Mary McGowan Davis appointed as new Chair of Commission of Inquiry on Gaza conflict – SG Spokesperson’s noon briefing (excerpts)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2015

/…

HEAD OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW CHAIR OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON GAZA 

• Following today’s announcement on the resignation of Professor William Schabas as Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza conflict, the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Joachim Ruecker of Germany, has decided to appoint current Commission member Mary McGowan Davis to replace Professor Schabas as Commission Chair.

• The Commission, now comprised of Mary McGowan Davis and Doudou Diène, both of whom were appointed in August last year, continues its important work and is scheduled to present its findings to the Human Rights Council on 23 March as mandated.

• In another statement, Ambassador Ruecker thanked Professor Schabas for his work over the past six months. The President also noted that the Commission is now in the final phase of collecting evidence from as many victims and witnesses as possible from both sides.

• The report of the Commission of Inquiry is scheduled to be presented to the Human Rights Council at its upcoming session on 23 March 2015.

/…

http://www.un.org/sg/spokesperson/highlights/index.asp