HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES FOLLOW-UP AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

The Human Rights Council this morning held a general debate on the follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

Olivier Belle, Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, said that the Committee on the Status of Women had the opportunity to review gender questions in its most recent session, held from 25 January to 7 March 2008. The session was an important opportunity to reiterate that women’s rights were human rights. All texts concerning gender, including the Beijing Declaration, reinforced themselves and worked towards the equality and rights of women. The financing of the empowerment of women and gender equality were at the fore of this year’s session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Thirty recommendations were made at the session that could be used on a national, regional and global level to improve financing mechanisms with regards to gender equality and the empowerment of women. At this session, the Secretary-General also launched a campaign to deal with violence against women, which was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and support.

In the general debate, delegations raised various issues. Some said equal attention had to be given to economic and social as well as political rights. Poverty alleviation should also become a central theme. Numerous delegations reiterated the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and stressed that the international community should treat human rights globally, in a fair and equal manner. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had enforced the heritage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it was a priority to combat all forms of discrimination and to ensure equality between men and women. In addition, several delegations mentioned their commitment to the ongoing process to draft an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

At the onset of the meeting, the President of the Council, Ambassador Doru Romulus Costea of Romania, read out a statement indicating that the Council members in closed meetings examined the human rights situation in Turkmenistan under its complaints procedure and decided to “keep the situation under review”.

Speaking in the general debate were representatives of Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Egypt, on behalf of the African Group, Slovenia, on behalf of the European Union, Argentina, on behalf of MERCOSUR, France, Italy and the Russian Federation.

The Council will meet this afternoon at 3 .p.m. to continue the general debate on the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action, after which it will hold a general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.


Statement by the President on the Complaint Procedure

DORU ROMULUS COSTEA (Romania), President of the Human Rights Council, at the onset of the meeting, read out the following statement: “In accordance with established practice, and before resuming the general debate in public session, I should like to announce that the Human Rights Council has in closed meetings examined the human rights situation in Turkmenistan under the Complaint Procedure established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007. The Human Rights Council decided to ‘keep the situation under review’. In conformity with the confidentiality of the procedure, members of the Council should make no reference in the public debate to the confidential decision and material concerning this country.”

Documents on the Follow-up and Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Work

The Council has before it the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights (A/HRC/7/31), which summarizes replies received in response to a request for information sent to Member States, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Responses were received from the Governments of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cuba, Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Oman, the Russian Federation and Switzerland, as well as from the human rights organizations, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

The Council has before it the report of the High Commissioner containing the conclusion of the 14th Annual Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region (A/HRC/7/35), which focuses on the key elements of discussion during the 14th Workshop, held in Bali, from 10 to 12 July 2007. The Workshop reviewed progress achieved since the thirteenth Workshop in Beijing in four areas: national human rights action plans; national human rights institutions; human rights education; and right to development and economic, social and cultural rights. In addition, discussions were held on the theme of "Human Rights and Extreme Poverty", which had been identified through consultations among member States as a common priority. The Workshop also included a discussion on future challenges for the Asia-Pacific Regional Framework. Participants reviewed current regional and subregional human rights initiatives in the Asia-Pacific Region and identified possible areas for cooperation. The Workshop was concluded with the adoption of a comprehensive set of points for follow-up action.

The Council has before it the note by the Secretariat on the report of the Secretary-General on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (A/HRC/7/51), which explains why the Office of the High Commissioner considers that a full report does not appear necessary at this stage.

The Council has before it the report of the Secretary-General on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (A/HRC/7/69), covering the period January to December 2007, which contains information on activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish and strengthen national human rights institutions; measures taken by Governments and national human rights institutions in this regard; and cooperation between such institutions and international mechanisms to promote and protect human rights. Information regarding the work of national human rights institutions in respect of specific thematic issues is also included.

The Council has before it the report of the Secretary-General on the process currently utilized by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to accredit national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles and to ensure that the process is strengthened with appropriate periodic review and ways and means of enhancing participation of national human rights institutions in the work of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/7/70), which notes that, at its October 2007 session, the International Coordinating Committee Sub-Committee on Accreditation adopted measures to improve its accreditation procedure, including: an appeal process; a more rigorous review of each application; more focused recommendations to each national human rights institution to ensure full compliance with the Paris Principles; and wider distribution and greater knowledge of the Sub-Committee recommendations by national human rights institutions and other stakeholders, so that they can play a proactive role in the context of follow-up.

The Council has before it the note verbale dated 6 December 2007 from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office at Geneva addressed
to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/7/G/2), transmitting the text of the Final Declaration of the third seminar of Arab national human rights institutions held in Rabat, from 12 to 14 November 2007, on the theme “Role of national institutions in promoting the independence of the judiciary in the Arab region”.

The Council has before it the note by the Secretariat on efforts by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (A/HRC/7/40), which says that an update on this issue will be submitted to the Council at its eighth session.

The Council has before it the noted by the Secretariat on the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights containing a draft basic document on the development of a racial equality index (A/HRC/7/41), which says the report submitted to the Commission at its sixty-second session (E/CN.4/2006/14) is still relevant and the guidance of the Council would be appreciated in order for the consultation process to continue.

