Statement on Behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
New York, 20 March 2015
Madame Chair,
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, it gives me pleasure to introduce draft resolution E/CN.X/2015, entitled “The Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women.”
As has been emphasized in the Secretary-General’s report, the humanitarian and socio-economic crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, have significantly affected Palestinian women in the most detrimental way and has further increased their vulnerability and insecurity. The continuing difficulties faced by Palestinian women and the need to provide them with assistance in overcoming the obstacles to their development and advancement are central to this draft resolution.
The resolution includes paragraphs that express concern about the grave situation of Palestinian women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and reaffirms that the Israeli occupation remains the major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance and integration in the development of their society.
Further, the draft includes a paragraph calling upon the international community to continue to provide urgently needed assistance and services to alleviate the socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by Palestinian women and their families. A new element in the resolution is that it calls upon international donors to fulfil without delay all pledges made at the “Cairo International Conference on for Palestine and Reconstructing Gaza” held on 12 October 2014 which is essential for alleviating the distress of Palestinian women and their families.
Madame Chair,
The draft also, inter alia, requests the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to monitor and take action with regard to follow-up towards World Conferences on Women and also requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to review and to assist Palestinian women by all available means and to submit to the Commission of the Status of Women at its sixtieth session a report on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women.
Madame Chair,
We look forward to the adoption of this draft resolution by consensus, with a strong hope that it will contribute to the alleviation of the hardships that Palestinian women are confronted with and will also contribute towards their overall advancement and empowerment.
Thank you.