HIGH COMMISSIONER BRIEFS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON WORK OF HER OFFICE, ANNOUNCES VISIT "SOON" TO OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Geneva, 28 September 2006


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Human Rights Council today on the work of her Office around the world, focusing special attention on the situations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Colombia, Uganda, Guatemala and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The High Commissioner also presented reports prepared by her Office on combating discrimination; the right to development; the recognition and protection of economic, social and cultural rights -- which she noted have historically received less attention than other aspects of the UN human rights programme – and on the administration of justice through military tribunals, among other topics.
Regarding Afghanistan, the High Commissioner said the deteriorating security situation carries grave implications for human rights. She recalled that last Monday armed assailants targeted and killed, for the first time, a female official, Safia Ama Jan, Director of the Women’s Affairs Department of Kandahar province. Civilians have at times become indirect victims of attacks by insurgents as well as by Government and international military forces, Ms. Arbour said.

Turning to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), the High Commissioner said that, as elsewhere, human rights advocacy cannot by itself offer adequate protection to vulnerable civilians or ensure respect for human rights. “Only a political solution to this conflict will bring an end to the loss of life, immense suffering and hardship,” she said. “But pending that, compliance by all duty bearers with their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law is of the utmost importance”. She announced she would soon have the opportunity to conduct a first-hand assessment of the situation by visiting Israel and the OPT.