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BADIL report submitted for upcoming review of Israel's performance under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Date: 24th November 2010. BADIL's report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) provides evidence of Israel's ongoing and systematic violation of the rights to self-determination and non-discrimination of all Palestinians under its jurisdiction or effective control, thereby preventing the enjoyment of all other economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to work, education, protection of the family, an adequate standard of living and health. BADIL's report draws attention to the fact that the scope of Israel's Covenant violations has increased since CESCR reviewed Israel's performance in 1998, 2001 and 2003. It urges the Committee to examine Israeli legislation, policies and practices which have given rise to a system of institutionalized racial discrimination, forced population transfer and territorial expansion that affects the Covenant-enshrined rights of Palestinian citizens, refugees and those under occupation since 1967. BADIL also urges CESCR to undertake its review in the light of recent reports, including by two UN Special Rapporteurs on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967, which conclude that Israel's oppressive regime over the Palestinian people amounts to colonialism and apartheid.

BADIL, alongside other Palestinian rights organizations, submitted the report as part of a coordinated effort to aid the Committee in its formation of the list of issues for the State Party’s consideration. The report notes with concern that a 2001 letter from the Committee alerting of the fact that Israel's human rights violations had reached a “crisis situation” and recommending that the UN Economic and Social Council take action under articles 21 and 22 of the Covenant has gone unheeded. BADIL strongly urges the Committee to examine thoroughly Israel’s system of institutionalized racial discrimination and denial of self-determination and issue the strongest possible Concluding Observations focused on developing practical recommendations.

The Full report can be downloaded from the OHCHR website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/ngos/BADIL_Israel45.doc

and from the BADIL website here: [http://www.badil.org/en/documents/category/40-other?download=846%3Abadil-sub-to-cecsr-regarding-israel-icescr-4thsession-nov2010]