PRESS RELEASE
First Working Session on Human Rights Opens
Ref.: 49/99
Date: 2nd May, 1999
Yesterday, Saturday evening May 1, 1999, the opening session of the Gaza Seminar on Human Rights took place at Al-Quds International Hotel, Gaza City. The May 1-4 seminar is jointly organized by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). The seminar will raise issues regarding human rights and international humanitarian law, and is being held as the interim period in negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis is set to expire. The event provides an excellent opportunity to look at other international experiences and cases holding important implications for the Palestinian situation. Part of the discussion in these sessions will focus on the legal impact of a declaration of the Palestinian state. In addition, the upcoming conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 will be raised in the discussion. Finally, the seminar participants will also discuss the European role in protecting the human rights of the Palestinians, and in securing Israeli implementation of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The sessions of the seminar are held as part of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: Strengthening Civil Society in the South and East Mediterranean Region. Invitations were sent to more than 200 Palestinian experts, lawyers, judges, and representatives of human rights organizations. In addition, a number of international experts, as well as representatives of human rights organizations affiliated with the International Federation of Human Rights, will participate in the sessions.
Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Thierry Bechet, Head of the Representative Office of the European Commission, and Patrick Baudouin, President of the International Federation of Human Rights, addressed an audience of over 150 lawyers and human rights activists on Saturday evening.
In his speech, Mr. Sourani mentioned the importance of holding the Gaza Seminar at this date – since it comes simultaneously with the interim period’s end – and in a way that upholds the right of the Palestinian people to announce their independent state and practice self-determination. Within this context, he asserted that there is no contradiction between achieving peace and respecting human rights. He added that the peace process lost its essence and content when it failed to protect the basic human rights of Palestinians. Israeli violations of these rights accelerated to a notable degree during the peace process. Moreover, the implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which is intended to protect civilians during times of war, will fill the legal vacuum that some people claim will occur after the end of the interim period on May 4, 1999.
Mr. Patrick Baudouin, President of the International Federation of Human Rights, expressed his concern regarding the Palestinian National Authority’s postponement of the declaration of a Palestinian state, which it was thought would occur on May 4, 1999. He called for establishing the Palestinian state in accordance with UN resolutions and to make that state a prototype for protecting and respecting human rights. He also asked the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian human rights organizations to work together with the aim of establishing and building a Palestinian civil society respecting freedom of thought and human rights. Baudouin briefly referred to the challenges that are faced by the international human rights movement and mentioned the UN General Assembly declaration protecting the rights of human rights defenders. He called on the states which had not signed the declaration to do so immediately.
Mr. Thierry Bechet, Head of the Representative Office of the European Commission, located in Jerusalem, asserted the necessity to support and enhance the Mediterranean-European partnership of which Palestine is considered a part. He mentioned the unique situation of Palestine in terms of owning a rich heritage in the human rights arena. This fact deepens the opportunity of the Palestinian people to build their identity and state based on the rule of law and human rights protection. Within this context, Mr. Bechet asserted that the decision of declaring a Palestinian state is an internal one. It is, he said, the Palestinians’ right to determine the time at which they will declare their state.
For More Information Contact:
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Tel/Fax: (+) 9727 2824776/ 2823725
E-mail: pchr@trendline.co.il, Web page: www.pchrgaza.org
