Human Rights Council
\nMORNING<\/p>\n
25 September 2017<\/p>\n
Concludes General Debate on the Universal Periodic Review<\/strong><\/p>\n The Human Rights Council this morning held a general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.\u00a0 It also concluded the general debate on the Universal Periodic Review.<\/p>\n The Council started the general debate on the Universal Periodic Review on Friday, 22 September, and a summary can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, speakers stressed their support for the Palestinian people and called on the international community to take action to stop Israeli violations against them and to ensure a two-State solution.\u00a0 They said the protracted conflict had taken a heavy toll on the livelihoods of people in the region, and Israel was in contravention of international law.\u00a0 Reports of serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories, where the Israeli settlement activities seriously endangered the viability of the two-State solution, were greatly concerning.<\/p>\n Several speakers regretted that a number of States refused to address this agenda item 7, saying it must remain on the Council\u2019s agenda until the Israeli occupation ended.\u00a0 A number of speakers condemned the report that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was compiling on companies working directly or indirectly on the construction of Israeli settlements.\u00a0 They also regretted that this agenda item against Israel continued to exist.<\/p>\n Israel was not present in the room to take the floor as a concerned country.\u00a0 State of Palestine and Syria spoke as concerned countries.<\/p>\n Speaking during the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories were Venezuela on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Tunisia on behalf of the African Group, Egypt on behalf of the Arab Group, Nicaragua in a joint statement, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar, Brazil, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Venezuela, Egypt, Ecuador, Bolivia, Tunisia, South Africa, China, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Kuwait, Russian Federation, Maldives, Sudan, Chile, Malaysia, Libya, Bahrain, Namibia, Morocco, Senegal, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Turkey, Angola, Iran, Jordan, Algeria, Oman, Lebanon and Mauritania.\u00a0 The Gulf Cooperation Council also took the floor.<\/p>\n The following non-governmental organizations spoke: Amuta for NGO Responsibility, Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, The Palestinian Return Centre Ltd, World Jewish Congress, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies in a joint statement, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, Badil Resource Centre for Palestinian and Refugee Rights, Union of Arab Jurists, Human Rights Watch, Defence for Children International,\u00a0Conseil International pour le soutien \u00e0 des proc\u00e8s \u00e9quitables et aux Droits de l\u2019Homme<\/em>, World Muslim Congress,\u00a0Conseil de jeunesse pluriculturelle<\/em>, International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations, United Nations Watch,\u00a0Agence pour les droits de l\u2019homme<\/em>, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, International-Lawyers.Org, International Buddhist Relief Organization, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man, ADALAH – Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, B\u2019nai B\u2019rith in a joint statement, Association of World Citizens, Indian Movement \u201cTupaj Amaru\u201d, Meezaan Centre for Human Rights, International Human Rights Association of American Minorities, Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA”, Africa Culture International, Norwegian Refugee Council, Women\u2019s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling, and Servas International.<\/p>\n During the general debate on the Universal Periodic Review, speakers stressed the importance of the Universal Periodic Review as a critical element in identifying and mitigating human rights violations around the world.\u00a0 The mechanism had shown itself to be successful in improving human rights situations in countries.\u00a0 It was underscored that the effectiveness and credibility of the Universal Periodic Review depended on the implementation of recommendations at the national level.\u00a0 The importance of the participation of civil society in the Universal Periodic Review process was noted by several delegations.<\/p>\n Speaking during the general debate on the Universal Periodic Review were Cuba, Venezuela, Iraq, United States, Tunisia, Paraguay, China, Samoa on behalf of a group of countries, Montenegro, Maldives, Haiti, Morocco, Iran, Turkey, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Belize and Armenia.\u00a0 The Commonwealth also spoke.<\/p>\n The following non-governmental organizations took the floor: Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, UPR Info, Article 19 \u2013 The International Centre Against Censorship, Canners International Permanent Committee, Together against the death penalty, International Humanist and Ethical Union in a joint statement, Colombian Commission of Jurists, Iraqi Development Organization, African Regional Agricultural Credit Association, Alsalam Foundation, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain Inc., Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development, Society Studies Centre (MADA ssc), Commission to Study the Organization of Peace,\u00a0Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik<\/em>, United Schools International,\u00a0Conseil International pour le soutien \u00e0 des proc\u00e8s \u00e9quitables et aux Droits de l\u2019Homme<\/em>, International Association for Democracy in Africa, Pan African Union for Science and Technology, World Muslim Congress, World Environment and Resources Council, Indigenous People of Africa Coordinating Committee, Centre for Environmental and Management Studies, Liberation,\u00a0Organisation pour la communication en Afrique et de promotion de la coop\u00e9ration \u00e9conomique internationale<\/em>, World Barua Organization, International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, International-Lawyers.Org,\u00a0Rencontre africaine pour la d\u00e9fense des droits de l\u2019homme<\/em>, International Buddhist Relief Organization, Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association MBOSCUDA\u00a0Association pour l’Int\u00e9gration et le D\u00e9veloppement Durable au Burundi<\/em>, VAAGDHARA, ABC Tamil Oli, ANAJA (Lord replied), Prahar,\u00a0ASSOCIATION CULTURELLE DES TAMOULS EN FRANCE<\/em>,\u00a0Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul<\/em>,\u00a0Association Solidarit\u00e9 Internationale pour l’Afrique (SIA)<\/em>, Association for the Victims of the world,\u00a0Association des \u00e9tudiants tamouls de France<\/em>, LE PONT, Alliance Creative Community Project, Indian Council of South America,\u00a0L\u2019Observatoire Mauritanien des Droits de l\u2019Homme et de la D\u00e9mocratie<\/em>, Tamil Uzhagam, Association Thendral,\u00a0Tourner la page<\/em>, Association of World Citizens, Health and Environment Program, The Next Century Foundation, International Human Rights Association of American Minorities, Africa Culture International, United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation, International Educational Development, Inc.,\u00a0Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit \u2013 COC Nederland<\/em>,and Centre for Organization Research and Education.<\/p>\n Next on its agenda, the Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold a general debate on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.\u00a0 At 3 p.m., it will hold a panel discussion on the impact of racial discrimination on the human rights of women and girls.<\/p>\n General Debate on the Universal Periodic Review<\/strong><\/p>\n Cuba outlined that the Universal Periodic Review was supposed to be an instrument marking a change in the practices of the Council.\u00a0 Despite its existence, it was not possible to get rid of the double standards and subjectivity of this body.\u00a0 Cuba recalled that it was important to take into account the lack of resources of each State that could impede the implementation of online platforms.\u00a0 Cuba called on the Council to preserve the Universal Periodic Review as a legitimate instrument to promote genuine dialogue.<\/p>\n Venezuela supported the Universal Periodic Review that had proven to be efficient in the promotion of human rights, treating all countries on an equal footing with respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.\u00a0 The success of the Universal Periodic Review lay in its universal nature.\u00a0 Venezuela rejected any procedures which were politicized such as certain specific mandates on countries.<\/p>\n Iraq stressed that the Universal Periodic Review was a unique opportunity to foster the exchange of recommendations and hold interactive debates related to best practices in the field of human rights.\u00a0 The universality of the review gave a human and legal nature to human rights.\u00a0 This mechanism was important to foster constructive discussions around the world while preventing exclusion.\u00a0 It was a key mechanism for evaluating the human rights situations in all countries on an equal footing.<\/p>\n United States thanked the Governments which had undertaken their Universal Periodic Review with seriousness and respect, as well as an open mind and a willingness to engage in dialogue.\u00a0 The Universal Periodic Review could be a critical element in identifying and mitigating human rights violations around the world.\u00a0 The United States stressed the importance of civil society to this mechanism and expressed concern about the continued practice of reprisals against those organizations by some States.<\/p>\n Tunisia stressed the importance of the Universal Periodic Review as a forum for debate and said that its own review had been an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to this mechanism, which had shown itself to be successful in improving human rights situations in countries, in cooperation with other Member States and human rights defenders.\u00a0 Achieving the goals of the Universal Periodic Review required support for this process and improvement of its effectiveness, with the involvement with all stakeholders.