SUMMARY OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Speaking at a press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Doru Romulus Costea of Romania, recalled that at the first part of the current session held in September, the Council had successfully embarked on its tasks aimed at implementing its institution-building package.

During the second part of its sixth session, which was held this week, the Council carried out two main tasks, he said. Firstly, it continued the process of revision of the mandates, which will become a permanent task of the Council during the current cycle to end on June 2008. And secondly, the Council examined very concrete situations of human rights and especially of the reports presented by special rapporteurs on the situations of the human right in countries and on themes.

The President noted as positive that significant resolutions were adopted by consensus. The Council had to maintain a high level of respect for the promotion and protection of human rights, which was not realized if one always made concessions in order to obtain consensus. The credibility of the Council did not lie in reaching consensus, but rather had the goal of maintaining effective and constant examinations of human rights situations in order to find solutions to improve them.

Two special cases which were discussed during this second part of the sixth session dealt with Sudan and Myanmar. On Sudan, the President recalled that the Council had before it two resolutions – one concerning the Group of Experts on Darfur and one concerning the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. On the latter, Council members had tabled a draft deciding to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for one year.

With regard to Myanmar, the President recalled that the Council had held a special session devoted to the situation in this country in October at which it requested the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to visit the country. The fact that the mission took place was in itself a positive development. The resolution before the Council had requested the Special Rapporteur to continue his work with Myanmar.

The President pointed out that the next session of the Council; scheduled for March next year would be very challenging. During this session members would continue assessing the mandates of the special procedures, among other things. Moreover, the preparation of the Universal Periodic Review would begin in April.

Concerning the fate of the Group of Experts on Darfur, the President, while noting there were several recommendations outlined in the report of the Group categorized as short, medium and long-term, said the report highlighted that a small number of these recommendations had been implemented. The Council considered that it was appropriate to continue the work with the Government of Sudan in order to continue with the implementation of these recommendations. A decision taken by the authorities in order to begin the education of the police forces in the area of human rights was commendable, but resources were needed for this. By extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan, it was hoped that a mechanism would be set up that would draw on the experiences from various agencies on the ground in order to assist the Government in doing what it was meant to. The Government of Sudan had repeatedly said that capacity building and resources were lacking and therefore they were unable to do more. The Council agreed to assist the Government in implementing the recommendations outlined in the report of the Group of Experts.

On a follow up question, the President clarified that the mandate of the Group of Experts on Darfur had ended. Through the draft resolution to be voted on in the afternoon, the tasks and goals which had been assigned to the Group were to be assumed by the Special Rapporteur. It was important for the Council and the Government of Sudan to cooperate in that regard.

On the issue of Myanmar, the President said the resolution presented for consideration by the Council asked the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to take on another mission to the country to resume his dialogue with the Myanmar authorities, and to expand his contacts with civil society and members of the opposition in order to develop the necessary circumstances so that a genuine dialogue between the authorities and other political forces could take place. The Special Rapporteur, as indicated by the draft resolution, was supposed to report back to the seventh regular session of the Council in March, so the mission would need to take place before then.

Asked how the Council was able to get around impasses experienced because of differences between various regional groups, Ambassador Costea noted that the confrontation between these groups had recently diminished. There was more dialogue, more contacts and more understanding between members of various groups. “At the same time, we have to change our mindset. All the members of the Council, all the members of the international community, have to admit human rights did not stop at the border. Human rights cannot be protected, defended and promoted by hiding behind national sovereignty”. When there were massive crises with the human rights of people who had to flee or were driven away across the border to the next country, then it was clear it was not merely a question of national sovereignty, he explained.