UN Human Rights Council Passes Four Resolutions in Support of Palestinian People
The UN Human Rights Council adopted four resolutions during its regular 55th session on April 5 that condemn Israel's current war on Gaza as well as other longstanding crimes of the occupation. The Human Rights Council has 47 members. Unlike the Security Council, the Human Rights Council has no permanent seats, nor do any big powers wield a veto. Thus, while the U.S. voted against all four resolutions, it was not able to block their adoption.
Resolution A/HRC/55/L.30
Among other things, it calls on Israel to end its occupation of territory occupied since 1967 including East Jerusalem; immediately lift the blockade and all forms of collective punishment; implement an immediate ceasefire and let in emergency humanitarian aid and assistance, and the restoration of basic necessities. It calls on all states to: take immediate action to end the continued forcible transfer of Palestinians within or from Gaza; provide emergency assistance to the UN Relief Works Agency and ensure that it has the sufficient and stable funding to fulfill its mandate. It was passed with 28 votes in favour, six against and 13 abstentions
Resolution A/HRC/55/L.13
It calls on Israel, "the occupying power, to immediately end its occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and to reverse and redress any impediments to the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Palestine, and reaffirms its support for the solution of two States, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security." It reminds UN member states of the obligation to neither recognize nor provide assistance "with regard to the serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law by Israel," and they must also cooperate in ending and reversing the illegal policies and practices of Israel. All states are also urged to adopt measures to assist the Palestinian people to realize their right to self-determination and render assistance to the UN in doing the same. Forty-two countries voted in favour of this resolution; two against and three abstained.
Resolution A/HRC/55/L.14
This concerns human rights in the Occupied Syrian Golan. It demands that Israel comply with prior resolutions on the matter and that it immediately cease all settlement-related plans and activities in the occupied Syrian Golan. The resolution also stated that "all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel that seek to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void." It calls on the UN Secretary-General to disseminate the resolution as broadly as possible to governments, UN bodies and agencies, as well as international organizations, and report on this matter to the Human Rights Council at its 58th session (in March 2025).
Resolution A/HRC/55/L.28
This resolution concerns Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. It calls on Israel to comply with international law and cease all its actions that alter "the character, status and demographic composition of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, and to end without delay its occupation of the territories occupied since 1967." All states are urged not to take any actions that recognize or aid Israel in these activities. It calls on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, to report on the settlers and their groups "that have engaged in or continue to engage in acts of terror, violence or intimidation against Palestinian civilians and the actions taken by Israel and by third states." The High Commissioner for Human Rights is to report on the implementation of the resolution at the 59th session of the Human Rights Council. Thirty-six countries voted in favour of the resolution, three were opposed and eight abstained.
These resolutions of the Human Rights Council show that when the U.S. is not able to wield its veto, the will of the majority of UN member states to hold Israel to account prevails. However, it once again raises the fundamental need to reform the UN, so that such resolutions are effective in actually stopping Israel from flouting international law and ending its brutal genocidal crimes.
This article was published in
Volume 54
Number 26 - April 15, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54269.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca