Al-Haq Delivers Joint Oral Intervention at the 51^st Human Rights Council Session Under Item 2 on the Need to Annually Update the UN Database

On 14 September 2022, Al-Haq delivered a joint oral intervention under the general debate on Item 2 on annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General, as part of its engagement with the Human Rights Council 51^st session.[1] Addressing the newly-appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, the statement underscored the crucially of maintaining strong and principled positions, even when faced with external pressures. The statement further highlighted the urgency to have the UN Database on Settlement Business Activities annually updated, as mandated by UN Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36 of 2016, and urged the UN High Commissioner to fulfil the implementation of his mandate without delay. Finally, the statement underlined the international community’s failure to address Palestinian people’s struggle against Israeli occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid, and called for concrete and effective actions and measures to ensure justice and accountability for the Palestinian people.

The oral statement read as follows:

Mr. High Commissioner,

As we welcome you in your new role as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, we recognise the heavy responsibility you undertook; and, from first-hand experience, the external pressure that awaits you and your Office for carrying out strong and principled positions. At the same time international staffers of your Office are still denied their visas, Israel continues its shrinking space of Palestinian civil society, with its designations of six prominent human rights organisations as ‘terrorist organisations’, raids and closures of their offices, and personal harassments and threats to their staff.

We trust that such pressure will not derail your Office from its commitment to human rights. We trust that your voice will be loud and clear, and your actions will be meaningful and effective.

Mr. High Commissioner,

Following the adoption of Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36 in 2016, the UN Database on Settlement Business Activities was finally published in 2020. Since then, however, it has not been updated. The effectiveness and credibility of the Council would be compromised if a High Commissioner does not fulfil or continues to unnecessarily delay the implementation of their mandate. The annual updating of the UN Database, as mandated, should be a priority for your Office.

Mr. High Commissioner,

Following your appointment, you emphasised your deep sense of responsibility for this position and your commitment to advance human rights for “everyone, everywhere”. For decades, the Palestinian people’s struggle against Israeli occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid has been overlooked; and the Question of Palestine has been treated as an exception to the implementation of international law. We remind you, your Office, and this Council that justice and accountability are not achieved by statements; but rather by actions.

Thank you.

Please watch the recorded intervention here.