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Information on International Human
Rights Treaties: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx
PALESTINE ACCEDES TO 8 UN TREATIES
WITHOUT RESERVATIONS - VERY IMPORTANT FOR ADVOCACY OF WOMEN IN PALESTINE
On 2 April 2014, the State of
Palestine deposited with the UN Secretary-General its instruments of accession
to a number of international treaties. These include seven of the nine core
human rights treaties plus one of the substantive protocols, as follows:
· The
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
· The
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
· The
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW)
· The
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
· The
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (CERD)
· The
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT)
· The
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
· The
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
Involvement of Children in armed conflict (CRC-OPAC)
Five of these treaties are set
to enter into force May 7 (namely CAT, CERD, CEDAW, CRPD and CRC);
the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC-OPAC); and the two Covenants (ICESCR and ICCPR) will come into force
on 2 July. As of these dates, the State of Palestine will be formally bound by
these treaties under international law.
This accession to seven core
human rights treaties and a key protocol is a significant step towards
enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in Palestine. it is
notable in a region with a high number of reservations to human rights
treaties, that Palestine
is acceding to eight human rights treaties without making a single reservation.
The High Commissioner for Human
Rights commends the commitment of the State of Palestine to be bound by the
international human rights standards contained in these treaties and to engage
with the associated human rights treaty bodies which monitor their
implementation. Her Office stands ready to assist the State of Palestine, at
its request, to support implementation of its treaty obligations.
The Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights works for the promotion and protection of
universally recognized human rights norms, including through promoting both the
universal ratification and implementation of the international human rights
treaties. The Office, in partnership with the Government of the State of
Palestine and a broad range of stakeholders, has steadily worked towards
ensuring integration of human rights into the Palestinian institutions and the
planning and funding framework. In early 2014 a significant milestone was
reached when the Guidance Document on Integrating Human Rights into
Palestinian National Development Plans was endorsed in a signing ceremony
in Ramallah.