On 24 June, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies presented an oral intervention at the 26thsession of the United Nations Human Rights Council (convened in Geneva until the 27 June) regarding the situation of human rights in the Palestinian occupied territories.
During the oral intervention, CIHRS affirmed its rejection of the detention of hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons without charge, calling for either clear charges to be laid against them or their immediate release. It also noted its opposition to the proposed “forced-feeding” law, which the Israeli Knesset is set to vote on, and which will be applied to prisoners on hunger strike in contravention of international standards.
CHIRS also called on UN member states to boycott, divest, and/or restrict investments and business dealings that enable the illegal building of settlements on Palestinian occupied territories. In addition to this, the CIHRS called on civil society and businesses “to join the growing global solidarity movement to resist the prolonged Israeli occupation and creeping annexation of Palestine.”
For a full transcript of the oral intervention, check below.
Human Rights Council 26th Session
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and Al-Haq
24th june 2014
Item 7 General Debate
Delivered by Paola Salwan Daher
Thank you Mr. President
CIHRS remains concerned by the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the state of Israel against the Palestinian people.
We remain especially concerned by the hundreds of Palestinians administratively detained by Israel without being charged, a group of a dozen of whom currently are on a hunger strike and who may face forced feeding if the legislative amendment on force-feeding is passed before the Israeli Knesset. This bill would reportedly contain a new provision that would allow for the sedation of prisoners who refuse force-feeding, in contradiction with international standards. Recalling a statement made by UN experts in May 2013, and according to the World Medical Assembly’s Declaration of Malta, in cases involving people on hunger strikes, the duty of medical personnel to act ethically and the principle of respect for individuals’ autonomy, among other principles, must be respected. Under these principles, it is unjustifiable to engage in forced feeding of individuals contrary to their informed and voluntary refusal of such a measure.
We echo the call made by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay and the UN Secretary General to either charge these detainees and provide them with due process, or release them.
CIHRS also welcomes the work achieved by outgoing United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Mr. Richard Falk, and reiterates the call made by the Special Rapporteur to urge more businesses and civil society “to join the growing global solidarity movement to resist the prolonged Israeli occupation and creeping annexation of Palestine.”
At a time when the Human Rights Council is studying the Human Rights implications of business activities and as Israel increases the construction of settlements and demolishment of Palestinian homes in violation of human rights and humanitarian law, divestment in and the creation of restrictions to prevent investment and business dealings that enable the illegal settlement and colonization of occupied territories is in line with international standards and should be made a priority by third party states.
We welcome the accession of the state of Palestine to several Human Rights treaties and encourage Palestine to sign and ratify the Rome Statute.
Finally, we urge the Security Council to respect the right of self-determination of Palestinians by recognizing Palestine as a member-state of the United Nations.
Thank you Mr. President,
Share this Post