Commission on the Status of Women
March 10, 2006
Agenda: Consideration of draft resolution E/CN.6/2006/L.4: “Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women”
 
Secretary:
Thank you, with respect to E/CN.6/2006/L.4, a technical error led to omission of main cosponsor “Palestine” from list of cosponsors so draft resolution introduced by G-77 and China and Palestine.  This draft does not give rise to any PBI.  [program budget implications]
 
South Africa on behalf of theG-77 and China: 
On behalf of the G-77 and China and Palestine, we are pleased to present for adoption E/CN.6/2006/L.4.  Only PP8 [preambular paragraph] changed.  In line 3 delete “and the reports goal of ending this inhumane Israeli practice” \l _ftn1#_ftn1 \o #_ftn1 [1] and replace “with a view to ending this Israeli practice.
 
So the paragraph will read: 
Welcoming the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that addresses the issue of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints owing to denial of access to hospitals by Israel, with a view to ending this Israeli practice,
 
Chair: 
I thank the delegate from South Africa.  Any cosponsors? No.  any comments on draft?  Bear in mind amendment orally made and presented by the representative of South Africa.  
 
Israel: 
Israel recognizes the difficult situation that Palestinian women endure on a daily basis, but this draft resolution fails to assess multiple causes of their difficulties.  We call on the Commission to vote against it.  The report of the Secretary-General to CSW [Commission on the Status of Women] (E/CN.6/2006/4) is in our view flawed and makes unfounded claims.  Yet it does document social factors within Palestinian society that inhibit the rights of Palestinian women.  The draft resolution fails to recognize factors and fails to acknowledge the complicated security situation that complicates the life of Israeli women as well as Palestinian women.  Patriarchal biases within Palestinian society at best reduce rights of Palestinian women and lead to violence, abuse and some murder.  As the report states “women in OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territories] are killed and threatened with death for tarnishing family honor, patriarchal norms...violate men, women and family as disciplinary measure to restore family honor.” Year after year this fails to recognize the reality in entirety, the complicated security situation that plays a direct role in shaping the lives of Palestinian women and children as well as Israeli women and children.  The continuous campaign of Palestinian terrorism [inaudible] we make decision to protect [inaudible] If terrorism didn’t exist, there would be no fence or checkpoints.  Women have committed terrorist acts as suicide bombers themselves.  Recall the role of Hamas. Palestinians chose a terrorist organization as their new leadership.  But we have not lost hope for dialogue between partners interested in a political process.  Each year we join to enhance the voice of women throughout the world.  On this we all agree and I hope that sooner rather than later Palestinian and Israeli women can work together soon to lend womens' voices to the outcome.  
 
Chair:
Ready to approve the draft with amendments made?
 
US: 
The US requests a recorded vote on this resolution please.  
 
Chair:
Yes, a member of CSW must request this vote.  The US is a member.  Before proceeding to vote, I give the floor to any delegation wishing to make a general statement regarding the draft.  And later to any delegation making an EOV [explanation of vote]
 
Vote on L.4.  
 
Yes: 41
No: 2 (US and Canada)
Abstain: 1 (Nicaragua)
 
Chair:
The draft is approved with the amendment made, as appearing in E/CN/2006/L.4.
 
Explanations of Vote?
 
US:
The US votes no on this resolution and would like to give an EOV.  We remain concerned on the impact of the crisis on Palestinian women and population.  The US is the largest donor to UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency] and contributes to other UN programs providing assistance to Palestinian women and the entire Palestinian population.  The US also provides bilateral assistance to needy Palestinians.  We also grieve for innocent Israelis including Israeli women who suffer and died, a reality that many here do not recognize.  We believe that a final settlement on refugees must be negotiated between two sides.  The US works with both parties and the Quartet to move forward to two states, living side by side in peace and security.  The focus should be on helping both parties to maintain progress. Resolutions like this only undermine the UN's ability to attain peace, which would actually help Palestinian women and all people caught up in this conflict.  
 
Canada:
Canada has consistently supported and advocated a greater international effort to [assist] women in armed conflict, including Palestinian women.  Canada’s assistance demonstrates our commitment to alleviate poverty, and enhance human security of Palestinians including women and children, and refugees and the displaced.  We are concerned that the living conditions of Palestinian women affected by Israeli operations, including restrictions on movement and goods.  But we voted against this resolution, in large part because of OP4 [operative paragraph 4], but also because we have consistently called for more balance in resolutions dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli issue.  We always had difficulty with this text and recent developments and changes did not make it more acceptable.  [Contrary to] OP4, we have an interest in a fair and just solution to the refugee issue.  This solution should be negotiated between the parties in the context of a peace agreement on all issues.  It is not helpful to include language in this resolution which is unrelated to the main purpose and prejudges the outcome of negotiations still to come.  Also we have concerns about the language that singles out groups of civilians for special attention.  We should acknowledge obligations of the Palestinian Authority to protect women and children and improve the living conditions of Palestinians including women.  
 
General statements:
 
Palestinian observer:
We express appreciation to all delegations who voted in favor of the resolution.  We would like to thank the G-77 and China for cosponsorship and support for Palestinian people for so many years.  My delegation believes that this resolution sends a message of solidarity to Palestinian women living under occupation that the international community recognizes and addresses their tragic plight.  We look forward to when resolutions such as this are no longer needed, but only when Palestinians under occupation live in freedom and security in their own state in accordance with international legitimacy.
 



 \l _ftnref1#_ftnref1 \o #_ftnref1 [1] Original text of PP8: Welcoming the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that addresses the issue of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints owing to denial of access to hospitals by Israel, and the report’s goal of ending this inhumane Israeli practice,