Children – Third Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

Third Committee

16^th & 17^th Meetings (AM & PM)

UN SHOULD STEP UP EFFORTS TO TAKE CHILDREN OFF BATTLEFIELD, PROMOTE ‘ZERO

TOLERANCE’ POLICY ON VIOLATIONS OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD

Draft Resolution Introduced

On International Cooperation against World Drug Problem

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Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met today to continue its general discussion of promotion and protection of the rights of children, and to hear the introduction of a draft resolution on an in-depth study on all forms of violence against women (document A/C.3/60/L.12) and a draft on international cooperation against the world drug problem (document A/C.3/60/L.9).

For more background information, see Press Release GA/SHC/3822 of 14 October.

Statements

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Mr. SAEED ( Sudan) …

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… Palestinian children living under occupation had a history of suffering.  The international community must take all necessary steps to end that situation.

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MAHMUD ABUSIF ( Libya) …

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Children continued to work in many areas that were dangerous to their health and growth, he said.  The international community also had the responsibility to protect Palestinian children, who continued to suffer under Israeli occupation.  …

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NADYA RASHEED, Observer for Palestine, said her delegation attached great importance to the rights of children.  In every region of the world, in almost every aspect of their lives, children — who constituted the most vulnerable segment of society — were subject to unconscionable violence and abuse.  For that reason, the international community must take all necessary measures to fulfil their promises to the children of the world, and transform the universal ideal of creating a “world fit for children” into a universal reality.  Each year, millions of children suffered the negative and debilitating consequences of armed conflict.  The Palestinian children knew all too well the grave effects posed by situations of armed conflict, particularly foreign occupation, as they had lived their entire lives under Israeli occupation.

The intensification of the military aggression by the occupying power over the past five years had resulted in a dramatic deterioration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, causing even more harm and suffering to the lives of Palestinian children.  Moreover, the prevalence of violent incidents in close proximity to children had encroached upon the last remaining symbols of safety:  the home, school and family.  It was imperative to recall relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law.  Serious and urgent efforts must be undertaken to bring an end to the dire situation and to bring hope to the lives of the innocent and defenceless Palestinian children under Israel’s occupation.

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For information media • not an official record