GENEVA – UN experts* today urged the United States to grant Palestinian leaders visas ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, and lift the discriminatory suspension of processing visitor visas for all Palestinian nationals.

“The General Assembly in New York is the epicentre of global diplomacy for peace, justice and human rights. Unilaterally excluding foreign leaders strikes at the heart of this vital mission. The US should maintain its long tradition of allowing access to the United Nations’ headquarters as a neutral meeting place for peaceful dialogue,” the experts said.

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*The experts:

– Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
– Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
– George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order