syrian Golan, must be mentioned. The fact that they and their economic resources were subject to Israeli control made it imperative that the international community should assume its responsibilities, end that abominable occupation and alleviate the suffering endured by the Palestinian refugees. Qatar had itself pledged $800,000 to the proposed Canada camp in Lebanon.

The meeting rose at 6.50 p.m.