UN human rights
expert urges Israel to abandon plans to transfer Bedouins in the occupied West
Bank
GENEVA (5 June 2015) –
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Makarim Wibisono, today
reiterated his call on the Government of Israel to abandon and desist from
implementing plans which may result in the forcible transfer of Palestinian
Bedouin Communities in the West Bank.
“I am alarmed at indications that the roll-out of plans,
which in their full effect are believed to entail the forced eviction and
forcible transfer of thousands of people, contrary to international human
rights law and international humanitarian law, now appears imminent,” the
independent expert said.
In October 2014, Mr. Wibisono together* with the UN
Special Rapporteurs on adequate housing, on cultural rights, on minorities and
on the right to food expressed concern and urged the Government of Israel to
halt the plans. “Regrettably, I and my fellow independent experts did not
receive a response,” he said.
The Special Rapporteur reported to the Human Rights
Council in March 2015 that an estimated two thirds of those who would be
affected by the transfer plans are children.
Noting the link between previous transfers and expansion
of settlements, Wibisono noted: “It is very troubling that the implementation
of these plans may further undermine the territorial integrity of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory”.
UN officials on 20 May expressed grave concern over the
rapid advancement of these plans and especially that Israeli authorities were
taking steps towards the transfer of residents of Abu Nwar, one of a
substantial number of affected Palestinian Bedouin communities.
Since his appointment in June 2014, full cooperation has
been extended by the Palestinian Government, but the Independent Expert’s requests
to visit Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory have so far received no
formal response by the Government of Israel.
In light of his lack of access to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, the expert intends to undertake his second mission to the
region this month in order to meet with victims, witnesses, non-governmental
organizations, UN entities and public officials on the human rights situation
in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
The Special Rapporteur will present his next report to
the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly later this year.
(*) Read the experts’ joint communication to the
Government of Israel:
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrdb/28th/public_-_UA_Israel_14.10.14_(10.2014).pdf
ENDS
In 2014, the UN Human Rights Council designated Makarim
Wibisono (Indonesia) as the sixth Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate was
originally established in 1993 by the UN Commission on Human Rights. Learn
more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/PS/Pages/SRPalestine.aspx
Check the Special Rapporteur’s latest report to the UN
Human Rights Council (A/HRC/28/78):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session28/Pages/ListReports.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world.
Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
OHCHR Country Pages:
Occupied Palestinian Territories:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx
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Camilla Wee (+41 22 928 9190 / cwee@ohchr.org) or write to sropt@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent
experts:
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9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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