WHO assembly passes draft resolution asking to expand Palestine's rights

GENEVA

The World Health Organization's governing forum on Friday adopted a draft resolution asking to expand Palestine's rights and privileges in the agency in line with its "participation in the United Nations."

The World Health Assembly adopted the draft resolution on "aligning participation of Palestine in the World Health Organization with its participation in the United Nations," after a show of hands with 101 in favor, five against, and 21 abstaining.

The draft measure was proposed by Algeria, Brunei Darussalam, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Somalia, Tunisia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

It asks to expand the rights and privileges of Palestine as an observer state "without prejudice to its existing rights and privileges."

These include the right to be seated among member states in alphabetical order, the right of inscription on the list of speakers under agenda items other than Palestinian and Middle East issues in the order in which it signifies its desire to speak, and the right to make statements on behalf of a group, including among representatives of major groups.

They also include the right to submit proposals and amendments and introduce them, including orally and on behalf of a group; the right to co-sponsor proposals and amendments, including on behalf of a group; the right to make explanations of vote on behalf of the state members of a group; the right of reply regarding positions of a group; the right to raise procedural motions; and the right to propose items to be included in the provisional agenda of the regular or special sessions.

The right of members of the delegation of Palestine to be elected as officers in the plenary and the main committees of the Health Assembly; the right to full and effective participation in meetings convened under the auspices of the Health Assembly, are also among the rights and privileges requested for Palestine.

The draft resolution noted that Palestine, in its capacity as an observer state, does not have the right to vote in the World Health Assembly or to put forward its candidature in WHO's organs.