Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Habib Mansour of Tunisia

Mansour said that given the realities on the ground, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory showed no sign of improvement with the crisis having reached alarming proportions; Palestinian civilians, living under Israeli occupation, faced harassment, violence and deprivation on a daily basis.

Mansour said that unless protective measures were taken without delays, poverty was likely to rise further.

Mansour said the Committee welcomed the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice which had found that the construction of the wall being built by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem and its associated regime, was contrary to international law and that it severely impeded the exercise by the Palestinian people of their right to self-determination.

Mansour said that, while his country had been among the first to ratify the new instrument, it had, in fact, been taking important measures to promote the rights of people with disabilities since the end of the 1980s.

Mansour was Ambassador of Tunisia to Nicosia (January 2006 to October 2007), and for part of that time, to Rome, from January 2005 to October 2007, with a residence in Rome.

Mansour is an officer of the Order of the Republic of Tunisia, a Grand Cruz of the Order of Saint Martin of Argentina and a Grand Cruz of the Order of Isabelle the Catholic of Spain and Special Star of the Order of the Italian Solidarity of Italy.

Mansour received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Lycee de garcons de Sousse (1967), Tunisia, and he studied at the University of Tunis, School of Law and Economic Sciences, from 1967 to 1971, graduating in economic sciences.

Mansour is married with four children.

Mansour said that as a country of tolerance, Tunisia was known for its rejection of all forms of extremism, and it had long respected religious freedoms, including the right to worship and the rights of religious minorities.

Mansour said the status of Tunisian women had improved and they had been participating in the development of the nation.