<\/p>\n Paraguay stressed that the effectiveness and credibility of the Universal Periodic Review depended on the implementation of recommendations at the national level, and the crucial role of international cooperation in this.\u00a0 Each review must include an assessment of the rate of implementation of the recommendations received during the previous cycle.\u00a0 Paraguay encouraged States to establish national mechanisms for the follow up.\u00a0 Paraguay also encouraged civil society to continue to contribute to this important mechanism.<\/p>\n China congratulated the countries whose Universal Periodic Review reports had been adopted, saying the constructive contents would be effective.\u00a0 The basic principles for the operation of the Universal Periodic Review included non-politicization, and all countries were urged to adhere to that principle.\u00a0 Countries had the right to implement recommendations on a voluntary basis, and technical capacity-building was essential for developing countries.\u00a0 There should be full cooperation with countries concerned.<\/p>\n Samoa, speaking on behalf of least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as the beneficiary delegates and fellows of the Technical Assistance Trust Fund, said their participation in the work of the Human Rights Council during this session was thanks to the Technical Assistance Trust Fund, which played a fundamental role in ensuring that representation at the Human Rights Council sessions was truly universal.\u00a0 It urged all States to increase their voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund.<\/p>\n Montenegro said the Universal Periodic Review had a central role in the promotion of human rights.\u00a0 All efforts should be placed on the implementation of accepted recommendations from the previous cycle.\u00a0 Recommendations must be more concrete and action-oriented, and countries should limit themselves to making two recommendations each.\u00a0 Montenegro, which would be reviewed in January 2018, was finalising its national report through an inclusive national consultative process.<\/p>\n Maldives emphasised the crucial role that the Voluntary Fund for participation in the Universal Periodic Review continued to play, including for small island developing States that did not enjoy representation based in Geneva.\u00a0 Maldives called on all States to support the Voluntary Fund and to provide technical assistance to those in need for the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review.<\/p>\n Haiti encouraged all States undergoing the Universal Periodic Review to ensure follow-up in implementing the recommendations.\u00a0 Haiti wished to share an experience with all Member States: in May 2017 during the previous cycle, the delegation of Haiti had referred to previous recommendations, asking for their follow-up.\u00a0 These recommendations referred to issues by China, Indonesia, Iran, Singapore, Mexico and Sweden\u00a0\u00a0 Haiti encouraged all States to follow this path.<\/p>\n Morocco outlined the importance of the Universal Periodic Review as a mechanism for the promotion of human rights and stressed its key role to galvanize human rights policies.\u00a0 It was a cornerstone of the Council structure.\u00a0\u00a0 It was necessary to preserve the legitimacy of this mechanism and protect it from any forms of subjectivity and politicization.\u00a0 Morocco recalled the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in order to help States to implement recommendations.<\/p>\n Iran said that the Universal Periodic Review was the best mechanism to review human rights progress at the national level and raise awareness about best practices.\u00a0 In order to implement the 189 recommendations that Iran had fully or partially accepted during the second cycle, it had set up in 2014 a Steering Universal Periodic Review National Committee by the Iranian High Council for Human Rights, with the participation of more than 30 government institutions, civil society and non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n Turkey reiterated its strong support for the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, which addressed all human rights and improved the human rights situation on the ground in each of the United Nations Member States.\u00a0 Turkey stressed the universality, impartiality and spirit of cooperation of this mechanism, and the importance of the implementation and follow-up of the accepted recommendations.\u00a0 In this sense, Turkey reiterated its commitment to ensure that all its recommendations were precise, constructive and implementable.<\/p>\n Guinea Bissau said the Universal Periodic Review enabled States to comply with their human rights obligations, improve human rights situations on the ground and strengthen the constructive cooperation between States.\u00a0 States should ensure the implementation of the received recommendations and keep the international community informed of the progress.\u00a0 The Voluntary Fund must be financed to the necessary tune to enable States to receive the support they needed to ensure the implementation of recommendations.<\/p>\n Malawi said the Universal Periodic Review was a vital mechanism, noting that Malawi had made progress on the recommendations made during the second cycle of the review.\u00a0 Malawi had amended the minimum age of marriage in a bid to end child marriages.\u00a0 The right to information was a cornerstone of the protection of human rights and a cornerstone of Malawian democracy.<\/p>\n Commonwealth said since 2008, the Commonwealth had supported members\u2019 engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process.\u00a0 The Commonwealth placed importance on the implementation of accepted recommendations.\u00a0 A regional Caribbean platform was being convened in early 2018.\u00a0 The Commonwealth\u2019s partnerships in Geneva had proved to be valuable in calibrating the Commonwealth\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n Belize said it was committed to protecting and advancing the constitutional rights of all its citizens as embedded in its Constitution.\u00a0 That meant granting attention to health, especially for women and girls.\u00a0 In 1990, Belize had signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.\u00a0 There had been a continued improvement in maternal health care in the country.\u00a0 Belize remained committed to meeting its national objectives on gender equity, women\u2019s empowerment and health.<\/p>\n Armenia attached great importance to the Universal Periodic Review process which offered an invaluable opportunity for States to reflect upon their own records of protection and promotion of human rights through direct and open dialogue with other States and with civil society.\u00a0 Armenia welcomed the active participation of non-governmental organizations and the significant role of national human rights institutions in the process.<\/p>\n Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture was concerned about the increase of gross violations and systematic torture of human rights defenders and media professionals in Bahrain.\u00a0 These violations included the use of abusive words during investigations, the use of travel bans and the incineration of cars.\u00a0 All these violations against fundamental freedoms would not have happened if Bahrain had not adopted a policy of impunity.<\/p>\n UPR Info said that despite significant progress, it was important to assess the impact of the Universal Periodic Review to identify, in each country, the obstacles to implement the recommendations, define strategies to address them, and improve the human rights situation for all groups of society.\u00a0 Such exercises must include time bound progress targets and have an inclusive approach.<\/p>\n Article 19 – The International Centre against Censorship called the attention of the Council to the actions of Iran which were directly against the recommendations it had accepted concerning freedom of expression.\u00a0 Rather than open space for civil society and the media, the Government routinely used the Penal Code and Press Law to crackdown on any sign of opposition or criticism.\u00a0 Iran was also tightening expression online, and continued to harass journalists, human rights defenders and women\u2019s rights activists.<\/p>\n Canners International Permanent Committee said that Bahrain was a shining example of harmonious and peaceful coexistence between religions, which remained steadfast in defending human rights and freedoms, including the rights of women and of minorities.\u00a0 Women in Bahrain routinely held senior posts, including holding 15 per cent of the Parliamentary seats.<\/p>\n Together against the death penalty welcomed the commitment of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to maintain the de facto moratorium on the death penalty and urged them to live up to this commitment by voting in favour of the next United Nations resolution for the universal moratorium.\u00a0 It was regrettable that those three countries had totally or partially refused the recommendations to abolish the death penalty and ratify the Second the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.<\/p>\n International Humanist and Ethical Union, in a joint statement with several NGOs1, said only 2.5 per cent of recommendations concerned freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.\u00a0 The ability of believers to manifest their convictions faced serious threats.\u00a0 Christians in Iraq, Shi\u2019as in Bahrain, and Falun Gong in China faced challenges, among many others.\u00a0 States were urged to give those rights more frequent attention which they deserved.<\/p>\n Colombian Commission of Jurists said among the recommendations Colombia had received was those concerning abortion.\u00a0 There remained obstacles to abortion in Colombia.\u00a0 There were also obstacles related to individual failings to act.\u00a0 The most widespread was lack of knowledge and understanding of the law.\u00a0 Women were not able to file criminal complaints, and healthcare providers failed to provide abortions despite the mechanisms in place.<\/p>\n Iraqi Development Organization said the Yemeni Government was totally disregarding the Universal Periodic Review recommendations, especially by failing to ratify the Rome Statute.