Human rights situation in the OT – Special Cttee to visit Egypt, Jordan and Syria – UNOG Press release

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ISRAELI PRACTICES TO VISIT EGYPT, JORDAN AND SYRIA

24 June 2005

The following statement was issued today by the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories:

"The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories will visit Egypt from 25 June to 1 July, Jordan from 1 to 5 July, and Syria from 5 to 9 July 2005.

Since its establishment in December 1968, the Special Committee has repeatedly been denied cooperation by the Government of Israel or access to the Occupied Territories. The Committee has nonetheless benefited from the cooperation and information provided by representatives from the Governments of countries visited. The information gathered during these hearings, from witnesses having first-hand and recent experience of the human rights situation in the occupied territories, from Governmental representatives, and from a wide range of other interlocutors is taken into account in the Special Committee's reports to the General Assembly. The Committee formulates conclusions containing its evaluation of the situation as well as recommendations.

The Special Committee was established by General Assembly resolution 2443 (XXIII). It is composed of three Member States: Sri Lanka (Chairman), Senegal and Malaysia. Sri Lanka is currently represented by Prasad Kariyawasam, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations in New York. Senegal is represented by Ousmane Camara, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations at Geneva. Malaysia is represented by Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations in New York.

The Special Committee's mandate was renewed for an additional year on 10 December 2004 by General Assembly resolution 59/121. The findings of the Special Committee are contained in its report to the General Assembly; document A/59/381 of 23 September 2004".

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