WOM/1792

Commission on the Status of Women

Fifty-fourth Session

19th & 20th Meetings (AM & PM)



Other Texts Concern United Nations Gender Entity, Hostage Taking, Maternal Mortality, Female Genital Mutilation, HIV/AIDS, Women's Economic Empowerment

The Commission on the Status of Women concluded its fifty-fourth session today with the adoption of six resolutions on a range of issues concerning gender equality and women's empowerment, and the approval of one text, by recorded vote, on Palestinian women, to be sent to the Economic and Social Council for adoption.

The Commission also adopted the draft report of its current session, as well as the provisional agenda of its fifty-fifth session.

By a recorded vote of 31 in favour to 2 against ( Israel, United States), with 10 abstentions ( Belgium, Cameroon, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Togo), the Commission approved the draft on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women. (See annex for details of the vote.)

By its terms, the Commission, deploring the economic and social conditions of Palestinian women and girls in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, would have the Economic and Social Council demand that Israel comply fully with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among other treaties. The Council would call on Israel to facilitate the return of all displaced Palestinian women to their homes, and on the global community to continue to provide urgently needed assistance. The Secretary-General would be requested to continue to review the situation and assist Palestinian women by all available means.

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine expressed her gratitude to all States that had supported the text. Resolutions remained necessary in light of Israel's grave human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She looked forward to a day when Palestine did not have to put forward resolutions, but, until then, her delegation would look to the United Nations to help protect those most in need.

Speaking before the vote, Israel's delegate expressed dismay at the resolution's consideration. Rather than address the countless issues women faced, the Commission had been forced to consider a resolution of those who wished to impose their agenda. The text chose to politically scapegoat Israel and failed to mention the deteriorating situation of women as result of terrorist policies by Hamas. She urged standing firmly against consideration of such texts in future.

Turning to women in armed conflict, the Commission, by a consensus text on therelease of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts, reaffirmed that hostage-taking was an illegal act aimed at destroying human rights, and condemned all violent acts committed against civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law, in situations of armed conflict.

In other terms, the Commission called for an effective response to such acts, particularly the immediate release of women and children hostages, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts, by strengthening international cooperation. Further, it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the widest possible dissemination of relevant material, particularly relating to Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security.

By an orally revised consensus text on eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity through the empowerment of women, the Commission urged global and national leaders to generate the political will, resources, commitment, cooperation and technical assistance urgently required to reduce that phenomenon, and improve maternal and newborn health. It called on States to address gender inequalities and harmful traditional practices, and further, to integrate HIV/AIDS interventions into programmes for primary health, sexual and reproductive health, and mother and child health.