\u00a0 The Government had established a national commission to investigate human rights violations, which had blocked investigations by the International Criminal Court prosecutor.\u00a0 Victims in Yemen had no access to legal redress.\u00a0 Member States should investigate war crimes by submitting a resolution to the Security Council to transfer the case to the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n African Regional Agricultural Credit Association outlined that Finland was the first country to give the same rights to men and women in 1906.\u00a0 Finland was also fully committed to sustainable development both nationally and in the international arena.\u00a0 Finland was among the first countries to establish a national commission for sustainable development.\u00a0 It had adjusted its national legislation in 2016 to put it in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n Alsalam Foundation was concerned about the treatment received by refugees and asylum seekers from Gulf countries in the United Kingdom.\u00a0 Alsalam Foundation was also concerned about the human rights violations led by officials in Bahrain and by the lack of investigations after violations were carried out by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.\u00a0 The Government of the United Kingdom was called on to fully protect minority rights.<\/p>\n Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain Inc. recalled that after the third round of Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain, the country had failed to implement legal safeguards against the harassment of human rights.\u00a0 The lack of access to legal council for victims and the extraction of confessions via violence was particularly worrisome.<\/p>\n Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development commended the comprehensive report on Bahrain and appreciated that this country had taken important steps to ratify a number of international treaties, and that it was building its national capacity to comply with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture which it was considering ratifying.\u00a0 The judiciary, the prosecutor, the Ombudsman and non-governmental organizations that were present in the country could visit places of detention without prior notice.<\/p>\n Society Studies Centre (MADA ssc) drew attention to the steps taken by Sudan to implement its Universal Periodic Review recommendations, including the setting up of the High Representative Committee for the implementation of Universal Periodic Review recommendations with the participation of civil society organizations.\u00a0 The Centre stressed the importance of external support to civil society organizations to enable their participation of the implementation of recommendations.<\/p>\n Commission to Study the Organization of Peace said that the Constitution of Indonesia provided for freedom of religion for every citizen to worship according to their choice.\u00a0 Those provisions had been further reinforced with the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2006 and its subsequent incorporation in domestic law.\u00a0 Indonesia was also taken important steps to realize the rights of women in the country, and was a party to the Beijing Declaration and Plan for Action.<\/p>\n Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik<\/em>\u00a0said Iran had accepted only a few recommendations during two previous cycles of the Universal Periodic Review and had rejected the one on accepting visits by Special Procedures.\u00a0 The establishment of a national human rights institution was an election promise, but the head of Iran\u2019s judiciary had complained that it would duplicate the work of the judiciary-affiliated High Council for Human Rights.<\/p>\n United Schools International said the promotion and protection of human rights was an essential part of Bahrain\u2019s national legislation.\u00a0 The national action charter and constitutional amendments supported and protected human rights.\u00a0 National legislation concerning freedom of religion and many other rights, such as laws against human trafficking, showed the country\u2019s commitment to the promotion of human rights.<\/p>\n Conseil International pour le soutien \u00e0 des proc\u00e8s \u00e9quitables et aux Droits de l\u2019Homme<\/em>\u00a0said there were a large number of martyrs in Iraq, without whom Iraqi territory would not have been liberated.\u00a0 There were large numbers of displaced women in Iraq who slept on the floor and suffered from cold weather.\u00a0 The international community needed to hold Saudi Arabia accountable in Yemen and it was not fair to have Saudi Arabia on the Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n International Association for Democracy in Africa recalled that Finland had been elevated to the top of all human rights records.\u00a0 With limited natural resources, Finland was amongst the top three European Union countries in terms of quality of life.\u00a0 It was also one of the least corrupt countries in the world and a top world country for press freedom.<\/p>\n Pan African Union for Science and Technology praised the progress made by Poland in terms of human rights, institutional rules and economic growth.\u00a0\u00a0 Poland fully complied with the rule of law and had robust economic competition and a free press.\u00a0 Poland\u2019s economic growth had benefitted vulnerable segments of the population and contributed to reduce poverty and extreme poverty.\u00a0 Poland had also made significant progress on access to education.<\/p>\n World Muslim Congress stressed that the Universal Periodic Review was a cornerstone of the human rights system.\u00a0 Although India had made many commitments during the second cycle, most of them had been ignored.\u00a0 Minorities were facing threats and journalists faced major risks.\u00a0 India had not ratified the Convention against Torture and the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.<\/p>\n World Environment and Resources Council said that Poland was committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and to share its experience of embarking on a democracy transition with other countries.\u00a0 Poland was committed to the protection of minorities, and was also committed to sustainable development, as enshrined with the recent adoption of the sustainable development strategy.<\/p>\n Indigenous People of Africa Coordinating Committee raised deep concern about continuing enforced disappearances in India, despite the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances by this country.\u00a0 The Council should strongly press on India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 and stop the genocidal activities by the army under this act.\u00a0 India should also protect the rights of indigenous peoples by ending the expropriation of their land, territories and resources.<\/p>\n Centre for Environmental and Management Studies said that Indonesia was the third largest democracy in the world, and was also politically and economically stable.\u00a0 It had charted an impressive economic growth over the past several decades and had joined the ranks of the G20.\u00a0 Indonesia was improving gender equality with specifically developed policies to empower women and protect them against violence, including through the implementation of the zero tolerance to gender-based violence strategy.<\/p>\n Liberation said one of the most direct impacts of militarization was on women and children.\u00a0 In the Assam region, there were countless victims of rape by Indian security forces.\u00a0 Rape and sexual harassment went unreported due to fear of social stigma.\u00a0 Rape was being used as a weapon of war.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council was urged to prosecute Indian army officials involved in the rape of indigenous women in India.<\/p>\n Organisation pour la communication en Afrique et de promotion de la coop\u00e9ration \u00e9conomique internationale<\/em>\u00a0commended the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review reports of Morocco, Tunisia and Brazil.\u00a0 The migration and asylum policy set up in September 2013 was noted.\u00a0 Morocco was encouraged to implement its national development strategy for the southern provinces.<\/p>\n World Barua Organization said violence against the lower castes in India remained unaddressed.\u00a0 Incidents of discrimination and exclusion against the lower castes had severely impacted the Dalits.\u00a0 Human rights needed to be implemented, and inclusive development had to be effectively implemented.\u00a0 Access to legal aid should be provided to scheduled castes and tribes.<\/p>\n International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination was worried that Israel continued to perpetuate practices that mounted to apartheid in the Palestinian territories.\u00a0 Palestinian rights to life and security were continuously violated.\u00a0 Israeli forces perpetrated extrajudicial killings and maintained the illegal blockade on Gaza.\u00a0 The international community was called on to take measures to stop the occupation and enable Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination.<\/p>\n International-Lawyers.Org was appalled by the situation in Myanmar where crimes against humanity were being perpetrated.\u00a0 Myanmar had been previously called on to rapidly address the rise of hatred in the country, particularly the upswing of anti-Muslim violence.\u00a0 Hate speech and extremism deserved strong condemnation.\u00a0 The Rohingya were facing ethnic cleansing.\u00a0\u00a0 The abuse of force and hate speech perpetrated by the State of Israel against Palestinians was also concerning.<\/p>\n Rencontre africaine pour la d\u00e9fense des droits de l’homme<\/em>\u00a0recalled that effective follow-up and the implementation of recommendations were key to ensure the credibility of the Universal Periodic Review.\u00a0 Rencontre Africaine pour la d\u00e9fense des droits de l\u2019homme welcomed the efforts made in order to address poverty and realize the Sustainable Development Goals through consolidated initiatives.\u00a0 It was important to strengthen the complementarity of the Universal Periodic Review and the treaty bodies.<\/p>\n International Buddhist Relief Organization drew attention to the world\u2019s most ruthless terrorist organization which had been operating in Sri Lanka for over 30 years.