WHO Support Expanded Rights for Palestine

Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have overwhelmingly decided to grant additional rights to the State of Palestine, which holds observer state status, according to a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the Palestinian News Agency reported on Saturday.

The resolution calls for granting the State of Palestine several rights, including: “the right to have a seat among member states, the right to submit proposals and amendments, and the right to be elected to the office of the General Assembly and the main committees of the Health Assembly.”

The draft resolution, presented by a group of Arab and Islamic countries along with China, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, received the support of 101 countries, while only five countries opposed it.

On May 10, the General Assembly voted by a majority of 143 countries to grant the State of Palestine the necessary rights and privileges to ensure its full and effective participation in the sessions and work of the General Assembly and international conferences held under the auspices of the General Assembly or other United Nations bodies, as well as in UN conferences, on an equal footing with member states.

The General Assembly’s decision granted Palestine “the right to sit among member states in alphabetical order and the right to register on the list of speakers under agenda items, excluding those related to the issues of Palestine and the Middle East.”

Additionally, Palestine now has “the right to make statements on behalf of a group, including alongside representatives of major groups,” the right to participate in submitting and presenting proposals and amendments, including on behalf of a group, and “the right for members of the Palestinian delegation to be elected to the office of the General Assembly and its main committees.”

The resolution granted the State of Palestine the right to full and effective participation in UN conferences and international meetings held under the auspices of the General Assembly.