Social development – Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee

Summary record of the 10th meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Tuesday, 8 October 2002, at 10 a.m. 

Chairman:   Mr. Wenawesar  …………………………………… (Liechtenstein)

Contents

Agenda item 97: Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly ( continued)

Agenda item 98: Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family ( continued)

Agenda item 99: Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.

Agenda item 97: Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly (continued) (A/57/115)

Agenda item 98: Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family ( continued ) (A/57/3, A/57/139 and Corr.1, A/57/352, A/57/67-E/2002/45, A/57/218 and Corr.1; A/C.3/57/L.6 and E/CN.5/2002/2)

Agenda item 99: Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing (continued) (A/57/93)

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32.  Ms. Al Haj Ali (Syrian Arab Republic) …

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34.   In an environment where the right of peoples to self-determination was not respected and where the fundamental right to life was ignored, it was utopic to talk of “social development”. The continued Israeli occupation of Arab territories in the Syrian Arab Republic, Palestine and Lebanon and the continuation by armed Israeli forces of activities contravening international law stood in the way of any social development. The situation in occupied Palestinian territory had become intolerable, as evidenced by the report of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the region. The international community must take urgent action to put an end to that humanitarian disaster.

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47.  Mr. Mejdoub (Tunisia), …

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51.   His delegation was seriously concerned at the economic, social and humanitarian plight of the Palestinian people. It was the international community’s duty to put an end to Israeli practices and to encourage the occupying Power, Israel, to comply with international law and international humanitarian law, including Security Council resolutions and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Convention). 

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The meeting rose at 12.45 p.m. 

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Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each Committee.