NINETEENTH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN GENEVA FROM 7 TO 11 AUGUST

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its nineteenth session from 7 to 11 August 2017 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 thematic studies requested by the Council, including on the elimination of discrimination against persons with leprosy and their family members (Human Rights Council resolution 29/5); unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents (Human Rights Council resolutions 29/12 and 33/7); national policies and human rights in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (Human Rights Council resolution 35/32); 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 34/8); the activities of vulture funds and the impact on human rights (Human Rights Council resolution 34/3), and non-repatriation of illicit funds (Human Rights Council resolution34/11); and regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (Human Rights Council decision 32/115).

On Monday, 7 August at 11 a.m., the Advisory Committee will publicly open the session and adopt its agenda and programme of work, and will discuss integrating a perspective of persons with disabilities in studies by the Advisory Committee. It will consider the final report (A/HRC/35/38) on the elimination of discrimination against persons with leprosy and their family members, which was submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session, and the research-based study on unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-sixth session (A/HRC/36/51).

At 3 p.m., the Advisory Committee will hold a discussion on how States could implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by integrating human rights into national policies, and it will establish a drafting group for the preparation of the report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its forty-fifth session.

On Tuesday, 8 August at 10 a.m., the Advisory Committee will discuss the ways in which development contributes to the enjoyment of all human rights by all, following which it will establish a drafting group for the preparation of the report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council before its forty-first session. During the afternoon session at 3 p.m., it will discuss the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights and establish a drafting group for the preparation of the report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-ninth session.

On Wednesday, 9 August at 10 a.m., the Advisory Committee will consider discuss the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights in follow up to its progress report on the topic (A/HRC/33/54), and will establish a drafting group for the preparation of the final report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-ninth session.

It will thereafter continue its discussions on the progress report submitted to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/36/52) on the impact of flow of funds of illicit origin and the non-repatriation thereof to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and task its drafting group with the preparation of the final report to be submitted to the Council at its thirty-ninth session.

At 3 p.m. the Advisory Committee will consider the draft progress report on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, to be submitted to the Council at its thirty-ninth session.

On Thursday, 10 August at 10 a.m. the Advisory Committee will discuss the agenda and annual programme of work, and will then hold public discussions on reflection papers and research proposals.

On Friday, 11 August at 11 a.m., the Advisory Committee will start taking actions on the recommendations to the Human Rights Council before adopting its report and concluding its session.

Documentation relating to the nineteenth 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, 2017); Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France, 2017); Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria, 2019); Mario Luis Coriolano (Argentina, 2018); Ion Diaconu (Romania, 2017); Carla Hananía de Varela (El Salvador, 2019); Mikhail Lebedev (Russian Federation, 2019); Xinsheng Liu (China, 2019); Kaoru Obata (Japan, 2019);Mona Omar (Egypt, 2019); Katharina Pabel (Austria, 2018); Anatonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala, 2017); Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea, 2017); Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan, 2017); Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia, 2018); and Jean Ziegler (Switzerland, 2019).



Programme of Work

Monday, 7 August

10 a.m.Expert member meeting (private)
11 a.m.Opening of the session, adoption of the agenda and organization of work
Discussion on integrating a perspective of persons with disabilities in studies of the Advisory Committee
Discussion on the elimination of discrimination against persons with leprosy
Discussion on unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents
3 p.m.Discussion of national policies and human rights (Sustainable Development Goals)


Tuesday, 8 August

10 a.m. Discussion on contribution of development to the enjoyment of human rights
3 p.m. Discussion on effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights


Wednesday, 9 August

10 a.m. Discussion on the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights,
followed by discussion on non-repatriation of illicit funds
3 p.m. Discussion on regional arrangements on human rights


Thursday, 10 August

10 a.m. Agenda and annual programme of work
Discussion of reflection papers and research proposals
3 p.m. Discussion of reflection papers and research proposals (continued)


Friday, 11 August

11 a.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee and adoption of the report
3 p.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee and adoption of the report (continued) and
closing of the session




For use of the information media; not an official record

AC17/003E