UN Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territory resigns

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Makarim Wibisono, resigned today as Israel never granted him access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory throughout his mandate.

The independent expert expressed deep regret that, throughout his mandate, Israel failed to grant him access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, according to a UN news released issued in Geneva today.

“Unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way,” said Wibisono.

The Special Rapporteur submitted his resignation to the President of the Human Rights Council, effective as of 31 March 2016, the news release added.

He stressed that upon taking up the mandate in June 2014, he was assured that he would have access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “I took up this mandate with the understanding that Israel would grant me access, as an impartial and objective observer,” he said. 

Repeated requests for access, both written and oral, have been unsuccessful. “With no reply from Israel to my latest request, in October 2015, to have access by the end of 2015, it is with deep regret that I accept the premise upon which I took up the mandate, which is to have direct access to the victims in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, will not be fulfilled,” the Special Rapporteur said.

Wibisono said that that throughout his tenure, the Government of the State of Palestine cooperated fully with the mandate.

The Special Rapporteur voiced deep concern at the lack of effective protection of Palestinian victims for continuing human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law.

“I reluctantly wish to pass the baton to a successor, selected by the Human Rights Council. It is my sincere hope that whoever succeeds me will manage to resolve the current impasse, and so reassure the Palestinian people that after nearly half a century of occupation the world has not forgotten their plight and that universal human rights are indeed universal,” said Wibisono.

The Special Rapporteur underscored that it was important for Israel’s own human rights credibility to cooperate fully with the mandate, including by allowing unfettered access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.   

The Independent expert will present his last report to the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2016.