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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 23/2004

Date: 10 February  2004

PCHR Receives the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

 On Monday noontime, 9 February 2004, PCHR received the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories John Dugard in its main offices in Gaza city. 

 Dugard met with PCHR’s director and staff, who briefed him on Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights and the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Additionally, they also highlighted the impacts of Israeli violations on Palestinian civilians, their properties, and living conditions. 

 The discussions with Dugard focused on the construction of the “Separation Wall” in the West Bank and its many impacts on the lives and rights of thousands of Palestinian families. 

 PCHR highly appreciated the role played by Dugard, his neutrality, his determination to adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights law, and his sincere presentation of facts in his annual report to the UN Human Rights Committee and General Assembly. 

 At the end of the meeting, PCHR Director Raji Sourani presented PCHR’s banner to Dugard in appreciation of his persistent efforts in the context of his work as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian and Arab Territories. 

 Dugard was the first international official who officially spoke about the absolute illegality of the “Separation Wall”, describing it as “an annexation wall” since its construction aims to eventually annex large areas of Palestinian land, and compared the wall and its consequences to the past apartheid in South Africa.    

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org