Palestinian women – ECOSOC resolution

Palestinian women*

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women, 1/

Recalling  the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, 2/ in particular paragraph 260 concerning Palestinian women and children,

Recalling also its resolution 38/4 of 16 March 1994 and other relevant United Nations resolutions,

Recalling the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women 3/ as it concerns the protection of civilian populations,

Welcoming the signing by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, 4/ as well as the implementation of the agreements reached between the two sides,

Deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of all aspects of the situation of the Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem

Gravely concerned about the severe consequences of the continuous Israeli illegal settlements activities, as well as the measurements which isolate Jerusalem from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on the situation of Palestinian women and their families,

1. Reaffirms that the Israeli occupation constitutes a major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance and integration in the development plan of their society;

2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 5/ the Hague Regulation and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, 6/ in order to protect the rights of Palestinian women and their families;

3. Calls upon Israel to facilitate the return of all refugee and displaced Palestinian women and children and those who are political deportees to their homes and properties in the occupied Palestinian territory, in compliance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;

4. Urges Member States, international financial organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and other relevant institutions to intensify their efforts to provide financial and technical assistance to Palestinian women for the creation of projects responding to their needs, especially during the transitional period;

5. Requests the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to monitor and take action with regard to the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 260 concerning Palestinian women and children;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to review the situation and to assist Palestinian women by all available means, and to submit to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fortieth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.

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* For the discussion, see chap. IV.

1/ E/CN.6/1995/8.

2/ Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women:  Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A.

3/ General Assembly resolution 48/104, annex.

4/ A/48/486-S-26560, annex.

5/ General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).

6/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

Palestinian women

50. At the 11th meeting, on 28 March 1995, the representative of the Philippines, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1995/L.12) entitled "Palestinian women.

51. At the 14th meeting, on 31 March, the Commission adopted the draft resolution (see chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution II).

52. After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) and the observer for Israel.