A/HRC/S-21/2
I. Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
at its twenty-first special session
S-21/1.
Ensuring respect for international law in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 and Human Rights
Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007,
Reaffirming the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by the use of force, as enshrined in the Charter,
Affirming the applicability of international human rights law and international
humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1 to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem,
Reaffirming that all High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention1 are
under the obligation to respect and ensure respect for the obligations arising from the said
Convention in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
reaffirming their obligations under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions,
grave breaches and the responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties,
Gravely concerned at the lack of implementation of the recommendations contained
in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict of 2009,2 and
convinced that lack of accountability for violations of international law reinforces a culture
of impunity, leading to a recurrence of violations and seriously endangering the
maintenance of international peace,
Noting that 9 July 2014 marked the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the advisory
opinion by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction
of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that no progress has been made on its
implementation, and affirming the urgent need to respect and ensure respect for
international humanitarian law and international human rights law in this regard,
Firmly convinced that justice and respect for the rule of law are the indispensable
bases for peace, and stressing that prevailing long-standing and systemic impunity for
international law violations has created a justice crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
that warrants action, including accountability for international crimes,
Noting the systematic failure by Israel to carry out genuine investigations in an
impartial, independent, prompt and effective way, as required by international law, on
violence and offences carried out against Palestinians by the occupying forces and settlers
and to establish judicial accountability over its military actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem,
1
2
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
A/HRC/12/48.
3
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