Occupied Palestinian Territory/ New York, 21 October 2009
Your Excellency,
Re: The Goldstone Report – Time for Action
We, the undersigned representatives of Palestinian civil society organisations and international supporters of Palestinian human rights, are deeply concerned that the recommendations contained in the Goldstone Report may not be fully and effectively implemented in a timely manner before the UN General Assembly. We are therefore writing to inquire how civil society might best support your efforts in the coming days to ensure adequate attention is paid to the Report and its recommendations by the UN bodies in New York or by those to whom the New York bodies may refer the report.
We understand that the consideration of the agenda item of Palestine will be considered by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly during meetings on Thursday 29 October. We understand that the outcome of these meetings is crucial to the fate of the Goldstone Report and its follow up.
We hope to be able to support your efforts to ensure an urgent handling of this matter given that time is now of the essence. We wish to support your efforts to ensure that the Third Committee issues a draft resolution that explicitly requests an urgent debate on the Goldstone report in the Plenary of the UN General Assembly or that recommends that the President of the General Assembly reconvene the Special Session on Palestine that was adjourned in January 2009 and that the Goldstone Report be expressly added to the agenda.
Parties working against Palestinian human rights will certainly try to keep discussion on the Goldstone Report within the Third Committee and prevent any further related action. Therefore, we believe the work of Your Excellency, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, is of crucial importance, now more than ever.
As authoritatively stated by Justice Richard Goldstone on 29 September: “This is the time for action. The lack of accountability for war crimes and possible crimes against humanity has reached a crisis point; the ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters violence.”
Yours sincerely,
| Rifat Kassis Director Defence for Children International-Palestine Section |
Shawan Jabarin Director Al-Haq |
| Issam Younis Director Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights |
Sahar Francis Director Addameer |
| Maha Abu Dayieh Director Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling |
Issam Arouri Director Jerusalem Legal Aid Center |
| Iyad Barghouti Director Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies |
Khalil Abu Shammala Director Al Dameer Association for Human Rights |
| hawqi Issa Director Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy |
Ingrid Jaradat Gassner Director Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights |
| Curtis Doebbler UN Representative NordSudXXI |
cc.
H.E. Riad Malki
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian Caretaker Government