Human rights situation in the occupied territories – Special Cttee on Israeli Practices to visit Egypt, Jordan and Syria – UN press release

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

20 July 2007

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 21 to 26 July, Jordan from 26 July to 1 August, and Syria from 1 to 4 August 2007.

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 and makes recommendations to the General Assembly in this regard.

The Special Committee was established by General Assembly resolution 2443 (XXIII). It is composed of three Member States: Sri Lanka (Chairman), Malaysia and Senegal. Sri Lanka is currently represented by Prasad Kariyawasam, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations in New York. Malaysia is represented by Hamidon Ali, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations in New York. Senegal is represented by Moussa Bocar Ly, Permanent Representative of that country to the United Nations in Geneva.

The Special Committee's mandate was renewed for an additional year on 14 December 2006 by General Assembly resolution 61/116. The most recent findings of the Special Committee are contained in the Addendum to its report to the General Assembly: document A/61/500/Add. 1.

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