HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDS TENTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 18 TO 22 FEBRUARY

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its tenth session from 18 to 22 February at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

During the session, the Committee, a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the United Nations Human Rights Council, will work on requests addressed to it by the Council, in particular, on the issue of human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking. The Advisory Committee will also follow up on reports submitted to the Human Rights Council on promotion of the right of peoples to peace and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, and discuss proposals for future research.

On Monday, 18 February, the Advisory Committee will publicly open its session at 11 a.m. with the election of officers and adoption of its agenda and programme of work, followed by a discussion on human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking during which it will consider the draft final report on the topic prepared by its drafting group (A/HRC/AC/10/2), which will continue in the afternoon meeting.

On Tuesday, 19 February, the Advisory Committee will discuss, under requests to the Advisory Committee, standing items on its agenda, namely integration of a gender perspective, promotion of a democratic and equitable international order and integration of the perspective of persons with disabilities. This will be followed by a debate under follow-up to reports submitted to the Human Rights Council on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights in the light of new developments in these two areas. In the afternoon, the Committee will consider the experience of other Human Rights Council subsidiary bodies.

The Advisory Committee will meet in private on Wednesday, 20 February in the morning; at noon it will start a discussion on its research proposals, including access to justice and the fight against corruption, which will continue in the afternoon, when the Committee will discuss, the issues of local government and human rights, and globalization, human rights and youth. On Thursday, 21 February, the Committee will continue, under the same item, to discuss human rights and humanitarian action, and a model law on equal opportunities and non-discrimination. The afternoon will be dedicated to a more general discussion of research initiatives and new priorities.

On Friday, 22 February, the Advisory Committee will meet in private until 11 a.m., and will then proceed to adopt its report, including action taking by the Committee, before concluding its session in the afternoon.

Documentation relating to the tenth session, including the agenda and draft programme of work, can be found on the Advisory Committee’s webpage.

Background

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts who support the work of the Human Rights Council. 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. The Committee’s scope is limited; it is not able to adopt resolutions or decisions. However it may suggest to the Council ways to enhance its procedural efficiency or conduct further research and studies.

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.

Members serve for a period of three years and are eligible for re-election once. In accordance with resolution 5/1, the staggering of terms of membership of the Advisory Committee members was determined by drawing lots immediately after the election. Hence, in the first term, one-third of the experts will serve for one year and another third for two years.

Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and expiration dates for their respective terms of office: Mr. Saeed Mohamed Al Faihani (Bahrain – 2015); Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2013); Mr. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France – 2014); Chung Chinsung (Republic of Korea –a 2013); Mr. Mario L. Coriolano (Argentina . 2015); 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. Katharina Pabel (Austria – 2015); 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); Mr. Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia – 2015); and Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2013).




Programme of Work


Monday, 18 February

10 a.m. Closed meeting

11 a.m. Opening of session, election of officers, adoption of agenda, organizational and other matters.

Requests to the Advisory Committee: discussion on human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking (A/HRC/AC/10/2)

3 p.m. Terrorist hostage-taking (continued)


Tuesday, 19 February

10 a.m. Gender Perspective, democratic and equitable international order; perspectives of persons with disabilities; promotion of the right of peoples to peace; and enhancement of international cooperation in the field o human rights

3 p.m. Review of methods of work: the experience of the other Human Rights
Council subsidiary bodies


Wednesday, 20 February

10 a.m. Closed meeting

12 p.m. Access to justice and the fight against corruption

3 p.m. Local government and human rights; globalization, human rights and youth


Thursday, 21 February

10 a.m. Human rights and humanitarian action; a model law on equal opportunities and non-discrimination

3 p.m. Other research initiatives previously discussed and new priorities


Friday, 22 February

10 a.m. Closed meeting

11 a.m. Adoption of the report of the Advisory Committee on its tenth session, including action taking by the Advisory Committee

3 p.m. Adoption of the report of the Advisory Committee on its tenth session, including action taking by the Advisory Committee (continued)



For use of the information media; not an official record

AC13/001E