Human rights situation in the Syrian Golan – Third Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

GOVERNMENTS REAFFIRM CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY TO SOCIETY,

AS THIRD COMMITTEE CONCLUDES DISCUSSION OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met today to conclude its general discussion of issues related to social development.  For additional background information, please see Press Release GA/SHC/3777 of 4 October.

Statements on Social Development

ADAM AXELSSON (Sweden) said that youth led organizations had, for centuries, committed themselves to make a difference and had succeeded in making real changes in society.  As the elected youth representative of his country, he had friends around the globe who were all working together to make the world a better place -– they monitored elections in Ghana, worked for integration between the Israeli and Palestinian people and worked with street kids in Sweden.  Those individuals showed that young men and women should be acknowledged as a resource for development, not a target group for aid.

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RANIA AL HAJ ALI (Syria) …

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In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the Government had initiated, in cooperation with civil society, a television and brochure campaign, which addressed the most critical issues confronting Syrian families today.  National legislation on disabled persons guaranteed their rights in terms of health, education and employment, and special interest had been accorded to children with special needs.  However, she concluded, it was incorrect and far from the reality of the situation to talk about achieving social development goals so long as Israel continued to occupy the Syrian Golan, draining national resources and negatively impacting the economic, social and humanitarian situation in the occupied Arab territories.  The international community must hasten to end this situation, which had dire results for all.

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Statements in Exercise of Right of Reply

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply, the representative of Israel said that, given the productive discussion that had been witnessed here, it had been discouraging to hear the Syrian representative return to baseless hostility and unprovoked aggression, which had no place in this forum.  Regrettably, Syria took every opportunity to criticize and shame Israel, calling into doubt its so called “call for peace”.  Bashing Israel and passing one-sided resolutions did not contribute to the promotion of peace in the region.

Also exercising the right of reply, the representative of Syria said that, in accordance with international law, Israel was a State that occupied surrounding territories.  In addition to the dramatic implications of that occupation on the population of the territories, the occupation itself constituted an infringement of fundamental human rights.  Those who strove for peace must take steps, she agreed, but that which was seen on television and read about in the United Nations reports called into question Israel’s statement.  Peace would arrive with the end of the occupation, which would also end the suffering and pain of those in the occupied territories.

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