Civil Society Organizations' Memorandum for the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the right to elections in Jerusalem To Mrs. Michelle Bachelet Jeria The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, present to you this memorandum, in your capacity of protecting human rights at the international level, to affirm that human rights are rights inherent in all human beings without discrimination, and it is the right of the Palestinians, individuals and people, to enjoy them unconditionally, and it is the duty of the international community to enables the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation to exercise all their legitimate rights, including the right to freely and democratically elect and choose their representatives. It is the duty of everyone to work for the manifestation of these rights and act according to them, and to refrain from any acts that constitute a deviation or violation of them. In this regard, we stress that Israel, the occupying power, does not have the right to obstruct or prevent the holding of general Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem or in any area of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, as it is bound by the signed agreements, covenants, international covenants, international humanitarian law and human rights, and the advisory opinion of the Hague Court on the Wall of 2004, respecting the right of Jerusalemites to participate in elections as an expression of the right to self-determination, as Jerusalem is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority includes all Palestinian residents in all their places of residence, including those in Jerusalem who do not hold Israeli citizenship. Jerusalemites had already exercised their right to vote in 1996 and 2006, and nothing prevented them from doing that except for the Israeli policy that denies the rights of the Palestinian people, which persists in Judaizing the Holy City and the policy of annexation and expansion, which is contrary to international law. Expressing our rejection of the arbitrary practices carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinians, we call on you to exercise your active role in advocating for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights and to intensify efforts and international pressure to force Israel to comply with international legitimacy by allowing elections to take place in East Jerusalem, and not to put any obstacles in the face of the participation of Palestinian Jerusalemite citizens in the elections inside the Holy City as nominations and votes, including the presence of polling centers inside the Holy City and the right to conduct election campaigning, safe and free access to polling centers, the freedom of movement of candidates and not to be subjected to or hold them accountable for exercising these rights and giving guarantees that their rights will not be violated as a result. Participate in the elections and respect their results, and allow the Palestinian Election Commission and local and international observers to operate freely as a guarantee of the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. With full respect
Occupied Jerusalem on 26/4/2021 Signatures: 1. Palestine Institute for National Security Researches 2. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS"/Palestine 3. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC) 4. Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) 5. The Moroccan Coordination for Human Rights Organizations (include 26 HR organizations from Morocco, Mauretania, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya) 6. The Egyptian Organization for Human rights 7. The Tunisian League for Defense Human Rights 8. The Algerian League for Defense Human Rights 9. Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture-Lebanon 10. The Iraqi Network for Human Rights Organizations 11. The Civil Forum in Sudan (which includes 54 civil society organizations) / Sudan 12. