Events in the international community

United Nations General Assembly

58th Session, New York, 2003

Statement by John Langmore,
Representative to the United Nations and Director, ILO Office for the United Nations, New York

Agenda Item 103: Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources

It is with great concern that the ILO has witnessed the deterioration of the economic situation in the occupied territories in the past three years. The on-going violence has had disastrous consequences for employment and poverty. Israel has lived its worst-ever recession. In the West Bank and Gaza, poverty tripled between 1999 and 2002, as 60% of the population now lives on less than $2.15 a day compared to 20% in 1999. There are now close to 2 million people living in poverty. Unemployment reached 31% in 2002. The closures of the occupied territories and the restrictions on the movement of people have greatly contributed to this.

The Israelis and the Palestinians are stuck in a vicious circle in which violence creates poverty and unemployment, while poverty and unemployment breed violence. The economic circumstances cannot be separated from the security issue. It has been acknowledged by high-ranking Israeli politicians that harsh economic conditions for the Palestinians are a factor contributing to anti-Israeli violence.

The presentation of the “Road Map” for peace raised hopes and was accompanied by stabilization on the ground. However, the violence resumed and so did the deterioration of economic and social conditions in the occupied territories. The Road Map is technically still alive but many have lost hope that it will be achieved. However, it should be noted that if the Israelis and Palestinians decide to go forward with the Road Map for peace, the ILO will be there to promote employment, social protection, labour institutions and social dialogue, thereby making its small contribution to peace.

Despite the prevailing situation in the occupied territories, the ILO has implemented an enhanced programme of technical cooperation. This programme, launched in 2002, consists of a number of projects for capacity-building for employers' and workers' organizations, the establishment of a Palestinian Fund for Employment and Social Protection, and the promotion of social dialogue as a prerequisite for lasting peace. Among others, the following projects are being implemented: the establishment of a Small Business Advocacy, Training and Service Unit in the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce; the creation of a workers' education project in the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions; and three capacity-building projects with the Ministry of Labour. The ILO has started a number of projects aimed at improving women workers' rights and gender equality. The project on “Social and Civil Dialogue for Reconstruction and Reconciliation” has been approved and will be implemented by early 2004. This project aims at fostering social dialogue on labour issues between Israelis and Palestinians.

The ILO will continue with its technical cooperation in the occupied territories. But the success of its operations, as well as the protection of Palestinian workers' rights, will depends ultimately on positive political developments.