30 May 1991

12th plenary meeting

Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General and the notes by the Secretary-General concerning the situation of Palestinian women living inside and outside the occupied Palestinian territory,

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

Recalling also its resolutions 1988/25 of 26 May 1988, 1989/34 of 24 May 1989 and 1990/11 of 24 May 1990,

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

Taking into account the intifadah of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory against the Israeli occupation, and the harmful effects of the occupation on Palestinian women and children,

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

Deeply alarmed by the continuation of the practice of settling Jewish immigrants in the territory 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 Israeli occupation and the attainment of the right of Palestinians to return to their homes, their right to self-determination and their right to establish an independent Palestinian State in accordance with United Nations resolutions;

2. Also 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 territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;

3. Demands that an end be put to the oppressive Israeli measures against the intifadah and the consequent suffering experienced by Palestinian women and their families in the occupied Palestinian territory;

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

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

6. Requests that Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territory be assisted in developing small-scale industry and creating vocational training centres;

7. 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 to investigate the condition of Palestinian women and children in order to improve the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territory;

8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his investigation of the situation of Palestinian women and children and to report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-sixth session on the implementation of the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the mission of experts.