\u00a0 Failing to achieve its aims by terror, it had now reverted to work under the guise of a civil society organization.\u00a0 The Council had been silent about the operations of the Tamil Tigers.\u00a0 The Council was urged to remain impartial instead of being led on by a group of expatriate Tamils who lived in Europe and north America.<\/p>\n Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association MBOSCUDA said that in India, the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 represented a clear symptom of oppression in the region and had become a symbol of genocide in several Indian States.\u00a0 The continued application of this Act would bring on more inhumanity, genocidal practices and a culture of impunity, as activities by the army under this Act targeted the most marginalised communities and national and religious minorities in India.<\/p>\n Association pour l’Int\u00e9gration et le D\u00e9veloppement Durable au Burundi<\/em>\u00a0was concerned about the continued human rights violations against scheduled castes and schedule type minorities and urged the Council to hold India accountable for human rights violations against those communities.\u00a0 The measures taken by India to increase access to higher education for those groups were appreciated but they were not enough.<\/p>\n VAAGDHARA said that in Manipur, India, efforts towards self-determination were met with militarization.\u00a0 There were direct civilian casualties and enforced disappearances, and the Council was urged to end all forms of violence against women by the armed forces in Manipur.\u00a0\u00a0 The Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 should be repealed.<\/p>\n ABC Tamil Oli said Australia was signatory to a convention which applied to people seeking asylum by sea.\u00a0 Tamil women were particularly vulnerable, with one woman having been raped by soldiers but her application had failed as the rape was said to be opportunistic and her husband would be able to protect her upon her return to Sri Lanka.\u00a0 The woman was anxious when she saw men in army uniform, and would reside in a militarized area upon her return to Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n ANAJA (Lord replied) said the Human Rights Council had provided many recommendations to the Sri Lankan Government but most of them had been rejected.\u00a0 United Nations mechanisms had failed to protect the Tamils from genocide.\u00a0 There were 90,000 war widows, and the Sri Lankan State needed to demilitarize Tamil lands.\u00a0 The international community needed to protect Tamils.<\/p>\n Prahar voiced concern about the grave human rights violations committed in the state of Assam in north east India.\u00a0 The Council was urged to communicate with the State of India in order to ensure assistance for the populations in Assam.<\/p>\n ASSOCIATION CULTURELLE DES TAMOULS EN France<\/em>\u00a0welcomed the statement of the High Commissioner asking the Government of Sri Lanka to account for the atrocities committed in the past.\u00a0 Sri Lanka was asked to set up a court to investigate past human rights violations.\u00a0 Sri Lanka was urged to act in good faith to account for the crimes committed during the past conflict.<\/p>\n Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul<\/em>\u00a0voiced concern that despite a change in presidency in 2015 in Sri Lanka, the State continued to promote a culture of impunity and did not implement human rights, in line with the previous government.\u00a0 It was important to establish a court to investigate past crimes.<\/p>\n Association solidarit\u00e9 internationale pour l’Afrique (SIA)<\/em>\u00a0said that since its last Universal Periodic Review, Sri Lanka had undergone changes to its Presidency, but the oppression and harassment of journalists and human rights defenders continued, particularly those active on the question of the activities of the army in the occupied lands in the north and east of the country.<\/p>\n Association for the Victims of the World recalled that the promises that Sri Lanka had made during its previous Universal Periodic Review concerning ensuring access to justice for the Tamils had not yet been met.\u00a0 The army had grabbed the land of the Tamils in the north and east and prevented them from returning.\u00a0 The Council should press upon Sri Lanka to speedily ratify the Rome Statute in order to prevent crimes in the future and protect the Tamils.<\/p>\n Association des \u00e9tudiants tamouls de France said that the authorities in Sri Lanka continued their repression against Tamils who continued to live under the occupation since the conflict had ended in 2009.\u00a0 During the upcoming Universal Periodic Review reviews of Sri Lanka, the Council Member States should insist that Sri Lanka repeal the anti-terrorism legislation, and ensure the legal protection of all suspects at the time of arrest, including speedy access to a trial.<\/p>\n LE PONT expressed concern at the genocide of Tamils in 2009, when United Nations mechanisms had failed to protect Tamils.\u00a0 The Sri Lankan Government was still occupying Tamil land in Sri Lanka.\u00a0 The Government of Sri Lanka was called on to recognize Tamil rights to self-determination.\u00a0 Arrests and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, internet users and journalists were deeply concerning.\u00a0 Accountability and justice should not be sacrificed.<\/p>\n Alliance Creative Community Project said on 15 November, Sri Lanka would undergo its third Universal Periodic Review.\u00a0 The Tamils of Eelam had been subjected to brutal repression.\u00a0 Torture and disappearance of Tamils had occurred.\u00a0 There was virtual military rule in areas of Sri Lanka.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council was urged to investigate war crimes and crimes of genocide.<\/p>\n Indian Council of South America called on Brazil to address attacks on indigenous people, and to adopt the international criminal obligations that had been recommended.\u00a0 Ecuador was called on to adopt the same measures.\u00a0 Bahrain was called on to allow for the full and free participation and cooperation of civil society.\u00a0 As for the United States, the country was urged not to equivocate, and to watch and listen and look at the Universal Periodic Review recommendations it had not accepted.<\/p>\n L’Observatoire Mauritanien des Droits de l’Homme et de la D\u00e9mocratie<\/em>recalled that Sri Lanka would be reviewed by the Universal Periodic Review next November.\u00a0 United Nations mechanisms had failed to protect Tamil victims from the genocide by Sri Lanka in 2009.\u00a0 The last recommendations issued on this subject were too broad and vague.\u00a0 It was disappointing that the Universal Periodic Review sessions were not open for non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n Tamil Uzhagam was concerned that Sri Lanka was seeking to escape from accountability for past crimes.\u00a0 Torture and killings of Tamils continued to happen.\u00a0 Tamil Uzhagam urged that Sri Lanka was referred to the International Criminal Court and asked the Secretary-General to visit Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n Association Thendral drew the attention of the Council to the lack of accountability for crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka.\u00a0 It was alarming that the recommendations made in 2012, including the ratification of the Rome statute and the investigation into crimes committed in the past, had not been implemented.\u00a0 Sri Lanka was urged to establish a special court to investigate crimes committed during the war and to ratify the Rome statute.<\/p>\n Tourner la page<\/em>\u00a0stated that due to the horrific level of abuses and violations against the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner for Human Rights should refer the situation to the International Criminal Court.\u00a0 An independent international inquiry into the genocide against the Tamils by Sri Lanka should also be conducted.\u00a0 The lengthy delays in holding the Sri Lankan Government accountable undermined the credibility of the United Nations.<\/p>\n Association of World Citizens noted that recommendations based on specific indicators would improve the efficiency of the Universal Periodic Review, and that the ratification of core international instruments by States could be some of the most important accomplishments of the Universal Periodic Review.\u00a0 It strongly encouraged all States from all regions to formulate their recommendations using Sustainable Development Goals indicators in a very specific manner.<\/p>\n Health and Environment Programme noted that despite the challenges it was facing, Bahrain was making all efforts to protect and promote human rights.\u00a0 The respect of human rights was a goal to uphold while facing terrorism.\u00a0 Bahrain was one of few States that had committed to voluntary contributions to families and a new law on the\u00a0 media.\u00a0 The Programme welcomed the new law on the Internet.<\/p>\n The Next Century Foundation noted the shortcomings of the Universal Periodic Review, namely the failure to hold to account the United Kingdom for its leading role in the fall of Libyan President Gaddafi.\u00a0 The shortcomings of the United Kingdom to have an embassy in that country compounded the human rights catastrophe left behind in Libya nowadays.\u00a0 The Universal Periodic Review should be more constructive and prone to reconciliation.<\/p>\n International Human Rights Association of American Minorities welcomed the ratification of the Rome statute by Yemen.\u00a0 Since the coup d\u2019Etat of the Houthis, the human rights situation had strongly deteriorated.\u00a0 The Houthis were the major players in human rights violations.\u00a0 Assassinations were carried out and many amounted to crimes against humanity and war crimes.\u00a0 Perpetrators could now be referred to the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n Africa Culture International congratulated the reforms led in Bahrain as well as its engagement with the United Nations\u2019 instruments.\u00a0 Bahrain promoted the protection of women, children and vulnerable groups.\u00a0 Africa Culture Internationale encouraged the Government to establish a specific policy for the development and promotion of human rights and for the protection of women and children.