Human rights – GA Third Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

Third Committee

32^nd & 33^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

SPEAKERS IN THIRD COMMITTEE DRAW LINKS BETWEEN FIGHT TO SECURE HUMAN RIGHTS,

FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, AS THREE DAY DISCUSSION CONCLUDED

Say Civil, Political Rights Remain Focus, Even as Economic Rights Unfulfilled;

Human Rights Cause Can Be Sustained in Developing Countries in Anti-Poverty Effort

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Background

The Third Committee met today to continue its general discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights.  For further details, please see the press release GA/SHC/3960.

Statements

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NADYA RASHEED, Observer Mission of Palestine, reiterated her appreciation for the report by Special Rapporteur Richard Falk, which described the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories.  The Palestinian people’s existence as an occupied and stateless people did not negate their entitlement to enjoy their human rights.  An accurate examination of the human rights situation of Palestinian people should be based on the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which would reveal that their rights were being systematically breached by the occupying Power.  Time limits did not permit an exhaustive exposé of Israel’s violations; they included, among other things, denial of the right of self-determination, killing and injuring of civilians, and the perpetration of extrajudicial killings.  Acts of terror were committed against civilians by the military, as well as armed settlers.  Thousands were arbitrarily imprisoned, displaced from their homes, or had their homes demolished.  People’s movements were restricted by checkpoints and roadblocks.  Entire populations, especially in the Gaza Strip, were subject to collective punishment.

If Israel was not held accountable for those violations, it would only be further emboldened, she said.  The fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict headed by Richard Goldstone had concluded that the Israeli military campaign of December 2008 was planned, and was aimed at punishing, humiliating and terrorizing the Palestinian civilian population.  During that time, more than 1,400 civilians were killed and more than 5,500 injured.  Homes, infrastructure, hospitals, schools, mosques, and economic, industrial and agricultural facilities were destroyed.  Even United Nations facilities were damaged.  Achieving peace had one basic requirement:  respect for international law.  Israel must cease all its violations and respect international law, including humanitarian and human rights law.  The international community had its own clear responsibilities in that regard.  Efforts should be expended to hold accountable those responsible.

KHALIFA SALEM AL MAZROOEI ( United Arab Emirates) …

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On human rights in general, he said the Government had established a society for human rights, which was a civil society organization for spreading human rights awareness.  Among other things, the society helped improve conditions for detainees and prisoners.  Police stations had departments for the protection of human rights, which provided psychological assistance to victims.  The Government was spreading awareness of human rights concepts through schools and through professional training among police and in the judicial field.  Finally, welcoming the Goldstone report on rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Arab Emirates called on the international community to bring those responsible to justice and to compensate victims for their losses.

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PAK TOK HUN (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) …

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Yet, acts that contravened the United Nations Charter with respect to the promotion and protection of human rights were being witnessed and his delegation believed the Third Committee should pay due attention in that respect.  The principle of respect for national sovereignty should be strictly observed in the human rights field.  Indeed, human rights were violated without exception in the countries or territories whose national sovereignty was infringed.  The examples included Iraq, Afghanistan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  …

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FARHAD MAMDOUHI ( Iran) …

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…  He further noted the dismay that had also been expressed by a number of bodies considering possible human rights violations and discrimination in the United States.  Likewise, numerous reports indicated that the counter-terrorism posture of the Government inspired discrimination by law enforcement authorities. Moreover, the United States Government also supported the Zionist regime of Israel.  The recently released Goldstone report was another indication of United States disrespect for the human rights of the Palestinian people.

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Rights of Reply

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The representative of Saudi Arabia, exercising her right of reply regarding remarks made by the European Union, …

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Regrettably, the European Union had chosen to preach lessons on the importance of the basics of human rights to developing countries, and yet instances of racism and religious discrimination, for example, in the form of Islamophobia, were widely documented.  The European Union needed a more balanced approach to human rights, and would do well to highlight the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in general, and in East Jerusalem, in particular, by Israel.

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For information media • not an official record