The Ibero-American Council of the Ibero-American Commission on Human Rights for the Development of the Americas (CIDHPDA), in the voice of the President Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez Yáñez, expresses its strong condemnation of the tragedy represented by the loss of human lives in the Gaza Strip, especially the high number of victims among women and children.
According to a recent UN report, almost 70% of the deaths reported in Gaza since the beginning of the intense hostilities have been women and children, a figure that underscores the seriousness of the humanitarian crisis in the region. This fact not only reflects the vulnerability of civilian populations caught in the middle of the conflict, but also highlights the disproportionate impact of violence on the most defenseless sectors of society.
The toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict signifies “a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction and proportionality,” the UN human rights office stated in the communiqué they issued in conjunction with a 32-page report.
The Ibero-American Council reiterates its call on all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, particularly the provisions related to the protection of civilians and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks. The unconscionable violence, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people, not only undermines the fundamental principles of humanity, but also perpetuates the cycle of suffering and destruction in the region.
The CIDHPDA expresses its solidarity with the victims and their families and makes an urgent appeal to the international community to redouble efforts towards a peaceful and lasting solution that will put an end to this humanitarian crisis and guarantee the protection of the human rights of all people, especially women and children.
The Ibero-American Council urges that all necessary measures be taken to end the hostilities and to advance a process of dialogue that respects the dignity and fundamental rights of all peoples, with special attention to the most vulnerable.