Commission on Human Rights urged to meet on Middle East crisis
4 October -- The Council of Arab Permanent Members of the League of Arab States has requested a special session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to discuss the recent violence in the occupied territories and Israel, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said today.
High Commissioner Mary Robinson, who is travelling in Africa, said in a statement that she had received the request from the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the UN in Geneva, who conveyed it on behalf of the Arab League's Council. The 53-member Commission must decide whether to hold a special session by 6 p.m. on 10 October.
Ms. Robinson expressed her growing concern at the recent events in the occupied territories and Israel, and her sadness at the loss of every human life, particularly the children. "I condemn the ongoing violence and urge its end," she said, calling on all parties to comply with international human rights standards and international law.
The High Commissioner also endorsed recent calls for an international investigation to determine responsibility and accountability for the human rights violations in the context of the recent violence.
Noting that the Commission on Human Rights has mechanisms monitoring the situation, she urged the Government of Israel to allow officials charged with that work to visit the affected areas.
"Respect for basic human rights, in particular the right to life, must be inviolable at all times," she said. "This imperative must be upheld equally during times of armed conflict and of peace."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
