Human rights situation in the OPT/Children and women – CHR session – Press release

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCLUDES DEBATE ON ECONOMIC RIGHTS,

TAKES UP CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

Commission on Human Rights
58th session
11 April 2002
Morning

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria Speaks,
Experts on Children Present Reports

The Commission on Human Rights completed this morning its annual discussion of economic, social and cultural rights, hearing from a series of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contending, among other things, that efforts to combat poverty were not receiving sufficient support from the international community and from the richer nations of the world. Several NGOs called for rapid development of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cutural Rights that would allow complaints of violations of such rights to be filed by individuals.

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Brief introductions of reports were provided by Olara Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children, and by Juan Miguel Petit, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography.

Mr. Otunnu said the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian occupied territories and loss of civilian life, including children and women, and the growing humanitarian emergency were a cause of concern. The Special Representative urged the Israeli authorities to ensure the application of humanitarian law, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The phenomenon of suicide bombings was also unacceptable on all grounds and was particularly tragic since it affected children.

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Presentation of Reports

OLARA OTUNNU, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children, introducing his report (E/CN.4/2002/85), said the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian occupied territories and loss of civilian life, including children and women, and the growing humanitarian emergency were a cause of concern. The Special Representative urged the Israeli authorities to ensure the application of humanitarian law, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The phenomenon of suicide bombings was unacceptable on all grounds and was particularly tragic since it affected children. …

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