PARIS/COPENHAGEN, 16. January 2009: In light of the ongoing violence and the grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the context of Israeli operations in Gaza, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) will deploy a joint mission in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Egypt, from January 17th to 20th, 2009.
The mission will be composed of prominent and renowned human rights defenders and activists from European countries and the United States of America.
The objective of the mission is to call the parties to the conflict authorities to an immediate cease fire, in application of UN Security Council resolution 1860, and to the immediate and permanent lifting of the siege on the Gaza strip.
The mission will also call the concerned authorities to enable the deployment of an international fact-finding mission under UN auspices, documenting the grave violations perpetrated in the context of the conflict, and the prosecution of the authors of the international crimes.
The delegation will also request through their meetings that all parties ensure the access of NGOs and journalists to the Occupied Territories.
FIDH, EMHRN and the ICJ also regard this mission as a message of support and solidarity with the civil society organizations, in particular human rights organizations, operating in Israel and the Occupied Territories at this time.
The delegation will be composed of:
Yves AUBIN DE LA MESSUZIERE (France)
Jules LOBEL (USA)
Peter NOBEL (Sweden)
Claes SANDGREN (Sweden),
Marc SCHADE-POULSEN (Denmark)
Simone SUSSKIND (Belgium)
Petr UHL (Czech Republic)
Tanya WARD (Ireland)
Yderligere oplysninger hos Marc Degli Esposti, Communication Officer, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Vestergade 14-16, 2nd floor. 1456 Kbn K, Fax: 32 64 17 02, Tel: 32 64 17 16, web: www.euromedrights.net
