HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDING FOURTH SESSION FROM 12 TO 30 MARCH
The Human Rights Council will hold its fourth session from 12 to 30 March at the Palais des Nations to debate the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
At the beginning of the session, a high-level segment will be held during which dozens of dignitaries will address the Council. The Council will also hold an interactive dialogue with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour on her annual report.
During the session, the Council will hear the Special Procedures of the Council present their reports. Reports will be presented on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Reports will also be presented on minority issues, effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on human rights, racism and racial discrimination, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, freedom of religion or belief, human rights of migrants, protection of human rights while countering terrorism, freedom of opinion and expression, physical and mental health, education, sale of children and child prostitution, indigenous people, torture, violence against women, human rights and transnational corporations, human rights defenders, internally displaced persons, people of African descent, arbitrary detention, and enforced or involuntary disappearances.
The Council’s high-level missions to Darfur and Gaza will present their reports. At its first special session, the Council decided to dispatch an urgent fact-finding mission headed by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and it will have before it the report of the Special Rapporteur (A/HRC/4/116). At its fourth special session, the Council decided to dispatch a high-level mission to assess the human rights situation in Darfur and the needs of the Sudan in this regard and it will have before it the report of the High-Level Mission (A/HRC/4/80). With regards to the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon which was created after the second special session, the Council will have before it the report of the High Commissioner after consulting with the Government of Lebanon on the mission’s report and its findings (A/HRC/4/115).
Two special events are scheduled to be held during the session: on violence against children and on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Council will continue with its review work of its mechanisms and will hear progress reports from its two intergovernmental working groups on the Universal Periodic Review, and on the review of mandates, which includes segments on the Complaints Procedure, the Expert Advice Body and the Special Procedures.
With regards to the Universal Periodic Review, in resolution 60/251 which created the Council, the General Assembly decided that the Council should undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information, of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a manner which ensured universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States. The resolution said the review should be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue, with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its capacity-building needs. The Council was asked to develop the modalities and necessary time allocation for the Universal Periodic Review mechanism within one year after the holding of its first session in June 2006.
In resolution 60/251, the General Assembly also decided that the Council should assume, review and, where necessary, improve and rationalize all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights in order to maintain a system of Special Procedures, Expert Advice and a Complaints Procedure. It said the Council should complete this review within one year. The Special Procedures include the Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, Working Groups and other bodies. The Expert Advice Body will replace the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which held its last session last year. And the Complaints Procedure will replace the so-called 1503 procedures under which situations of violations of human rights are reviewed behind closed doors.
Reports to be Submitted to the Council
Country-Specific Reports
The Council will have before it the following reports:
- report of the Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Akich Okola (A/HRC/4/5);
- report of the Independent Expert on technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka (A/HRC/4/6);
- report of the Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Titinga Frédéric Pacéré (A/HRC/4/7);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (A/HRC/4/14);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Vitit Muntarbhorn (A/HRC/4/15);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, John Dugard (A/HRC/4/17);
- report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia (A/HRC/4/48);
- report of the Secretary-General on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan (A/HRC/4/56);
- report of High Commissioner on the issue of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints (A/HRC/4/57) with regards to Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
- note by Secretary-General transmitting the report of OHCHR on the question of human rights in Cyprus (A/HRC/4/59);
- report of High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (A/HRC/4/60);
- report of the Secretary-General on technical cooperation and advisory services in Cambodia on the role and achievements of OHCHR in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights (A/HRC/4/95);
- report of the High Commissioner on assistance to Sierra Leone in the field of human rights (A/HRC/4/96);
- report of the High Commissioner on technical cooperation and advisory services in Nepal (A/HRC/4/97 and Add.1);
- and the report of the High Commissioner on technical cooperation in the field of human rights in Afghanistan (A/HRC/4/98).
Reports Concerning Civil and Political Rights
The Council will have before it the following reports:
- report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène (A/HRC/4/19 and Add.1-4), as well as an updated study by the Special Rapporteur on the issue of political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination (A/HRC/4/44);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial,summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston (A/HRC/4/20 and Add.1 and 2);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir (A/HRC/4/21 and Add.1-3);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Martin Scheinin (A/HRC/4/26 and Add.1-3);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo (A/HRC/4/27 and Add.1);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak (A/HRC/4/33 and Add.1-4);
- report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani (A/HRC/4/37 and Add.1 and 2);
- report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (A/HRC/4/40 and Add.1-5);
- report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (A/HRC/4/41 and Add.1-3);
- and the report of the Working Group on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (A/HRC/4/42 and Add.1 and 2).
