HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONCLUDES NINTH SESSION

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee today concluded its ninth session after adopting seven recommendations to the Human Rights Council concerning human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking, human rights and international solidarity, traditional values of humankind, the right to food, and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights. The Committee also proposed five research proposals to the Human Rights Council and adopted its report to the Human Rights Council ad referendum.

In the recommendation on human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking, the Committee requested the Drafting Group to finalize the study and submit the final report to the Committee at its tenth session with a view to submitting it to the Human Rights Council at the twenty-fourth session of the Council in September 2013.

In the recommendation on human rights and international solidarity, the Committee endorsed the draft final paper as revised in light of comments made in the discussions at the present session and agreed to submit the final paper to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its twenty-first session in September 2012.

In the recommendation on traditional values of humankind, the Committee took note of the study on the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind, and requested the Drafting Group to finalize the study in light of discussions at the present session. In view of the challenges facing the Drafting Group in incorporating all the comments and views, the Committee agreed to request the Human Rights Council to defer the submission of the study until its twenty-second session in February 2013.

In the recommendation on the right to food, the Committee took note of the study on the promotion of the human rights of the urban poor: strategies and best practices, and requested the Drafting Group to finalize it in light of the discussions held by the Committee at its ninth session with a view to submitting it to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session in February 2013.

In the recommendation on the right to food, the Committee took note of the preliminary study on rural women and the right to food and requested the Drafting Group to finalize it in light of the discussions held by the Committee at its ninth session with a view to submitting it to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session in February 2013.

In the recommendation on enhancement of international cooperation, the Committee designated Dheerujlall Seetulsingh to participate in the seminar on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights to be organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In the recommendation on research proposals, the Committee proposed for the Council’s consideration and approval the research proposals on access to justice and the fight against corruption; local governments and human rights; globalization, human rights and youth; human rights and humanitarian action; and a model law on equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
All recommendations will be available on the Advisory Committee’s website under its documentation page.

The next session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will take place from 18 to 22 February 2013.


Membership

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); Ms. 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. Coco Quisumbing (Philippines – 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).


For use of the information media; not an official record

AC/12/015E