2020-03-24

West Bank and Gaza Strip

West Bank / Gaza / Announcement / position paper

MUSAWA Joins the Statement of Arab Human Rights Organizations for Human Solidarity in Light of the Coronavirus Crisis

Based on our commitment to human rights and the principles of human solidarity, human dignity, and moral responsibility, we urge the international community to steer clear of any political bias during the globally emerging corona pandemic:

Emphasizing the fundamental values of humanity, such as solidarity, compassion, mercy, tolerance, cooperation, assistance, and more;

Whereas all humankind is now facing a vicious war against Covid-19 virus, the danger of which lies in its rapid spread and in attacking people's health, life, and the global economy;

Recognizing the humanitarian, social, and economic impact of this crisis on the international community as a whole and the resulting responsibility for humanitarian action at this critical moment so that humanity can survive this crisis;

Given the need for many countries and regions to provide people with medical resources, equipment, expertise, and financial facilities locally, regionally, and internationally, especially for countries subject to war, blockade, and sanctions situations, which require prioritizing humanitarian solidarity over political and economic interests;

In the belief that a new world based on peace, justice, solidarity, cooperation, and harmony, under the name of "a community of common destiny for humankind”, shall be built following the United Nations Sustainable Development Plan of 2030, and shall adhere to the agreements agreed upon in the Paris Convention on Climate Change and the international conventions to stop the arms race, stop testing and disarm nuclear, chemical, biological and biological weapons;

Recognizing the necessity to review the priorities of the human society, to unify the global efforts and resources to confront the major challenges of natural disaster, nuclear, chemical, and biological military expenditures, international and civil wars, human exploitation, and all forms of colonialism, and to harness science and technology to meet the needs of the people, especially the poor and the marginalized;

Commending all medical and paramedical personnel and all those who perform the duty of security, information, and necessary life-threatening duties

Applauding the announced humanitarian, health, and financial initiatives and assistance that has been provided by France, China, Russia, Cuba, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other countries, to the countries are dealing with this deadly virus, which has shown a sense of humanism in solidarity with countries of different political orientations, race, color, religion, and opinion;

Appreciating the efforts of the World Health Organization, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights for their efforts to unify and coordinate international cooperation in the war against this virus;

The undersigned human rights organizations demand the following:

First: The United Nations shall provide medical assistance and lift the American economic sanctions to secure medical supplies for the Iranian people.

Second: The United Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union shall provide medical assistance to the Yemeni people, to lift the blockade on them, and to bring peace to Yemen through internal Yemeni dialogue.

Third: The United Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council shall provide medical and financial assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the refugee camps.

Fourth: The Gulf Cooperation Council and Algeria shall provide medical and financial assistance to Arab countries in need such as Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, among others.

Fifth: The World Health Organization shall accelerate the coordination and unification of the efforts of the States capable of manufacturing vaccines and medicines for the emerging Coronavirus, and shall prepare a code of honor that prohibits monopolizing it and provides for distributing it free of charge to all people as a contribution from the pharmaceutical companies to the recovery of the “community of common destiny for humankind”.

Sixth: The United Nations shall close all biological and bacteriological research centers, prohibit the establishment of such centers, hold their personnel accountable, and add this offense to the crimes against humanity under the Rome Convention of the International Criminal Court.

Seventh: UN bodies, political and economic actors, as well as thinkers and academics shall transform the current challenge into an opportunity to rethink international relations and reconstruct the pattern of production, which is based on the interests of the spheres of influence and capital, in order to bring it into line with human rights away from persecution and exploitation.

The undersigned organizations:

1. Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) / Jordan
2. Jerusalem Center for Human Rights and Legal Aid (JLAC) / Palestine
3. Moroccan Association for Human Rights / Morocco
4. Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights / Tunisia
5. Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights / Algeria
6. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights / Egypt
7. Swiss Academy for Human Rights / Geneva
8. AL Khiyam Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims / Lebanon
9. Yemen Organization for Defending Democratic Rights and Freedoms / Yemen
10. MUSAWA - The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession
11. Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy / Palestine
12. Yemeni Organization for Defending Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms / Aden
13. Human Rights Trainers Association / Iraq and Kurdistan Region
14. Jordanian Society for Human Rights / Jordan
15. The Amman Society Forum for Human Rights / Jordan
16. The Call for Justice / Egypt
17. Awareness Center for Training in Human Rights / Jordan
18. Women Visions Association / Jordan
19. Tatheer Association for Human Rights / Jordan
20. Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights / Tunisia