Ref: 172/2007

Date: 03 December  2007

Time: 12:30 GMT

On the Occasion of the International Day of Disabled Persons:

PCHR calls upon the international community to put an end to the human rights violations perpetrated by IOF against handicapped Palestinians in the OPT

Monday, 3 December 2007, marks the UN International Day of Disabled Persons (IDoDP). In 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons (resolution 47/3). This decision came so as to stress the importance of respecting, advocating, and protecting the right of disabled persons worldwide. Such action would contribute towards realizing equality between people without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, color, social standing, or any other form of discrimination. In March 2007, the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons entered into force, which may contribute to the promotion of disabled persons over the world.

However, the suffering of disabled Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) has continued due to human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against the Palestinian civilian population, including disabled ones in particular. Such violations have caused deterioration to the conditions of the wounded, which has raised the number of disabled Palestinians to high levels. The total siege imposed by IOF on the OPT and the suspension of international financial aids to the Palestinian people have contributed to further deterioration in living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population and have raised the levels of poverty and unemployment. As a consequence, the economic and social conditions of disabled Palestinians have deteriorated as they have lacked many services.

Human rights violations perpetrated by IOF have not excluded disabled Palestinians. Since January 2007, IOF have killed 6 disabled Palestinians, including a 9-year-old child, and since the beginning of the current al-Aqsa Intifada on 28 September 2000, IOF have killed 81 disabled Palestinians, including 11 children and 4 women. This figure includes 21 ones who suffered from mental disabilities; 14 ones who suffered from physical disabilities; 19 ones who suffered from hearing disabilities; 7 ones who suffered from dual disabilities; 11 ones who suffered from psychological disabilities; and one who was blind. This high figure indicates that IOF have not made efforts to avoid causing casualties among disabled Palestinians. IOF have also wounded at least 100 disabled Palestinians.

Disabled Palestinians have been also subjected to detention by IOF. Thus, they have suffered various forms of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment including torture. Hundreds of disabled have been detained at IOF checkpoints isolating Palestinian population centers. Additionally, a number of institutions serving the disabled have been damaged during IOF military operations. For instance, al-Nour School for the Disabled and al-Wafaa’ Rehabilitation Hospital suffered extensive damages in the Gaza Strip. The girl school for the visually impaired in al-Bireh and the Disabled Service Center in Askar refugee camp suffered complete and partial destruction of their buildings by IOF. These IOF operations were in violation of the educational and rehabilitation rights of the disabled.

This year’s anniversary of the IDoDP coincides with the continuation of the policy of complete closure and siege imposed by IOF on the OPT. This policy has had catastrophic impacts, causing further deterioration to the humanitarian situation of Palestinians, including the disabled. The decision by donor countries to suspend international aid to Palestinians has accentuated the suffering and led to unprecedented levels of unemployment and poverty. Health and living conditions have deteriorated to a degree that threatens with a total collapse of the health and educational systems in the OPT. The suffering of the disabled has doubled since rehabilitation institutions are facing financial crises and serious deficits that led to the suspension of many rehabilitation services. Disabled Palestinians dependent of welfare assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs are suffering the irregularity of aid.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is suffering from international sanctions and the withholding of tax monies by Israel. Thus, the PNA is suffering from a financial crisis, rendering it unable to meet many of its obligations towards the population. As a result, disabled Palestinians are suffering from a serious deterioration in the enjoyment of the rights stipulated in the Rights of Disabled Palestinians’ Law No. 4 for 1999. The disabled are still suffering from the non-implementation of this law, which gives them health, educational, rehabilitation, employment, recreational, sports and social rights.

The deterioration of economic and social conditions of disabled Palestinians has rendered them suffering from irregular social services. They and their families are suffering poverty and lack of rehabilitation services, including the provision of necessary equipment. The disabled are still waiting for the implementation of the Rights of Disabled Palestinians Law that includes the issuance of a “Disabled” card entitling the disabled to a variety of services.

On the occasion of the IDoDP:

1) PCHR calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, UN bodies, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to exercise pressure on Israel to stop violating international humanitarian law and international human rights law against Palestinian civilians.

2) PCHR calls for an immediate end of all human rights violations perpetrated by IOF against disabled Palestinians, including killing and injury, and stopping all forms of targeting rehabilitation and educational institutions for the disabled.

3) PCHR calls upon the international community to ensure Israel’s respect of international human rights instruments, especially those pertaining to the disabled.

4) PCHR calls upon donor countries to resume financial aids to the Palestinian people since the suspension of aids has undermined the economic and social rights of Palestinians and led to high levels of poverty and deprivation, resulting in the deterioration of living standards;

5) PCHR calls upon the PNA to hasten to issuance of “disabled” card stipulated in the Rights of Disabled Palestinians Law to reduce the suffering of the disabled and provide decent living conditions for them and their families.

6) PCHR calls upon ministries and governmental organizations to respect the law pertaining to the “disabled” quota of at least 5% in the number of employees in these institutions.

7) PCHR calls upon the Ministry of Education to provide secondary education for those with hearing disabilities to ensure equality in education.