Press Release
Ref.: 13/99
Date: 10th February, 1999
Today, February 10, 1999, Ms. Karin Roxman, the Consul-General of Sweden in Jerusalem, visited PCHR and met with Mr. Raji Sourani, the Director of PCHR. They discussed the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the recent developments regarding the application of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Mr. Sourani also met today with Mr. Christophe Beney, the Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Gaza, and Mrs. Catherine Deman, the Legal Advisor of the ICRC. Their discussion focused on the human rights situation, especially the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. They also discussed the upcoming convening of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to implement the Convention in a de jure manner in the Occupied Territories. This conference will be held no later than July 12, 1999. Mr. Sourani re-affirmed the need to abide by the letter and spirit of the UN resolutions and international law pertaining to the Occupied Territories.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, February 9, a delegation from the Swedish section of the International Commission of Jurists (headed by Per Stadij) met with the staff of the Centre. The delegation was briefed on the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories. The Centre also organized a trip for them around the settlements in Gaza and to the Shati refugee camp. The delegation will leave Gaza on Thursday. PCHR has very close relations with the Swedish section of ICJ.
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