Human rights violations in the OPT – GA Third Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

Third Committee

35^th Meeting (AM)

IN THIRD COMMITTEE, STATES DESCRIBE NATIONAL EFFORTS MADE TO MEET HUMAN RIGHTS

OBLIGATIONS; STRESS RIGHTS ARE EQUAL, INDIVISIBLE, MUTUALLY REINFORCING

Hears from 20 More Speakers as Debate on Promotion of Human Rights Concludes

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Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met today to continue its general discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights.

Statements

RI TONG IL (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) said the promotion and protection of human rights was directly linked to development.  In considering human rights, the international community should fully respect the principle of respect for national sovereignty.  Indeed, where sovereignty was exercised, human rights were fully protected by the country involved.  Any deliberation of human rights issues without regard for national sovereignty was simply empty talk.  The killings of innocents in Afghanistan and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory showed that people fell victims when national sovereignty was infringed on.  …

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LOLWA ALRASHEED ( Kuwait) …

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Noting that Kuwait had joined the Human Rights Council this year, she said it aimed to consolidate the bonds of cooperation among Member States in order to achieve human rights and fulfil their desired goals.  Kuwait aimed to always side with what was right.  To that end, it emphasized and renewed its commitment to condemning all practices and policies that infringed on the human rights of the Palestinians in their occupied territories.  She stressed that the Palestinians had the right to self-determination, despite that right being jeopardized by the long period of Israeli occupation.  Noting the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, she condemned all acts of violence committed by Israeli settlers, which had significantly increased in 2011.

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For information media • not an official record