Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women – ECOSOC Debate, Vote on Draft Resolution – Summary Record (E/2013/SR.46)

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The President called on the Council to take action on a draft decision entitled “Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on its fifty-seventh session and provisional agenda and documentation for the fifty-eighth session of the Commission” contained in document E/2013/27 (chap. I, sect. C).

The draft decision was adopted.

The President advised that the Council had completed its consideration of agenda item 14 (a).

Economic and environmental questions (continued)

Women and development (continued)

Decision on a draft resolution

The President called on the Council to take action on a draft resolution entitled “Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women” contained in document E/2013/27 (chap. I, sect. B). He noted that the draft had been adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women by a recorded vote of 25 votes to 2 with 10 abstentions, and that a new recorded vote had been requested.

A roll-call vote was taken.

Bolivia, having been drawn by lot by the President, voted first.

In favour:

Belarus, Benin, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Turkey.

Against:

Canada, United States of America.

Abstentions:

Austria, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

The draft resolution was adopted by 23 votes to 2, with 16 abstentions.

Mr. Cruz (Nicaragua) and Mr. Bougacha (Tunisia) asked that their respective States be added to the list of States that had voted in favour of adopting the draft resolution.

Mr. Zuhairi (Observer for the State of Palestine) welcomed the progress made in a number of countries regarding women’s empowerment and the exercise of their rights. The situation of Palestinian women is unfortunately not a matter for rejoicing, mainly due to the grip in which they are held by Israel, which continues to violate the human rights of the Palestinian people.

Mr. Caspi (Observer for Israel) said that Israel strongly opposes the resolution adopted by the Council, which does not serve the cause of Palestinian women and totally ignores the real reasons for their suffering. That suffering, he said, is compounded by a domestic situation and by problems for which Israel is not responsible. For its part, Israel is contributing to the promotion of equality between men and women and the emancipation of women.

The President advised that the Council had completed its consideration of agenda item 13 (a).

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