UPCOMING HEARINGS ENABLE VICTIMS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO UN GAZA RIGHTS PROBE

Members of the independent fact-finding mission set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council will hold public hearings in Gaza next week as part of its investigations into violations committed during the recent conflict in the Strip, allowing those affected to tell their stories to the world.

The hearings will "enable victims from all sides in the conflict and experts on its consequences and impacts to speak directly to the international community of their experiences," according to a statement issued in Geneva.

The four-member team, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, will interview victims, witnesses and experts in Gaza City on 28 and 29 June, at the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Hearings will also be held on 6 and 7 July in Geneva, as part of the investigations into rights violations committed during the December 2008-January 2009 conflict, which killed over 1,400 people and injured 5,000 others.

Both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay have called on Israel to cooperate with the investigation team, which travelled to Gaza earlier this month in the first of several planned visits to the area.
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UN TEAM PROBING RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN GAZA CONFLICT WRAPS UP FIRST MEETING

UN TEAM PROBING RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN GAZA CONFLICT WRAPS UP FIRST MEETING
New York, May 8 2009 12:00PM
Members of the fact-finding mission set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe rights violations during the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip wrapped up a week-long meeting in Geneva today.

The four-person team is led by the former prosecutor for International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who stressed the law-based approach the mission will take in preparing its report to the Geneva-based Council.

"I would like to emphasise that we will focus our investigation not on political considerations, but on an objective and impartial analysis of compliance of the parties to the conflict with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, especially their responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and non-combatants," he stated.

"I believe that an objective assessment of
the issues is in the interests of all parties, will promote a culture of accountability and could serve to promote greater peace and security in the region."

During their week-long session, the team held initial meetings with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including Member States and representatives of the UN and non-governmental organizations. It also established terms of reference and a three-month programme of work.

The mission intends to conduct visits to affected areas of Southern Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, and has requested the cooperation of the Government of Israel in this regard, according to a news release.

The other members of the team include Christine Chinkin, Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London; Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and former Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders; and Colon
el (retired from the Irish Armed Forces) Desmond Travers, member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI).

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