24 May 1990

13th Plenary Meeting

1990/11. Situation of Palestinian women

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of a mission of experts to Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate the condition of Palestinian women and children,

Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 260 thereof,

Further recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1988/25 of 26 May 1988 and 1989/34 of 24 May 1989,

Expressing concern at the persistent refusal of Israel to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,

Deeply alarmed at the critical situation of Palestinian women and children in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is profoundly influenced by the consequences of continued Israeli military occupation,

Dismayed at the continuation of the oppressive practices of Israel, including collective punishment, curfews, demolition of houses, closure of schools and universities, confiscation of land and measures that are particularly harmful to the Palestinian women and children in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Deeply alarmed by the practice of Israel of settling new waves of Jewish immigrants in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, which is illegal and contravenes the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention,

1. Reaffirms that the basic improvement of the living conditions of the Palestinian women, their advancement, full equality and self-reliance can only be achieved through an end to the occupation and the attainment of their right to return, to self-determination and to establish an independent State in accordance with United Nations resolutions;

2. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian people in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;

3. Strongly condemns the oppressive Israeli measures against the intifadah and the consequent suffering experienced by Palestinian women and their families in the occupied Palestinian territories;

4. Requests the Commission on the Status of Women to monitor the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 260, which concerns assistance to Palestinian women inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territories;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the experts continue to monitor and investigate further the situation of Palestinian women and children inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territories, and to ensure that their report is submitted to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-fifth session;

6. Requests governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, including organizations of the United Nations system, to encourage and assist in existing income-generating activities for Palestinian women and in the creation of new jobs;

7. Further requests that Palestinian women be assisted in the creation of a women's centre that would provide possibilities for child care, educational discussion, cultural activities, women's solidarity and small-scale production;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the mission of experts to Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic in order to alleviate the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territories;

9. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-fifth session on the implementation of the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the mission of experts, taking into consideration all available information, including reports of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and its expert missions, reports of meetings, as appropriate, and information from Governments and non-governmental organizations.