The Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling its resolution 1996/7 of 11 April 1996,

Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/23),

Recalling further the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in Madrid on 30 October 1991, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, and the subsequent bilateral negotiations, as well as the meetings of the multilateral working groups, and noting with satisfaction the broad international support for the peace process,

Noting the continuing positive participation of the United Nations as an extraregional participant in the work of the multilateral working groups,

Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism annexed to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, in which the Assembly declared that acts, methods and practices of terrorism constituted a grave violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and might pose a threat to international peace and security, jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder international cooperation and aim at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic bodies of society,

1. Stresses the importance of, and the need for, achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;

2. Emphasizes that the achievement of such a peace is vital to the full implementation of human rights in all areas;

3. Welcomes the peace process started in Madrid and supports the subsequent bilateral negotiations;

4. Also welcomes the Protocol concerning the Redeployment in Hebron of 17 January 1997 signed by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the subsequent redeployment of Israeli troops from parts of Hebron;

5. Further welcomes the release of female Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention as a confidence-building measure;

6. Calls upon all parties to protect the human rights and well-being of all detained persons under their control;

7. Supports the declaration adopted at the Summit of Peacemakers held at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, on 13 March 1996, which had as its objectives enhancing the peace process, promoting security and combating terrorism, and condemns terrorist attacks in the Middle East which seek to undermine the peace process and which have caused loss of life and injuries;

8. Calls upon all parties to work to advance a free civil society, under the rule of law;

9. Calls upon the Centre for Human Rights to continue to make available, on request, its programme of advisory services and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and invites Governments to continue to contribute to the programme;

10. Expresses its full support for the achievements of the peace process thus far, in particular the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, the subsequent Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed on 4 May 1994 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, their 29 August 1994 Agreement on the Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities, the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of 28 September 1995, the Protocol concerning the Redeployment in Hebron signed on 17 January 1997, the Agreement between Israel and Jordan on the Common Agenda, of 14 September 1993, the Washington Declaration, signed by Jordan and Israel on 25 July 1994, and the Jordan-Israel Treaty of Peace of 26 October 1994, which constitute important steps in achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and urges all parties to implement the agreements reached;

11. Encourages the continuation of negotiations on the implementation of the next stage of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements.

26th meeting
26 March 1997

[Adopted without a vote. See chap. VII.]