HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDS EIGHTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 20 TO 24 FEBRUARY 2012

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its eighth session from 20 to 24th February in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Chamber (Room XX), of the Palais des Nations.

During the session the Committee, a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the Human Rights Council, will work on requests addressed to it by the Council, on issues including the right to food, promotion of the right of peoples to peace, international cooperation, and the integration into its work of a gender perspective and of the perspective of persons with disabilities. The Committee will also begin a study on human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking and how to promote a democratic and equitable international order.

On Monday, 20 February, the Advisory Committee will publicly open its seventh session at 11 a.m. with the adoption of its agenda and programme of work. Subsequently, it will begin discussions on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace, and on human rights and the traditional values of humankind.

On Tuesday morning, 21 February, the Advisory Committee will continue its discussion on the traditional values of humankind, and begin a dialogue on discrimination in the context of the right to food, in particular on the rights of peasants. That afternoon it will discuss the linkage between severe malnutrition and childhood diseases, in particular the Noma disease.

On Wednesday morning, 22 February, the Committee will discuss human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking, and also human rights and international solidarity. That afternoon it will begin a dialogue on enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, and on the right to food with respect to the human rights of the urban poor.

On Thursday morning the Committee will continue its discussion on the right to food with respect to the human rights of the urban poor and rural women, which will be followed by consideration of the agenda and annual programme of work, including new priorities. That afternoon the Committee will meet in private. On Friday, 24 February, it is scheduled to adopt its session report, including recommendations to the Human Rights Council, and conclude its eighth session.

At the open of the session, the Committee will also observe a minute of silence in honour of Purificacion V. Quisumbing, one of its members, who passed away on 2 December 2011. The Human Rights Council will fill the vacancy at its upcoming session, which takes place from 27 February to 23 March 2012.

Background

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts who support the work of the Human Rights Council. It was established in 2008, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, to provide studies and research-based advice, as requested by the Council. The Committee's work is implementation-oriented and follows thematic issues linked to the mandate of the Council, namely, the promotion and protection of all human rights. It interacts with States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society bodies.

The Committee's scope is limited; it is not able to adopt resolutions or decisions. However it may suggest to the Council ways to enhance its procedural efficiency or conduct further research and studies.

The Committee meets twice a year, usually for five days during the last week of January and for five days during the first week of August. News and documentation, including the agenda and draft programme of work, can be found on the Advisory Committee's webpage.


Membership

The membership of the Advisory Committee conforms to the following geographical distribution guidelines set out in its establishing resolution: five members each from African and Asian States; three each from Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States; and two members from Eastern European States.

Members serve for a period of three years and are eligible for re-election once. In accordance with resolution 5/1, the staggering of terms of membership of the Advisory Committee members was determined by drawing lots immediately after the election. Hence, in the first term, one-third of the experts will serve for one year and another third for two years.

Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and expiration dates for their respective terms of office: Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann (Nicaragua – 2012); Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2013); Mr. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France – 2014); Mr. Shiqiu Chen (China - 2012); Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea - 2013); Mr. Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany - 2013); Mr. Latif Hüseynov (Azerbaijan - 2014); Mr. Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda – 2013); Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation - 2013); Mr. Obiora Chinedu Okafor (Nigeria – 2014); Ms. Anantonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala – 2013); Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan - 2013); Mr. Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius - 2014); Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan – 2014); Ms. Halima Embarek Warzazi (Morocco - 2012); Mr. Jean Ziegler (Switzerland - 2012); and Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2013).



Programme of Work


Monday, 20 February

10 a.m. Closed Meeting

11 a.m. Opening of Session, Adoption of Agenda, Organizational and other Matters.
Requests to the Advisory Committee: Promotion of the right of peoples to peace (A/HRC/AC/8/2).

3 p.m. Promotion of the right of peoples to peace (cont'd).
Traditional values of humankind (A/HRC/AC/8/4).


Tuesday, 21 February

10 a.m. Traditional values of humankind (cont'd).
Right to food (rights of peasants) (A/HRC/AC/8/6).

3 p.m. Right to food (children affected by Noma) (A/HRC/AC/8/7).


Wednesday, 22 February

10 a.m. Human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking.
Human rights and international solidarity (A/HRC/AC/8/CRP.1)

3 p.m. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights (A/HRC/AC/8/3)
Right to food (human rights of the urban poor) (A/HRC/AC/8/5)


Thursday, 23 February

10 a.m. Right to food (human rights of the urban poor) (cont'd) (A/HRC/AC/8/5)
Agenda and annual programme of work, including new priorities.

3 p.m. Closed Meeting


Friday, 24 February

10 a.m. Adoption of the report of the Advisory Committee on its eighth session, including recommendations to the Human Rights Council.

3 p.m. Adoption of the report of the Advisory Committee on its eighth session, including recommendations to the Human Rights Council.


For use of the information media; not an official record

AC12/001E