The Council will also consider the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on combating defamation of religions; reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, on missing persons, on the question of the death penalty, and on impunity; study by OHCHR on human rights and transitional justice activities undertaken by the human rights components of the United Nations system; and the reports of the High Commissioner on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, on human rights in the administration of justice, in particular juvenile justice, and on human rights and mass exoduses.
Reports Concerning Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Council will have before it the following reports:
- report of the Independent Expert on the effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Bernards Andrew Nyamwaya Mudho (A/HRC/4/10);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt (A/HRC/4/28 and Add.1-3);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz Villalobos (A/HRC/4/29 and Add.1 and 2);
- report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, John Ruggie (A/HRC/4/35 and Add.1-4), as well as his report on corporate and State responses to questionnaires on policies and practices (A/HRC/4/74);
- and the report of the Working Group on the Right to Development (A/HRC/4/47).
It will also consider the report of High Commissioner on the right to development; the reports of the Secretary-General on human rights and unilateral coercive measures, on the question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights, and on access to medication in the context of pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; report of the High Commissioner on the promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for different cultural identities; note by the High Commissioner for Human Rights transmitting the report of the seminar on anti-corruption measures, good governance and human rights, held in Warsaw from 8 to 9 November 2006; the reports of the High Commissioner on the World Programme for Human Rights Education and on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; and the progress report by the Secretary-General on the protection of human rights in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Reports on Minority, Indigenous, Women and Children’s Issues
The Council will have before it the following reports:
- report of the Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall (A/HRC/4/9 and Add.1-3);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Jorge A. Bustamante (A/HRC/4/24 and Add.1 and 2);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Juan Miguel Petit (A/HRC/4/31 and Add.1 and 2);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen (A/HRC/4/32 and Add.1-4);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Yakin Ertürk (A/HRC/4/34 and Add.1-4);
- report of the representative of the Secretary-General on human rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kälin (A/HRC/4/38 and Add.1-4);
- report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its sixth session (A/HRC/4/39);
- report of the Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (A/HRC/4/2);
- and the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy (A/HRC/4/45).
It will also review a note by the Secretariat on the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to the universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights containing a draft basic document on the development of a racial equality index and the progress report of OHCHR on the implementation of relevant recommendations of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; reports of the Secretary-General transmitting the joint work plan of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and on the implementation of Commission resolution 2005/42; note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Development Fund for Women on the elimination of violence against women; note by the Secretariat on the question of violence against children; report of the High Commissioner on the abduction of children in Africa; report of the Secretary-General on the Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery; report of High Commissioner on indigenous issues; and the report by the High Commissioner on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.
Other Reports
The Council will have before it the report by the Secretary-General on reprisals against persons cooperating with representatives of United Nations human rights bodies; report of the High Commissioner on progress in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the study on human rights and disability; note by the Secretariat transmitting to the Council the final report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its eighth session; reports of the Secretary-General on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, on the conclusions and recommendations of Special Procedures, on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asian and Pacific region, on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and on the process currently utilized by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions to accredit national institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles; report of the High Commissioner on the composition of the staff of OHCHR; report of the Secretary-General on advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights; report of the High Commissioner on human rights and forensic science; report of the Secretary-General on the development of public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights; report by the Secretary-General on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights; and the report of the Working Group on Situations (A/HRC/4/R.1 and any addenda) concerning the procedure established in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolutions 1503 (XLVIII) and 2000/3.
Composition of the Council
The composition of the Council at the fourth session is the following. The term of membership of each State expires on 18 June of the year indicated in brackets: Algeria (2007); Argentina (2007); Azerbaijan (2009); Bahrain (2007); Bangladesh (2009); Brazil (2008); Cameroon (2009); Canada (2009); China (2009); Cuba (2009); Czech Republic (2007); Djibouti (2009); Ecuador (2007); Finland (2007); France (2008); Gabon (2008); Germany (2009); Ghana (2008); Guatemala (2008); India (2007); Indonesia (2007); Japan (2008); Jordan (2009); Malaysia (2009); Mali (2008); Mauritius (2009); Mexico (2009); Morocco (2007); Netherlands (2007); Nigeria (2009); Pakistan (2008); Peru (2008); Philippines (2007); Poland (2007); Republic of Korea (2008); Romania (2008); Russian Federation (2009); Saudi Arabia (2009); Senegal (2009); South Africa (2007); Sri Lanka (2008); Switzerland (2009); Tunisia (2007); Ukraine (2008); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2008); Uruguay (2009); Zambia (2008).
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