TWENTIETH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN GENEVA FROM 19 TO 23 FEBRUARY

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its twentieth session from 19 to 23 February 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 the integration of the perspective of persons with disabilities, the contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 35/21); effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 31/3); the activities of vulture funds and the impact on human rights, and non-repatriation of illicit funds (Human Rights Council resolutions 31/32 and 34/11); regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 32/115); and national policies and human rights in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (Human Rights Council resolution 35/32).

On Monday, 19 February at 11 a.m., the Advisory Committee will publicly open the session, adopt its agenda and programme of work, and will discuss the integration of the perspective of persons with disabilities with Catarina Devandas, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.

At 3 p.m., the Advisory Committee will deliberate on the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights, and on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin on the enjoyment of human rights.

On Tuesday, 20 February between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., it will hold a public meeting with non-governmental organizations, while in the afternoon it will convene discussions on the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights, and on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Advisory Committee will hold private meetings in the morning of Wednesday, 21 February. At 3 p.m., it will deliberate on national policies and human rights, and the contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights in public meetings.

On Thursday, 22 February at 10 a.m., the Advisory Committee will discuss the agenda and annual programme of work, and new priorities. It will then hold public discussions on reflection papers and research proposals, namely on access to justice, budget and human rights, promotion of the rights to culture and social common heritage, the Human Rights Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and economic, social and cultural rights in the agenda of international jurisdictions.

In the afternoon, the Advisory Committee will start taking actions on the recommendations to the Human Rights Council.

The Advisory Committee will continue taking actions on the recommendations to the Human Rights Council and adopt its report before concluding the session in the afternoon of Friday, 23 February.

Documentation relating to the twentieth 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, 19 February

10 a.m. Expert member meeting (private)

11 a.m. Opening of the session, adoption of the agenda and programme of work.
Discussion on integrating a perspective of persons with disabilities in studies of the Advisory Committee.

3 p.m. Discussion on the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights, and on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin on the enjoyment of human rights

Tuesday, 20 February

11:30 a.m. Public meeting with non-governmental organizations.

12:30 p.m. Discussion on the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights.

3 p.m. Discussion on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Wednesday, 21 February

10 a.m. Private meetings

3 p.m. Discussion of national policies and human rights (Sustainable Development Goals). Discussion on the contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights.

Thursday, 22 February

10 a.m. Adoption of the agenda and annual programme of work.
Discussion of reflection papers and research proposals .

3 p.m. Discussion of reflection papers and research proposals (continued).
Action taking by the Advisory Committee

Friday, 23 February

10 a.m. Private meeting

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

AC18/001E