<\/p>\n United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation noted that North Africa was extremely vulnerable to climate change.\u00a0 Its effects were even worse in Tunisia, especially when it came to water resources.\u00a0 Recent storms in the north west of Tunisia had led to significant losses and had affected agricultural and commercial activities.\u00a0 Climate fluctuations were a major challenge for this region which had to face it with very few resources.<\/p>\n International Educational Development, Inc. continued to question the efficacy of the Universal Periodic Review in promoting compliance with international human rights standards given the high demands on the time and resources of the Council and the States.\u00a0 Certain States complied, others barely and some not at all.\u00a0 The process was not one for actually addressing the pressing issues of human rights, it was more ceremonial rather than substantive.<\/p>\n Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit \u2013 COC Nederland\u00a0<\/em>said that Tunisia had made considerable progress in protecting human rights, particularly women\u2019s rights, but it had only noted 19 recommendations concerning sexual orientation and gender identity issues during its latest cycle.\u00a0 Tunisia had not accepted even those recommendations which asked Tunisia to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were protected from violence and discrimination.<\/p>\n Centre for Organization Research and Education spoke with concern about the human rights situation of indigenous peoples and minorities in several Indian states where the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 was enforced.\u00a0 India should urgently comply with the recommendations it had received during its Universal Periodic Review cycle, repeal the Act and protect the concerned groups from genocidal actions.<\/p>\n General Debate on the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territories<\/strong><\/p>\n Statements by the Concerned Countries<\/strong><\/p>\n Israel was not in the room to take the floor as a country concerned.<\/p>\n State of Palestine, speaking as a concerned country, expressed strong dismay at Israel\u2019s boycott of item 7 on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, underlining that Israel refused to comply with its international obligations and that it had continued with its colonial policy and daily attacks against Palestinians for over 50 years.\u00a0 Israel continued its abuses, arbitrary detentions, ethnic cleansing, stealing of land and natural resources, imposing sieges, building settlements, attacks on religious leaders and places, and carrying out raids and assassinations.\u00a0 Israel carried out forcible displacement of Palestinians which threatened their survival in certain neighbourhoods of Jerusalem.\u00a0 Among its provocative actions, Israel had plans for the building of four new settlements.\u00a0 The State of Palestine called on the international community to take serious measures to deter Israel and to prevent its settlement plans.\u00a0 All those who imported products from the Israeli settlements grossly violated international law.\u00a0 The Gaza Strip continued to suffer from the 10-year blockade, which amounted to collective punishment against two million Palestinians.<\/p>\n Syria, speaking as a concerned country, noted that the people of the occupied Syrian Golan were victims of violations committed by the occupying Israeli power, which stole natural resources and prevented Syrians from making their livelihoods.\u00a0 Syria called on the international community to put an end to that practice, and warned that Israel had decided to hold elections in the occupied territory in clear violation of United Nations resolutions.\u00a0 Those violations required monitoring and accountability, and Syria called on all United Nations agencies to monitor the situation of Syrians in the occupied Syrian Golan, and to open a United Nations office there.\u00a0 Syria condemned the continued occupation of Palestinian lands and the human rights violations committed against Palestinians by Israel.\u00a0 The international community should prevent Israel from acting with impunity.\u00a0 This agenda item had to remain on the Council\u2019s agenda as long as Israel continued to occupy Palestinian and Syrian lands.\u00a0 Israel supported the Syrian opposition in Syria to serve its terrorist agenda.<\/p>\n General Debate<\/strong><\/p>\n Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, reiterated its support for Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories.\u00a0 Israel was responsible for abusive reactions, enforced disappearances and forced displacement of civilians.\u00a0 The ongoing Israeli occupation amounted to a situation of apartheid and should be strongly condemned.\u00a0 The international community was urged to address this issue.<\/p>\n Tunisia, speaking on behalf of the African Group, reiterated its unwavering support to the historic struggle of the people of Palestine to realize their right to self-determination as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.\u00a0 Throughout almost seven decades, the Israeli Military occupation of Arab territories had lent itself to a situation of protracted conflict that had taken a heavy toll on the livelihood of Palestinians.<\/p>\n Egypt, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, was concerned about the situation of human rights in the Palestinian occupied territories.\u00a0 Israel had been occupying the Palestinian territories since 1967 in contravention of international law.\u00a0 Half a million settlers were now living in the occupied territories.\u00a0 The continued violations reflected the incapacity of the international community to solve the issue and the lack of recognition of the right to self-determination for Palestinians.\u00a0\u00a0 Israel had been continuously trying to entrench its control on Jerusalem, including by building settlements, withdrawing rights to residency and confiscating lands.<\/p>\n Nicaragua, speaking in a joint statement, remained greatly concerned by the reports of serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories, where Israeli settlement activities seriously endangered the viability of the two-State solution.\u00a0 This solution was the only way to guarantee that both peoples could live together in peace, security and full enjoyment of their human rights.\u00a0 The Council and Member States had a legal duty towards the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was worried about the escalation of the human rights violations by Israel, which was advancing its policy of mass colonisation and apartheid.\u00a0 It was equally concerning that the international community remained silent and turned a blind eye to its ally\u2019s disregard for its human rights duties and obligations.\u00a0 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation called for the urgent release of over 7,000 Palestinians who were arbitrarily detained and held in Israeli prisons.<\/p>\n Qatar firmly condemned racist violations by Israel which considered itself above the international community and continued to show that it was not ready to be a partner for peace.\u00a0 The Palestinian cause would not be marginalized by the current situation in the region, as this was the cause of all Arabs, Muslims and the world.\u00a0 The international community must end its silence, and demand of Israel to stop the building of the settlements and of the separation wall, and end the illegal blockade of Gaza.<\/p>\n Brazil noted that the prolonged occupation of the Palestinian lands had had an unmistakable impact on the human rights of Palestinians.\u00a0 The occupation had eroded respect for fundamental freedoms, degraded the rule of law, rewarded discrimination and inhibited civil society space.\u00a0 The need to increase efforts to realize the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people had become all the more urgent.\u00a0 Respect for human rights was essential to attaining sustainable peace and security between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n Iraq reaffirmed its full and sincere solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people and other Arab people under the Israeli occupation.\u00a0 It condemned all the gross human rights violations perpetrated by Israel, including house demolitions, use of excessive force against civilians, and arbitrary detention.\u00a0 The recent arbitrary procedures by the occupying power to prevent Palestinians from accessing their places of worship had flouted the most fundamental principles of human rights.\u00a0 Iraq called on the Council to attach more importance to the human rights of Palestinians.<\/p>\n United Arab Emirates expressed concern that the discussion at the Human Rights Council about the Palestinian issue had been receding, and that there was a reduction of civil society space.\u00a0 It reiterated that the rights of Palestinian people had to be protected by the Council.\u00a0 In the West Bank, Israeli actions had led to the restriction of movement and the shrinking of economic activity.\u00a0 Israel continued to flout international law.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia stressed that the current discussion concerned one of the longest occupations in modern history.\u00a0 The Israeli aggression was unjust and Saudi Arabia categorically condemned the non-participation of a number of countries in the discussion under item 7.\u00a0 The international community had failed to ensure that Israel complied with its international obligations, and Saudi Arabia requested that the Council protect the people of Palestine, not merely with words, but by bringing Israel to account for its violations of human rights.<\/p>\n Cuba said the Palestinian people continued to suffer violations of their human rights.\u00a0 The policies of colonization constituted an obstacle to human rights for the people living in the affected areas.\u00a0 As violations persisted, this agenda item had to remain on the Council\u2019s agenda.\u00a0 Israel had to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, and it would not be possible to achieve a lasting solution to the Palestinian situation if the Palestinian people were not allowed to enjoy their self-determination.