PHROC Sends Letter to UN High Commissioner and Special Rapporteurs on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

Earlier this week, the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) issued a letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ZeidRa’ad Al Hussein, numerous Special Rapporteurs, and independent experts on attacks against human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Occupied Palestine Territory and within the Green Line. PHROC highlighted that Palestinian HRDs are regularly subjected to armed violence, travel bans, arrest, detention, defamation campaigns, and restrictions on movement, amongst other measures, by Israel. In the letter, PHROC underscored the importance of the UN to take action, including by:

·         Issuing public statements affirming unambiguously the duty of all states to respect and protect the rights of freedom of expression, association, and assembly, amongst other rights, while affirming the right to participate in and call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) actions;

·         Investigating and reporting, by means of country visits or otherwise, attacks against HRDs in the OPT, Israel, and other countries where HRDs working on issues related to Palestine face intimidation or arbitrary legislative or administrative restrictions;

·         Intervening with all states concerned for guarantees of the safety and integrity of HRDs currently at risk or under attack, and for an immediate halt and reversal in state policies which facilitate these attacks; and

·         Requesting the office of the OHCHR and the delegation of the European Union in the OPT and Israel to extend their protection to all HRDs, including those active in the BDS movement.

 

 

 

Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council 

Adameer

Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association
Sahar Francis
General Director

aaldameer

 

Aldameer Association for Human Rights
HalaJaber

Al-Haq-Small

Al-Haq
ShawanJabarin
General Director

Mezan

 

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
IssamYounis
General Director

Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
NidalAzza
General Director

DCI

 

Defence for Children International
Palestine Section
Khaled Kuzmar
General Director

Ensan

Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
HasiebNashashibi
General Director

Hurryyat

 

Hurryyat - Centre for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
Helmi Al-araj
General Director

JLAC

Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights
IssamAruri
General Director

PCHRS

 

Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
Suhaib Sharif
General Director

Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling
RandaSanyora
General Director

pchr-gaza-logo

 

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights
RajiSourani - General Director