Paris, Copenhaguen, Geneva, January 16 2009 - In light of the ongoing violence and the grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the context of the operation « Cast Lead », the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) 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 (see bios hereunder) :
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)
Members of the delegation will be available for meeting with the press in Jerusalem on Sunday January 18th, and Monday January 19th, from 18.00 at Hotel Ambassador
Press Conferences will be held in Cairo, on Wednesday January 21st and in Brussels, on Thursday January 22nd.
Press contacts for the mission :
Antoine Madelin - Director for inter-governmental
organizations, FIDH
tel +32 485 22 22 87 / +336 68 22 65 72
Stéphanie David - Director for the Middle
East and North Africa desk, FIDH
tel. +336 48 05 92 34.
Nathalie Stanus - Coordinator of the
project on Palestine/Israel and Palestinians - REMDH
tel +32 479 69 19 49