<\/p>\n Venezuela said Israel had consolidated a colonizing structure, which included the construction of the wall and the expansion of settlements, as well as torture of the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The actions had increased tensions on religious grounds.\u00a0 The international community had to put an end to the inhumane conduct of the Israeli Government.\u00a0 Israel was seeking to eradicate all traces of the Palestinian community.\u00a0 It was strange that there were no dissuasive elements standing in the way of the occupying power.<\/p>\n Egypt continued to be concerned about the illegal practices of Israel, particularly in East Jerusalem, and the related impunity.\u00a0 The absence of progress towards peace over the decades continued to contribute to the suffering of the Palestinian people.\u00a0 Egypt would spare no effort to ensure the creation of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and called upon the Human Rights Council to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and address the Israeli violations in a serious manner.<\/p>\n Ecuador reaffirmed its strong commitment to the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and its support for the two-State solution, to end the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, which had brought much suffering to so many.\u00a0 Israel must end the illegal blockade of Gaza, stop violating international human rights and humanitarian law, and end impunity for all those who violated human rights.\u00a0 It must also ensure access of all victims to justice and reparations, including the restitution of lands.<\/p>\n Bolivia lamented over 50 years of injustice resulting from the Israeli occupation and its neo-colonial policies, including the construction of illegal settlements, illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, arbitrary arrests of thousands, and acts of collective punishment.\u00a0 The majority of the world\u2019s States had called for the end of the illegal blockade of Gaza, but this call had been ignored by a handful of States.\u00a0 Bolivia reiterated the importance of this item remaining on the Council\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n Tunisia drew attention to the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian children by Israel, who had been victims of physical and psychological violence.\u00a0 Israel acted as a power above international law.\u00a0\u00a0 Despite all the Israeli practices against the Palestinian people, Israel wanted to make the international community think that it was a victim.\u00a0 The international community had to shoulder its responsibility and bring Israel to account.\u00a0 Lasting peace in the region would not take place without the end of the occupation.<\/p>\n South Africa reminded that despite the world preaching a two-State solution in Palestine, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements continued unabated.\u00a0 The continuing settlement activity and security measures adopted to protect settlers and their movement, and the violence committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property, were behind most of the human rights violations.\u00a0 South Africa called for the resumption of negotiations leading to a two-State solution.<\/p>\n China noted that the Palestinian issue was key to peace in the Middle East.\u00a0 It was the international community\u2019s obligation to defend the rights of Palestinians.\u00a0 For some time the international community had increased efforts for peace and China expressed hope that Palestine and Israel would resume negotiations.\u00a0 It promoted the two-State solution to the conflict, with a sustainable and shared concept of security, and implementation of integrated policies to promote peace and development.<\/p>\n Bangladesh said 24 years after the signature of the Oslo accords, it was disappointing that the Palestinians continued to experience deprivation of their human rights.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s settlement activities had put the two-State solution into jeopardy.\u00a0 Ending impunity and combatting terrorism was talked about a lot, but the time had come for the international community to recall to Israel that it must end its occupation.\u00a0 The commitment by one side to peace was not enough, and until Israel showed its commitment, the Human Rights Council needed to continue its efforts.<\/p>\n Nigeria noted with concern the lack of will by the State of Israel to implement United Nations resolutions aimed at resolving the lingering crisis.\u00a0 Nigeria called on the Human Rights Council and the international community to live up to its responsibility and ensure that the occupying power abided by United Nations resolutions.\u00a0 Nigeria reaffirmed its continued support to the struggle of the Palestinian people and their right to live in peace and justice, in line with the two-State solution.<\/p>\n Indonesia said agenda item 7 on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories should be retained as a reminder of the continuation of the grave human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territory.\u00a0 Illegal settlements were deeply concerning.\u00a0 The culture of impunity and exceptionalism enjoyed by the perpetrators of human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories led to a call for the Human Rights Council to ascertain responsibility for the perpetrators.<\/p>\n Nicaragua reiterated its solidarity with the Palestinian people and the just cause to establish a sovereign Palestinian State which would become a full member of the United Nations.\u00a0 The deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, was a direct consequence of the illegal occupation by Israel.\u00a0 Nicaragua continued to hope that the historic responsibilities of the United Nations would be fulfilled so that both peoples could live in sustainable peace.<\/p>\n Pakistan said that the violations of international law by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories continued to be of great concern.\u00a0 This debate was a reminder of the collective failure of the United Nations to address this issue, and to ensure the two-State solution with East Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n Kuwait called for an end to the Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories which were tantamount to war crimes.\u00a0 Kuwait was surprised to see a number of countries trying to undermine this agenda item, as this was at odds with their human rights commitments.\u00a0 The international community, and in particular the United Nations Security Council, must put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Russian Federation expressed concern about the ongoing degradation of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that the situation in Jerusalem should be resolved in strict compliance with the United Nations General Assembly resolutions.\u00a0 Unlawful Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories undermined the principles of international law.\u00a0 The Russian Federation called for the end of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, noting that only on the basis of international law and direct negotiations could sustainable peace in the region be achieved.<\/p>\n Maldives reasserted its full solidarity with the people of Palestine, condemning the violations of their rights.\u00a0 It expressed concern about the lack of access to safe drinking water of the people in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 It was of great concern that Israel was establishing its settlements which robbed both the oppressor and the oppressed of basic human dignity.\u00a0 Maldives called on the international community to seek lasting peace in the region.<\/p>\n Sudan stressed the importance of keeping item 7 as a standing item on the Human Rights Council\u2019s agenda, and called on Israel to fully withdraw from the occupied Palestinian lands and to provide Palestinians with an opportunity for self-determination.\u00a0 Israel was still gravely violating international law and the international community bore a huge legal and ethical responsibility to hold Israel accountable for its violations.<\/p>\n Chile said the Government of Israel continued to build settlements, and recalled a Security Council resolution that condemned all measures aiming to demographically change the occupied territories.\u00a0 Israel had an obligation to abide by its responsibilities, and the Palestinian people were suffering.\u00a0 All parties to the conflict were called on to take action, and Chile was committed to the two-State solution.<\/p>\n Malaysia said the world continued to witness atrocious human rights violations.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s apartheid-like policies were in contempt of international law.\u00a0 There had been complete impunity.\u00a0 Suppressing international attention to the Palestinians had been attempted.\u00a0 The question of Palestine should continue to remain an integral part of the work of the United Nations.<\/p>\n Libya said serious crimes were being committed by Israel, which were tantamount to war crimes, as the colonization continued.\u00a0 The Libyan delegation stated that agenda item 7 needed to be kept on the agenda, as this reflected the historical responsibility of the United Nations.<\/p>\n Bahrain insisted on the importance of agenda item 7 which had to be retained until the illegal occupation of the Palestinian and other Arab territories by Israel ended.\u00a0 Israel continued to reject United Nations resolutions and to violate international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention which applied to all occupying powers.\u00a0 The occupying power must respect the United Nations resolutions and guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n Namibia noted that while the discussions on the right to development had been prominent in the Council, little had been said about this right for the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The 50 years of Israeli occupation had resulted in the lack of development and supressed human potential, and had caused extremely high unemployment rates among the youth and women.<\/p>\n Morocco reiterated that the Palestinian cause was one of the most just among all those which had been examined by the United Nations, and yet, this cause remained without a solution.