The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights welcomes the Palestinian reconciliation agreement and asserts the importance of working towards its implementation.
Al Mezan calls on the international community, particularly the European Union, to support the reconciliation and enhance the efforts of the State of Palestine to join international human rights conventions.
The meetings between the Palestinian a delegation from the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) and Hamas were concluded by a conference at around 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 23 April 2014.
In the conference, the parties announced that they had reached a final agreement to end the schism.
The conference statement presented the agreement articles, which include plans for forming a government of national consensus, the conducting of parliamentary and Palestinian National Council elections, the activation of social reconciliation committees, particularly the public freedom committee, and the activation and development of the PLO and its leadership framework.
Al Mezan reminds the international community of the critical human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip owing to the political schism, where violations subsist that include arbitrary and political arrest and detention; torture; restrictions on movement and travel; restrictions on freedoms of opinion and expression; and restrictions on peaceful assembly.
Al Mezan asserts the importance of turning the page on the Palestinian schism and moving productively towards ensuring that all parties respect provisions in support of fundamental freedoms.
All parties should equally work towards the complete implementation of transitional justice; provide compensation and reparation for victims and families of victims; reinvigorate the implementation of and respect for the rule of law; promote and respect human rights; and unite on efforts to end the Israeli occupation, thereby ensuring that the Palestinian people enjoy their right to self-determination and create an environment that is conductive of human rights.
The parties should work towards creating guarantees to ensure the respect of the obligations of the State of Palestine according to the international agreements recently signed, and work towards amending Palestinian laws in line with international principles of human rights.
Al Mezan calls on the international community, particularly the United States and European Union and its Member States to work towards supporting the implementation of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.
The implementation of the reconciliation agreement will directly reflect on the human rights situations in the occupied Palestinian territory and will enhance opportunities for peace on the principles of on international law.
Al Mezan supports calls that encourage the State of Palestine to join international agreements, particularly those that enhance Palestine’s ability to uphold international obligations, including the Rome Statue.
End