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights 13. Yemeni Organization for Defense Rights and Democratic Freedoms 14. Committees for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (LDH) 15. The Libyan Society for Human Rights and scientific Research 16. The Bahraini Society for Human Rights 17. The Mauritanian Association for the Promotion of Rights 18. Arab Commission for Human Rights/Paris 19. Organisation Marocaine des Droits Humains 20. The Egyptian Center for Women Rights 21. The Tunisian Organization against Torture 22. Amel Association International-Lebanon 23. Association Vigilance pour la démocratie et l’Etatcivique– Tunisie 24. The National Association for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms / Egypt 25. The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering-RDFL 26. The Academic Assembly for the support of Palestine-Lebanon 27. Cultural Rally for Democracy / Iraq 28. The Arab Foundation to support Civil Society and Human Rights/Egypt 29. The AFRICA Human Rights WATCH/Morocco 30. Electronic Press Syndicate (Mauritania) 31. Women’s Peace and Security Network (Yemen) 32. The Arab Coalition against the Death Penalty 33. The Arab Human Rights Trainers Network 34. League for Human Rights Trainers in Iraqi Kurdistan Region 35. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man/Palestine 36. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies(RCHRS)/Palestine 37. Association Tunisienne de l’Action Culturelle 38. The Jordan Society for Human Rights 39. Association tunisienne de soutien aux minorités 40. Association de solidaritécivique – Tunisie 41. Association Citoyenneté, Développement, Cultures & Migrations Des Deux Rives 42. Association Joussour de la Citoyenneté 43. Association Arts et Cultures des deux Rives/Tunisie 44. Association weshm– Tunisie 45. Fondation Hassen Saadaoui pour la démocratie et l'égalité– Tunisie 46. Fédération des Tunisiens pour une Citoyenneté des deux Rives/France 47. The Syrian Federation for Human rights Organization 48. Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits de l’hommeen Tunisie 49. Observatoire national pour la défense du caractère civil de l’Etat– Tunisie 50. Sisterhood Arab Forum for Human Rights (Yemen) 51. Mountada Ettajdid pour la pensée citoyenne et progressiste - Tunisie 52. Forum de la Tunisie pour la responsabilisation des jeunes 53. Youth Without Borders-Tunisie 54. Tunisian coalition to abolish the death penalty 55. Association Tunisienne des Femmes Démocrates 56. Al-Rif Association for Human Rights, Morocco 57. General Union of Palestinian Jurists 58. General Federation of Charitable Societies / North West Bank / Palestine 59. General Federation of Charitable Societies / Palestine 60. General Union of Palestinian Women 61. The National Union of Palestinian NGOs (includes 320 institutions) 62. Palestinian Struggle Youth Union 63. Palestinian Women's Action Committees Union 64. Palestine Trade Union Federation, Lebanon Branch 65. The National Feminist Coalition for the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women "CEDAW" in the Occupied State of Palestine 66. Swiss Academy for Human Rights-Geneva 67. The National Women's Coalition for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 / Palestine 68. Without Borders for Training and Human Resources / Jordan 69. Arab House in Ukraine 70. Feminist Cultural Assembly for Democracy / Iraq 71. The National Gathering of Martyrs' Families / Palestine 72. Civil Society Association - Nablus / Palestine 73. Jordan Coalition Against the Death Penalty 74. Yemeni Coalition Against the Death Penalty 75. Ibn Rushd Association for Development and Democracy / Iraq 76. Patient FriendsSociety-Tulkarm/ Palestine 77. Friends of Khadouri Society - Tulkarm / Palestine 78. Baraem Association for Charitable and Social Work / Lebanon 79. Community Development Association for Thought and Culture / Palestine 80. Lebanese Palestinian Communication Association / Lebanon 81. Tunisian Association for the Defense of Individual Freedoms / Tunisia 82. Tunisian Association for University Values 83. Love and Peace Association / Palestine 84. Love and Peace Association/Tunisia 85. Jordanian Jurists Association / Jordan 86. Association of Palestinian Graduates from Lebanon / Palestine Universities and Institutes/Palestine 87. Working Women Association / Jordan 88. Old Hebron Society for Relief and Development / Palestine 89. Sunrise Association / Jordan 90. Friends of the Disabled Association-Lebanon 91. I am a Human Right for Disabled People-Jordan 92. AL Miezan Association for Human Rights and Development- Iraq 93. Al-Shorouk Association / Palestine 94. Arab-European Friendship Association 95. Palestinian-Russian Friendship Association / Palestine 96. Amman Society Forum for Human Rights 97. Future Association for Youth Capacity Development / Palestine 98. Roaa Women Association-Jordan 99. Working Women Society for Development / Palestine 100. The Palestinian-Kuwaiti Friendship and Cooperation Association 101. Taiba Charitable Society - Jenin / Palestine 102. Feminist Action Society / Palestine 103. Arab Women Organization-Jordan 104. Palestinian Association for Drug Control 105. Future Cultural and Social Society / Palestine 106. Mobile Library Association for Nonviolence and Peace / Palestine 107. Queen Zein Al Sharaf Association for Development / Jordan 108. Social Relief Society for Women Development / Palestine 109. Palestinian Hydrologists Association 110. Association for Development and Strategic Studies in Medenine / Tunisia 111. Palestinian Good People Association 112. Badir Association for Development / Palestine 113. Yarmouk Builders Association / Tunisia 114. Tal Al-Safi Charitable Society / Palestine 115. Street Art Association / Tunisia 116. Childhood Protection Charitable Association / Palestine 117. Canaan Association for Palestine / Yemen 118. Kofi Association for Youth and Development / Palestine 119. City Charity Association / Tunisia 120. Charitable Society to Combat Extreme Poverty "Karam" / Palestine 121. Modern Tunisian Women Association 122. Nashaz Association / Tunisia 123. Ni'lin Association for Development and Community Work / Palestine 124. Free Sight Associatio/Tunisia 125. Nafs Empowerment Association / Palestine 126. Nour Al-Yaqeen Charitable Society / Lebanon 127. Association of the Economic and Social Forum for Women / Jordan 128. Hala Tire Cultural Association / Lebanon 129. Oasis Association / Morocco 130. Tulkarem Sons Association/Palestine 131. Diyar Al-Ezz Association for Rights and Freedoms / Jordan 132. Palestinian Consumer Protection Association 133. Palestine Wounded Association - Fajr 134. Women’s Association in Iraqi Kurdistan 135. Association of the Intellectuals of Egypt and the Arab Peoples / Egypt 136. The Jordanian Network for Human Rights (includes 10 human rights organizations) 137. The Jordanian Network for Civil Society Organizations (includes 12 organizations) / Jordan 138. Network of Hope for Relief and Sustainable Development Al Hoceima / Morocco 139. Election Network in Arab Region (ENAR)(includes 22 organizations in 13 Arab countries) 140. Syrian Network for Free and Fair Elections 141. Independent Journalists Network / Sudan 142. Arab Network for Tolerance / Palestine 143. Free Space Network / Morocco 144. Legal Network of Arab Women 145. The Network for the Defense of Women in Syria 146. Women’s Network for Women’s Support / Jordan 147. Social Accountability Network / Morocco 148. Palestinian NGOs Network (includes 142 institutions) 149. The Vigilance Committee for Democracy in Tunisia / Belgium 150. Follow-up Committee to Support the issue of detainees in Israeli prisons-Lebanon 151. Palestinian Initiative to Deepen Global Dialogue and Democracy-MIFTAH 152. Tunisian Youth Council 153. Lebanese Women's Council (includes 150 women's associations) / Lebanon 154. Yemeni Council for Rights and Freedoms / Yemen 155. International Council for Relief and Development / Yemen 156. Lawyers for Justice / Yemen 157. Media Monitor for North Africa and the Middle East / Tunisia 158. Center for Research, Legal Advice and Protection for Women - Gaza / Palestine 159. Arab Women Media Center / Jordan 160. The Land Center for Research and Political Studies / Palestine 161. Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression / Paris 162. Al-Badeel Center for Research and Studies / Jordan 163. Centre de Tunisie Pour la Liberté de la Presse (CTLP) 164. Cultural Center for Child Development / Palestine 165. Elhaq Center for Democracy and Human Rights/Egypt 166. Intermediaries change center for Sustainable Development / Jordan 167. Center for Feminist Studies / Palestine 168. Human Rights Center for Memory and Archives, Morocco 169. Center for the Defense of Freedoms and Civil Rights "Hurriyat" / Palestine 170. Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Studies 171. Democracy and Community Development Center - Jerusalem / Palestine 172. Democracy Center / Morocco 173. Freedom Pioneers for Integrity and Human Rights Training / Jordan 174. Palestinian Social Youth Center 175. Palestinian Social Youth Center / Lebanon 176. The Arab World Center for Development and Human Rights / Jordan 177. El Nadim Center For Management & Rehabilitation of victims of violence 178. Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Legal Profession and the Judiciary "Musawa" 179. Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy Issues 180. The Palestinian Center for Democratic Dialogue and Political Development - Gaza 181. Word Center for Human rights Studies 182. Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling / Palestine 183. Jothor Center for Human Rights / Jordan 184. The Humanitarian Society for Human Rights / Iraq 185. Women's Affairs Center - Gaza / Palestine 186. Jaffa Cultural Center / Palestine 187. Scandinavian Institute for Human Rights 188. International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights 189. Forum freedoms Palestine 190. Jerusalem Intellectuals Forum - Jerusalem / Palestine 191. Houran Forum for Citizenship / Syria 192. The Moroccan Forum for Truth and Equity 193. Safi Forum for Development, Environment and Society / Morocco 194. International Forum for Peace and Defense of Human Rights 195. Democracy and Citizenship Forum / Morocco 196. Bahrain Forum for Human Rights 197. Association for Child Developing Palestine 198. Libyan academic organization 199. The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria 200. Organizations Pour Les Libertés Expression OLIE/Hatim Information Et D’D - Morocco 201. Tunisian Youth Organization 202. Salam Organization for Democracy and Human Rights 203. Gender Studies and Information Organization / Iraq 204. Desert Youth Organization for Development and Human Rights / Libya 205. Yemen Organization for the Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms / Yemen 206. Human Rights Organization in Syria- Maf 207. 10_23 Organization to support the democratic transition process / Tunisia 208. Sawah Organization for Human Rights -Iraq 209. Al Mouel Organization for Rights and Development / Yemen 210. Arab Renaissance Organisation for Democracy and Development (ARDD) / Jordan 211. Supporters of Human Freedom / Iraq 212. The Mosul Heritage Revival Organization / Iraq 213. Al-Haq Foundation - Law for Humanity / Palestine 214. Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue/Egypt 215. Future Partners Foundation for Development and Human Rights - Yemen 216. The National Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (Yemen) 217. Justice Foundation for Human Rights / Yemen 218. The Middle East Foundation for Development and Human Rights (Yemen) 219. Al-Nahda Cultural and Social Club / Palestine 220. Club Iraqi university graduates and institutes / Jordan 221. Samir Ghosheh Cultural Club / Palestine 222. Palestinian Journalists Syndicate 223. The Moroccan Human Rights Commission 224. The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People 225. The Palestinian Authority for PhD holders in the civil service 226. National Authority for Military Retirees / Palestine 227. The Human Rights Coalition to Stop the Aggression, Lift the Siege, and Build Peace in Yemen (includes 10 organizations from ten Arab countries) 228. The Syrian Women's Alliance to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 in Syria 229. The International campaign against the Israeli occupation and annexation 230. General Union of Students of Iraqi Kurdistan 231. Shams Network for Election Observation / Iraq 232. Jordan Network for Elections Integrity 233. Mauritanian Association for Human Rights 234. The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights 235. Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions 236. The Jordan Federation of the independent Trade Unions 237. L’Association des travailleurs maghrébins de France 238. Palestinian General Union of the Disabled 239. Union of Palestinian Working Women Committees 240. Union of Palestinian Women Committees 241. The National Assembly of the Families of Palestine Martyrs - Tulkarm 242. Green Oasis for Development and Democracy / Morocco 243. The International Council Supporting Fair Trials and Human Rights (ICSFT) 244. Egyptian Coalition for the Rights of the Child(includes 126 society) 245. Afaq Jordan Center for Development and Training 246. FORUM DE SAFI POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT ET LA SOCIÉTÉ 247. International Observatory for Documentation of Human Rights Violations/ Argentina 248. International Organization for Human Rights and International Law / Norway 249. Rasid Association for Human Rights/ Lebanon 250. Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Economiques et Sociaux 251. The Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights Bodies (includes 20 Moroccan human rights organizations) |