\u00a0 Morocco reaffirmed its support for the two-State solution and a sovereign Palestinian State within its 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n Senegal stated that the situation prevailing in Palestine remained a cause for concern with continuing settlement activity by Israel, including in Jerusalem.\u00a0 Sudan appealed to the international community to increase its efforts to find a durable solution to the conflict, and ensure that the parties came to the negotiating table.\u00a0 Senegal advocated for a two-State solution in Palestine.<\/p>\n Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea reminded that despite repeated calls and demands of the international community, Israel continued to commit various forms of human rights violations in Palestine and other Arab occupied territories.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s persistent denial of the right to self-determination and the right to survival constituted a flagrant violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.\u00a0 Its flagrant human rights violations could never be justified or tolerated on any account.<\/p>\n Turkey noted that Israel\u2019s illegal settlement expansion policy violated international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and it was damaging the viability of a two-State solution, adding that the Israeli occupation was the major obstacle for the realization of all the fundamental human rights of Palestinians.\u00a0 The preservation of the historical status and sanctity of Jerusalem and the Islamic character of Al-Haram Al-Sharif was of prime importance for peace and stability.<\/p>\n Angola reiterated its support for the struggle of the people of Palestine to realize their right to self-determination as well as their political, economic, social and cultural rights.\u00a0 Angola defended the principle of a two-State solution as the only way to achieve peace in the region.\u00a0 The international community needed to make every effort for a serious and constructive dialogue.<\/p>\n Iran said there was a need to put an end to the horrible suffering of the Palestinian people and to the Israeli threat to international peace and stability.\u00a0 The international community was seeing the situation deteriorating as a result of crimes, and the humanitarian disaster remained without redress.\u00a0 The confiscation of Palestinian land was a grave breach of international law.\u00a0 The international community needed to act decisively, and must not allow impunity to continue scot-free.<\/p>\n Jordan said the main cause of violations of human rights was the occupation, and the main party in charge of such violations was Israel, the occupying power.\u00a0 Violations of the human rights of Palestinian detainees was condemned, as was Israel\u2019s aggression against the holy sites.\u00a0 Providing an enabling environment that launched genuine political effort towards achieving a two-State solution was needed.<\/p>\n Algeria expressed its concern about the Palestinian people who continued to suffer the scourges of Israeli occupation which defied the basic principles of humanity and violated all principles of international law.\u00a0 The activities by Israel were a threat to a mere existence and sustainability of the State of Palestine, and Algeria called upon all Member States to implement the Security Council resolutions, particularly those which called upon Israel to stop the construction of illegal settlements.<\/p>\n Gulf Cooperation Council strongly condemned the violations of the rights of the Palestinian people and awaited the database on the businesses articulating directly or indirectly in the construction of illegal settlements which was under preparation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.\u00a0 The occupying power must be held accountable for its violations.\u00a0 The Gulf Cooperation Council stressed that the lasting peace would not be viable without the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied lands.<\/p>\n Oman said that the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories must be kept on the agenda of the Human Rights Council and urged all countries which supported human rights to participate in this discussion until the very end of the occupation.\u00a0 Oman called upon the international community to encourage Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories, including the Syrian Golan.<\/p>\n Lebanon affirmed its commitment to agenda item 7, which was not a selective item as it covered a unique humanitarian situation.\u00a0 Israel as the occupying power was violating the rights of Palestinian people through an aggressive policy that deserved to be condemned.\u00a0 It was surprising that some countries boycotted item 7 which encouraged Israel to continue its policies with impunity.<\/p>\n Mauritania noted with concern the human rights violations by the occupying power in Palestine.\u00a0 For the people of Palestine the occupation had meant five decades of economic recession and the lack of the right to development.\u00a0 Mauritania condemned the use of collective punishment by Israel against Palestinians, as well as its settlement activities.\u00a0 It reiterated its support for the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people to a State of their own.<\/p>\n Amuta for NGO Responsibility was concerned about false allegations made by the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund about ill treatment inflicted on minors by Israel\u2019s military justice system.\u00a0 Such allegations were false and Israeli\u2019s military justice system met all the requirements of a true and transparent process.\u00a0 Israel should not be demonized.<\/p>\n Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture was concerned about the medical situation of prisoners and detainees in Israel.\u00a0 Cancer had become widespread.\u00a0 Several prisoners suffered from lung cancer and no one was listening to them.\u00a0 These illnesses were strengthened by medical negligence.\u00a0 The Council was urged to address the violations of human rights in detention centres and to launch a fact-finding mission to research the medical situation of prisoners.<\/p>\n The Palestinian Return Centre Ltd was concerned about the continuous denial of Palestinians right to return home.\u00a0 The Palestinian people continued to be attacked by the Israeli army, including in refugee camps.\u00a0 Every Member State should bring justice to Palestine.\u00a0 The way to peace in the region was determined by the return of refugees.<\/p>\n World Jewish Congress reiterated its opposition to the publication of the \u201cshameful and counterproductive\u201d blacklist of international and Israeli companies operating beyond the Green Line.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council was called on to refrain from publishing the database and to consider Israel fairly as any other country under agenda item 4.<\/p>\n Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, in a joint statement with Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, said Israel aimed at suppressing Palestinian steadfastness and worked to fulfil its demographic goals of forcible transfer and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 Israeli violations continued unabated while stakeholders from different countries continued to invest in the unlawfulness of the occupation.<\/p>\n International Federation for Human Rights Leagues said there had been recent Israeli attacks on Palestinian schools, homes, and other structures.\u00a0 Civil society urged Member States to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice and to provide victims with reparation.\u00a0 The role of the International Criminal Court was important.\u00a0 All States should support all accountability efforts to address those crimes and cooperate fully with the Office of the Prosecutor.<\/p>\n Badil Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights drew attention to the fact that thousands of foreign individuals married to Palestinian residents of the West Bank had been increasingly affected by restrictions on their ability to remain in the West Bank with their spouses.\u00a0 Israel had halted their ability to obtain legal status via family reunification in 2009.\u00a0 The law was clearly discriminatory as this only applied to Palestinians and not to Jewish Israeli citizens.<\/p>\n Union of Arab Jurists noted that Israel believed that it was beyond law and that it practiced the policy of apartheid vis-\u00e0-vis Palestinians.\u00a0 Israel had adopted the most discriminatory laws since its creation.\u00a0 In the occupied Syrian Golan, it continued to carry out forced displacements and to build settlements.<\/p>\n Human Rights Watch reminded that the Israeli authorities continued to expand their settlements in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 They had approved plans for 85 per cent more housing units in the first half of 2017 than during all of 2016.\u00a0 The humanitarian situation in Gaza remained dire as power outages jeopardized water supply, inhibited processing sewage, and crippled operations in hospitals.<\/p>\n Defence for Children International said that Israel was the only country in the world that systematically prosecuted between 500 and 700 children each year in military courts lacking fundamental fair trial rights.\u00a0 Three hundred and thirty-one Palestinian children were detained in Israeli prisons at the end of May 2017, a 62 per cent increase compared to data from 2012 to 2015.<\/p>\n Conseil International pour le soutien \u00e0 des proc\u00e8s \u00e9quitables et aux Droits de l’Homme<\/em> World Muslim Congress said that this year marked the fiftieth year of the occupation of Palestine.\u00a0 Palestinians were killed and arrested almost every day.\u00a0 The announcement made by Israel in June to reduce the distribution of electrical power to Gaza was alarming.\u00a0 The constant disregard for Palestinian lives could only lead to an escalation in the situation.\u00a0 Human rights defenders were systematically targeted.<\/p>\n Conseil de jeunesse pluriculturelle<\/em>\u00a0said the detention of children had been on the rise, in addition to administrative arrests.\u00a0 Such violations of the rights of children below the age of 18 was not acceptable.\u00a0 Israel was terrorizing Palestinian children, and in 2006, about 420 children had on average been arrested, and had suffered from psychological abuse.