The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Friday became a formal party to five global treaties banning torture and racial discrimination, and protecting the rights of women, children and the disabled, the UN said, according to AFP.
Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN human rights office, told reporters that the move followed the PA’s April 2 declaration to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that they were adopting the treaties.
In addition, the PA will on May 7 become party to an accord protecting children in conflict zones – which is an optional part of the overall child rights treaty – and on July 2 it will adopt two agreements governing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
“This accession to seven core human rights treaties and a key protocol is a significant step towards enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in Palestine,” Coville was quoted by AFP as having told reporters.
“It is notable in a region with a high number of reservations to human rights treaties, that Palestine is acceding to eight human rights treaties without making a single reservation,” he added.
The PA requested to join 15 international agencies in breach of the conditions of the peace talks with Israel. In response, Israel cancelled the fourth terrorist release “gesture” and subsequently pulled out of the talks altogether, after the PA signed a unity pact with Hamas.
On Sunday, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) central council adopted a plan to pursue attempts to join 60 United Nations bodies and international agreements.
In addition to the UN treaties, the PA has also signed up formally to the Geneva Conventions, which set down the rules of warfare and humanitarian operations in conflict zones.
The PA also submitted requests to the United Nations to adopt accords including the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and an anti-corruption agreement.
The PA’s UN envoy has claimed that the PA is eligible to join up to 550 international treaties and conventions, including the International Criminal Court.
