The situation of Palestinian refugees

Resolution 1338 (2003)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 25 June 2003 (21st Sitting) (see Doc. 9808,Doc. 9808, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, rapporteur: Mr Akselsen; and Doc. 9847, opinion of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr Margelov). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 June 2003 (21st Sitting).

Thesaurus

1. The Parliamentary Assembly, referring to its Recommendation 1612 (2003) on the situation of Palestinian refugees, calls upon:

1.1 all parties and organisations concerned to refrain from using the Palestinian refugees for political purposes and to show more flexibility on the refugee issue;

1.2 the Government of Israel:

a to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law during military operations, and that every case of alleged human rights violation is investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted;

b to allow for free access of international humanitarian organisations, to remove bureaucratic obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian goods and to allow for the free movement of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff;

c to refrain from using the refugees for political purposes and show more flexibility on the refugee issue;

1.3 the Palestinian Authority:

a to refrain from usingthe refugees as an instrument in political action and show more flexibility on the refugee issue;

b to promote a range of options for a sustainable solution that includes compensation for the refugee population;

c to actively seek international support for the establishment of a Palestine refugee and displaced persons final status fund;

d to provide more support for refugees, including social and economic support, within its own mandate;

1.4 the Government of Lebanon to emulate other host countries in the provision of services to the Palestinian refugees, in addition to those provided by UNRWA;

1.5 the international community to give more focused attention to the problem of Palestinian refugees and to contribute to its settlement as soon as possible by all available means.

2. The Assembly reiterates its interest in enhancing co-operation with the Palestinian Legislative Council, in accordance with its Resolutions 1013 (1993), 1281 (2002) and 1294 (2002).