NEW YORK, March 13, 2010 (WAFA)-  The UN Women’s Commission on the Status of Women  (CSW) forwarded a draft  resolution on assistance to Palestinian women to United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The Commission on the Status of Women concluded its fifty-fourth session today with the adoption of six resolutions on a range of issues concerning gender equality and women's empowerment, and the approval of one text, by recorded vote, on Palestinian women, to be sent to the Economic and Social Council for adoption.

By a recorded vote of 31 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 10 abstentions ( Belgium, Cameroon, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Togo), the Commission approved the draft on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women.

By its terms, the Commission, deploring the economic and social conditions of Palestinian women and girls in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, would have the Economic and Social Council demand that Israel comply fully with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among other treaties. The Council would call on Israel to facilitate the return of all displaced Palestinian women to their homes, and on the global community to continue to provide urgently needed assistance. The Secretary-General would be requested to continue to review the situation and assist Palestinian women by all available means.

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine expressed her gratitude to all States that had supported the text. Resolutions remained necessary in light of Israel's grave human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She looked forward to a day when Palestine did not have to put forward resolutions, but, until then, her delegation would look to the United Nations to help protect those most in need.