The Newly Constituted 47-Member Human Rights Council, In A Special Session Held

Geneva ; 6 July 2006 . The newly constituted 47-member Human Rights Council, in a special session held today, passed a resolution which sent a strong message that Palestinian Ministers, lawmakers, and civilians arbitrarily detained by Israel should be immediately released.

The Council adopted a resolution on the Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory which was presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The resolution, which was adopted by 29 votes and 11 against, called for an immediate end to the Israeli military operations. It also asked Israel to abide by the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law.

China , Cuba , Ecuador , Ghana , Guatemala , India , Peru , Philippines , Russia , South Africa , Sri Lanka , Uruguay and Zambia were the non-OIC countries which voted for the resolution.

The resolution calling for a negotiated solution to the ongoing crisis in the Middle-East authorized the Human Rights Council to send a fact finding mission to the region.

Before the vote, Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan , on behalf of the OIC, addressed the Council and said that the crisis was deepening. Pakistan is the coordinator of the OIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues in Geneva .

“The new developments have brought the two sides to the brink of war. The crisis should be avoided immediately so that the region does not descend further into an irreversible cycle of violence. The international community should act now to avoid a bigger crisis.”, Ambassador Khan said.

The Pakistani Ambassador also drew the attention of the Council to use of the disproportionate force by Israel and continuous military strikes against the impoverished people and infrastructure that have left the Palestinians devastated.

Ambassador Masood Khan said that in the interest of peace and stability, Palestinian institutions and infrastructure should be protected, not destroyed “Let us not lose perspective. Were we not trying for a lasting peace in the Middle-East?”, he asked.

Ambassador Masood Khan said that the diplomatic activity should be intensified to de-escalate the situation and steer it towards diplomacy.

A large number of non-Muslim countries made strong statements supporting the OIC initiative. In their statements they expressed grave concern over economic siege of Palestine and current incursions and attacks in Gaza thus exacerbating the humanitarian plight of the Palestinians.

After the vote, Ambassador Masood Khan thanked those non-OIC countries who had voted in favour of the resolution. He asked the Council to immediately dispatch a fact finding mission to the region.

“In saving lives, we must act decisively to save the traumatized people of the region”, Ambassador Masood Khan said.