TWENTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN GENEVA FROM 6 TO 10 AUGUST 2018

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its twenty-first session from 6 to 10 August 2018 in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber (Room XX) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

During the session, the Committee will continue its discussions on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 32/115); national policies and human rights in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (Human Rights Council resolution 35/32); the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 31/32); the negative effect of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 31/3); the non-repatriation of illicit funds (Human Rights Council resolution 34/11); and the contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 35/21).

The Advisory Committee will also set up drafting groups to discuss the global call for comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as per General Assembly resolution 72/157; and the role of technical assistance and capacity building in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights as per Human Rights Council resolution 37/23.

On Tuesday, 7 August, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Advisory Committee will hold a commemorative event and a panel discussion on ‘How research leads to action’ in observation of the tenth anniversary of the Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee will also meet in private with the bureau of the Human Rights Council and discuss its methods of work, as well as discuss the integration of a gender perspective.

On Monday, 6 August at 11 a.m., the Advisory Committee will publicly open the session, and adopt its agenda and programme of work. It will then discuss regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights. The final report will be presented at the thirty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2018.

On Monday afternoon, the Committee will set up a drafting group to prepare a study on a global call for concrete action for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. It will set up another drafting group to conduct a study on the role of technical assistance and capacity building in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights.

On Tuesday, 7 August, in the morning, the Advisory Committee will hear an updated preliminary outline by its drafting group that is preparing a study on national policies and human rights that can help States to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its drafting group on activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights will continue its work on the subject. The Advisory Committee will also hear its drafting group on the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights present a progress report on the subject.

From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the Advisory Committee will hold a commemorative event and a panel discussion on ‘How research leads to action’ in observation of the tenth anniversary of the Advisory Committee.

On Wednesday, 8 August, the Advisory Committee will meet with non-governmental organizations from noon to 1 p.m. In the afternoon, it will meet with its drafting group on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and hear its drafting group on the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights present a progress report on the subject.

On Thursday, 9 August, the Advisory Committee will discuss its methods of work in the morning, as well as the integration of a gender perspective. On Thursday afternoon, it will discuss its agenda and annual programme of work, including new priorities, reflection papers and research proposals. On Friday, it will take action on recommendations to the Human Rights Council before adopting its report and concluding its session.

Documentation relating to the twenty-first session, including the agenda and programme of work, can be found on the Advisory Committee’s webpage.

Background

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). 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, and meets twice annually. 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.

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.

Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and expiration dates for their respective terms of office:

Ibrahim Abdulaziz Alsheddi (Saudi Arabia, 2018); Mohamed Bennani (Morocco, 2020); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria, 2019); Mario Luis Coriolano (Argentina, 2018); Ion Diaconu (Romania, 2020); Carla Hananía de Varela (El Salvador, 2019); Ludovic Hennebel (Belgium, 2020); Mikhail Lebedev (Russian Federation, 2019); Xinsheng Liu (China, 2019); Ajai Malhotra (India, 2020); Kaoru Obata (Japan, 2019); Mona Omar (Egypt, 2019); Katharina Pabel (Austria, 2018); Elizabeth Salmón (Peru, 2020); Dheerujlall Baramlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius, 2020); Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea, 2020); Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia, 2018); and Jean Ziegler (Switzerland, 2019).

Programme of Work

Monday, 6 August

10 a.m. Expert member meeting (private)

11 a.m. Opening of the session, adoption of the agenda and programme of work.

Discussion on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human
rights

3 p.m. Discussion on the global call for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and on the role of technical assistance and capacity building in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights

Tuesday, 7 August

10 a.m. Discussion on national policies and human rights

10:45 a.m. Private meetings of the drafting group on national policies and human rights; on the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights; and on the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights

3 p.m. Commemorative event and panel discussion on “How research leads to action” in observation of the tenth anniversary of the Advisory Committee

Wednesday, 8 August

10 a.m. Private meetings

12 p.m. Meeting with non-governmental organizations

3 p.m. Private meeting of the drafting group on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin on the enjoyment of human rights and on the contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights.

Thursday, 9 August

10 a.m. Discussion on methods of work (private)

3 p.m. Discussion on the agenda and annual programme of work, including priorities – reflection papers and research proposals

Friday, 10 August

10 a.m. Expert member meeting (private)

11 a.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee

3 p.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee and adoption of the session report, and closing of the session


For use of the information media; not an official record

AC/18/003E