UN official expresses concern over Israel’s inhuman treatment of Palestinian detainees

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, on Monday expressed grave concern over recent UN reports describing a sharp deterioration in the detention conditions of Palestinian men, women and children in Israel. In a press release, the UN official called for independent, thorough, impartial and effective investigations by relevant and competent UN bodies into all such alleged violations in order to bring all perpetrators, regardless of rank or affiliation, to justice. She said that these deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence and other inhuman and degrading treatment may amount to sexual torture against Palestinian men and women, including "widespread sexual insults, threats of rape and gang rape, humiliating and repeated strip searches, prolonged forced nudity, beatings, electric shocks to the genitals, photographing detainees naked or partially naked in degrading positions..." Patten said that sexual violence and torture, in any form and in a ny context, especially in places of detention, is unacceptable, noting that such "abhorrent acts" not only constitute a serious violation of human rights and human dignity, but also undermine efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. The UN official urged the Israeli occupation authorities to grant relevant international bodies unhindered access to detention facilities in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza Source: Jordan News Agency