\u00a0 The children were residents of prisons and did not receive any treatment, an infringement on their basic rights.<\/p>\n International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations said the people of Palestine had suffered under a brutal occupation for 50 years, but the international community had not put pressure on Israel to uphold international law.\u00a0 The agenda item was not about Israel, but about the occupation, and it would remain until the end of the occupation.\u00a0 All Member States were called on to participate in discussions under item 7 in the future.<\/p>\n United Nations Watch asked the Palestinian Authority where its legitimacy came from, as the Palestinian people had not elected them.\u00a0 Palestinian students were kidnapped from campuses and were tortured in jail. \u00a0The Palestinian Authority used the platform of the Human Rights Council to mislead the international community and mislead Palestinian society into believing that Israel was responsible for the problems it had created.<\/p>\n Agence pour les droits de l\u2019homme expressed concern about the number of attacks against Palestinian Christians by Israeli extremists.\u00a0 Such anti-Christian violence did not consist only of isolated vandalism, but it was accompanied by systematic violations.\u00a0 The organization called on the Human Rights Council to protect the delicate community balance in the Old City of Jerusalem.<\/p>\n Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches drew attention to the devastating impact of Israeli\u2019s policies of occupation, including forcible displacement.\u00a0 Despite the fact that the International Court of Justice had declared it illegal, Israel had continued the construction of the wall in the Cremisan Valley between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and had dispossessed dozens of Palestinian Christian families in the process.<\/p>\n International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination stated that it had been documenting violations by Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian civilians since 2014.\u00a0 The threats, arrests and killings suffered daily by civil society representatives highlighted the importance of providing protection to human rights activists.\u00a0 Their work was vital in documenting Israeli crimes.<\/p>\n International-Lawyers.Org said that Israel had failed to ensure equal enjoyment of socio-economic rights between Jewish and non-Jewish populations in all areas under its effective control.\u00a0 Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods had devastated the Palestinian economy and caused hardship and a protracted humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n International Buddhist Relief Organization stated that like Palestinian children, Tamil children had also been traumatised by war.\u00a0 Although the war was technically over in Sri Lanka, Tamils continued to face difficult living conditions, notably the diaspora established in Australia.\u00a0 Tamil children were exposed to propaganda posters.\u00a0 The international community should act to prevent them from becoming terrorists.<\/p>\n Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man outlined that over the past 50 years, Israel had systematically appropriated Palestinian land and unlawfully exploited Palestinian natural resources for the purpose of establishing and expanding illegal Israeli settlements, particularly in the Jordan Valley area.\u00a0 Israel continued to illegally exercise sovereign rights over 90 per cent of the Jordan Valley.<\/p>\n ADALAH – Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel said recently, the Israeli Interior Ministry had revoked residency for four people.\u00a0 Another judgment had given Parliament six months to amend a law.\u00a0 Those acts amounted to illegal collective punishment.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council was urged to pressure Israel to reinstate the citizenship of Palestinians and stop all measures of collective punishment.<\/p>\n B’nai B’rith, in a joint statement with Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations, said the High Commissioner for Human Rights had requested a report mandated by a resolution calling for a database of companies active in the Palestinian territories.\u00a0 A boycott had constituted the first phase of the Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany.\u00a0 The businesses being blacklisted employed thousands of Palestinians who would be unemployed.\u00a0 The proposed report should be abandoned.<\/p>\n Association of World Citizens said the right to peace was the most basic and significant human right, and Israel and Iran were two of the powerful countries in the region.\u00a0 Many citizens of Israel and Iran did not feel enmity toward each other.\u00a0 Acceptance of the international code of conduct against ballistic missile proliferation might reduce tensions between these countries.<\/p>\n Indian Movement \u201cTupaj Amaru\u201d reiterated its solidarity with the Palestinian people, noting that the opposition to item 7 in the Human Rights Council rendered all relevant international resolutions on the issue of the occupied Palestinian territories meaningless.\u00a0 There would be no peace nor justice so long as the Israeli authorities continued their oppression of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Meezan Centre for Human Rights stated that the Palestinian people suffered from policies of Judaisation which were becoming more intense.\u00a0 The Palestinians were not allowed to build on their own land, which constituted a violation of one of the most basic rights.\u00a0 People had been detained because they wanted to access the Al-Aqsa mosque.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council should take a stronger stance on Israel.<\/p>\n International Human Rights Association of American Minorities noted that the Israeli occupation was expelling Palestinians and destroying their houses.\u00a0 Limitations had been imposed on freedom of belief.\u00a0 Hundreds of Palestinians had been injured as a result of their protests against that limitation.\u00a0 Palestinians suffered from the worst forms of oppression and violation.<\/p>\n Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA” said that between January and the end of August 2017, Israel had committed a total of 227 violations against Palestinian journalists and media outlets, including 89 which were committed in July alone.\u00a0 Israel continued to apply discriminatory policies against Palestinian journalists.<\/p>\n Africa Culture International said Israel continued to kill Palestinian civilians, including children and women, while thousands of Palestinians were still arbitrarily detained.\u00a0 Acts of torture were still committed against detainees.\u00a0 Israeli authorities were trying to legalize retroactively the settlements on Palestinian lands.\u00a0\u00a0 Africa Culture Internationale asked what the Council was doing to guarantee access to Special Procedure missions in Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n Norwegian Refugee Council outlined that the right to education in Palestine was under attack as the availability and accessibility of education was undermined.\u00a0 In the West Bank, the imposition of an aberrant spatial planning regime had resulted in critical classroom shortages and in the destruction of school buildings.\u00a0 In August alone, three educational facilities had been destroyed by Israeli authorities.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling said there were presently more than 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the Palestinian territories.\u00a0 Detained Palestinian women were held in mixed prisons.\u00a0 Israel had to be forced to uphold its international responsibilities and impunity had to end.\u00a0 As for the blockade on Gaza, humanitarian assistance should be allowed through its borders.<\/p>\n Servas International expressed deep concern about the ongoing expansion of settlements.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council resolution of 2016 establishing a database of business enterprises involved in settlement activities was an important step to address that issue.\u00a0 The 50 years of Israeli occupation had to end and all States should participate in the peace process.<\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n 1Joint statement on behalf of: International Humanist and Ethical Union; Alliance Defending Freedom; Baha’i International Community; Christian Solidarity Worldwide; European Humanist Federation; International Association for Religious Freedom; International Fellowship of Reconciliation.<\/p>\n \u00a0__________<\/p>\n For use of the information media; not an official record<\/em><\/p>\n Fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Human Rights Council MORNING 25 September 2017 Concludes General Debate on the Universal Periodic Review The Human Rights Council this morning held a general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.\u00a0 It also concluded the general debate on the Universal Periodic Review. The Council started the general debate on […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[2433,1329],"document-source":[1602,1825,2009],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1741],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-113777","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-french-text","document-category-press-release","document-source-human-rights-council","document-source-office-of-the-united-nations-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-ohchr","document-source-united-nations-office-at-geneva-unog","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/113777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/113777\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=113777"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=113777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nthanked the Council for maintaining item 7 on its agenda despite Israel and the United States\u2019 will to delete it.\u00a0 The situation in Palestine was the only remaining colonial system in the world.\u00a0 It was a tragedy and the international community was still passive vis-a-vis the grave violations of the rights of children and women.\u00a0 The world was witnessing passively.<\/p>\n