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Eu endorses goldstone report

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PCHR welcomes Resolution by the European Parliament  endorsing the Goldstone Report

(source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

On Wednesday, 10 March 2010, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that backs the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (the Goldstone Report) and urges its member states to “demand the implementation of the Goldstone Report’s recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law”. The resolution calls all parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law under all circumstances.

In line with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 26 February, the European Parliament "urges both sides to conduct investigations within five months that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness."

The parliamentary resolution also calls the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU member states to work towards a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the Goldstone Report and to publicly "demand the implementation of its recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes”. Most importantly, the EU Representatives for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, along with the member states, are called to "monitor actively the implementation of recommendations included in the Goldstone Report by consulting the EU's external missions and NGOs working in the field". The Resolution also expresses its concern about pressure placed on the NGOs which were involved in the preparation of the Goldstone Report and calls upon on all sides to refrain from any measures restricting the activities of these organizations. Finally, the European Parliament welcomed the Resolution of the Council of the European Union of 8 December 2009, which calls for "an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings" along the Gaza-Israel frontier as the blockade has further worsened the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The Resolution represents the first time that the European Parliament adopts a measure of this nature, imbuing this organ with the power to actively monitor the implementation of an instrument regarding the respect of international humanitarian law and human rights law. PCHR expresses its satisfaction with the position taken by the European Parliament. This resolution shows that the European Parliament has finally recognized the EU obligation to protect and ensure the respect of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties and under any circumstances in the conflict. PCHR welcomes the European Parliament’s stand for human rights and respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in view of the failure of the member states to fulfill, individually or collectively, their respective obligation in this field. PCHR stresses the urgent need that the EU Representatives and EU member states work towards a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the Goldstone Report in order to achieve accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes. PCHR calls EU member states and all EU bodies and organs to take action accordingly, in order to ensure that the recommendations of the Resolution are effectively implemented. The full text of the Resolution is available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0054+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

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