Israeli military incursions in OPT – Human Rights Council special session – Secretariat note verbale

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Sixth special session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva, 23 January 2008

The Secretariat of the Human Rights Council presents its compliments to all United Nations Member States, specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations in consultative status and has the honour to inform them that the Secretariat received on 18 January 2008 at 1745H a request addressed to the President of the Human Rights Council by the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, as Chairman of the Group of Arab States, and the Permanent Representative of Pakistan, as Coordinator of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues.

The above mentioned request reads as follows:

Upon the decision of the Group of Arab States and the Group of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), we have the honour to request you to convene a special session of the Human Rights Council on Wednesday 23 January 2008 to consider and take action on human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent ones in occupied Gaza and West Bank town of Nablus.

In order for a special session to be convened, in conformity with operative paragraph 10 of General Assembly resolution 60/251, the support of one-third of the membership of the Council (16 members or more) is required. The above-mentioned request was signed by the following Member States of the Council: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, China, Djibouti, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uruguay.

After consultation with the President of the Human Rights Council, the Secretariat has the honour to inform all United Nations Member States, specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations in consultative status that the Special Session shall be held in Room XVII of the Palais des Nations on Wednesday 23 January 2008. The specific time shall be confirmed following the open-ended informative consultation.

Pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 the President shall convene an open-ended informative consultation in relation to the Special Session. This consultation shall be held on Monday, 21 January 2008 at 1600H in Room XVII of the Palais des Nations.

18 January 2008