The Council has before it the Progress report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of relevant recommendations of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (A/HRC/7/43), which notes that the Working Group held its fifth session in Geneva from 5 to 9 March and from 3 to 7 September 2007, and subsequently issued recommendations to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The progress report of OHCHR on the implementation of these recommendations will be submitted to the ninth session of the Council in September 2008.

Statement by the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women

OLIVIER BELLE, Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, said that the Committee on the Status of Women had the opportunity to review gender questions in its most recent session, which was held from 25 January to 7 March 2008. The session was an important opportunity to reiterate that women’s rights were human rights. He also applauded the Human Rights Council’s decision 6/30 in December 2007 to incorporate the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in its work and mandates.

Mr. Belle also said that all the texts concerning gender, including the Beijing Declaration, reinforced themselves and worked towards the equality and rights of women. The financing of the empowerment of women and gender equality were at the fore of this year’s session of the Commission on the Status of Women. An interesting debate ensued and an agreed conclusion came about, with thirty recommendations that could be used on a national, regional and global level. The investment in gender equality made sense economically and also helped in the economic development of nations. All possible ways needed to be considered to increase Government investment into gender equality. Every Member State should consider this text when they went to Qatar for the next Doha Conference in November and should push for more innovative financing mechanisms with regards to gender quality and the empowerment of women.

Mr. Belle also asserted that violence against women was an important item of concern during the last session of the Commission. While some countries wished to move beyond this issue, many nations still had to implement important changes to fight this problem. At this session, the Secretary-General also launched a campaign to deal with violence against women, which was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and support. Another important step was also taken in terms of the status of women, particularly with regards to the problem of female genital mutilation. In addition, the lack of good statistics and reliable data were a problem and as such, discussions were under way with the Commission on Statistics to improve the information on the status of women. Finally, other aspects were also touched upon during this session such as women and girls with HIV/AIDS and the role of women in the prevention of conflict.

General Debate on the Follow-up and Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

MASOOD KHAN (Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been the first milestone demonstrating the international community’s collective resolve to human rights. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had strengthened this resolve by building a normative bridge between the Universal Declaration and all other international human rights instruments. Equal attention had to be given to economic and social rights as well as political rights, together with the right to development. Poverty alleviation should become the central theme of the human rights machinery. In order to foster harmony and amity it was important to take into account national and religious particularities to promote respect for diverse faiths and civilizations. The growing trends of racism were threatening the multi-cultural fabric of western societies. The spirit of the Vienna Declaration had to be revived to fight the growing defamation of religions, and particularly its most pernicious form, Islamophobia. The OIC called for the protection of the rights of peoples under colonial or other forms of alien domination or occupation. The Council should address the denial of the right of peoples to self determination.

OMAR SHALABY (Egypt), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in 1993 constituted an important achievement for the international community in the area of human rights. Among those was the emphasis placed on the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, and the recognition of the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. Furthermore, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action stressed that the international community must treat human rights globally, in a fair and equal manner. It was against this background that the African Group, inspired by its comprehensive regional instruments and mechanisms, namely the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, fully supported the elaboration of an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which would strengthen the realization and protection of all economic, social and cultural rights, and rectify the decades long anomaly of artificial division and establishing hierarchies among human rights. The African Group was satisfied with the progress achieved in negotiations on the optional protocol, which was slated to be finalized at the second part of the fifth session of the Working Group on the optional protocol, beginning next Monday. The African Group maintained its principled position on a comprehensive scope to the envisaged instrument, as well as giving full effect to the provision on international cooperation and assistance therein.

ANDREJ LOGAR (Slovenia), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the universality of human rights constituted the basic principle of the common endeavour to promote and protect human rights throughout the world. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action reaffirmed that all human rights were universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community had to treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and the same emphasis. Moreover, it was the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms. For this reason, the European Union wanted to stress that human rights should also fully protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

The European Union followed human rights developments all over the world very closely and raised concerns whenever necessary. In that respect, the European Union needed to reiterate its deep concern about the ongoing reports of unrest in Tibet and its spreading into other regions of China. The European Union called for restraint on all sides. It also urged the Chinese authorities to refrain from using force against those involved in the unrest and called on demonstrators to desist from violence. Furthermore, it called on the Chinese authorities to lift restrictions on movement and information. Finally, the European Union stressed the importance it attached to the right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest and urged the Chinese Government to address the concerns of Tibetans with regard to issues of human rights.


SEBASTIAN ROSALES (Argentina), speaking on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and associated countries, said that since 2005 MERCOSUR had implemented an institutionalised body dealing with human rights. It was composed of high level officials belonging to the Member States’ human rights ministries. Several initiatives have been ongoing and different themes were being discussed, such as education in human rights, cultural rights dialogue with United Nations agencies, creation of public policies for human rights and gender based discrimination. MERCOSUR countries had been making efforts to coordinate positions inside the Human Rights Council in order to set international standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. They would continue to support the initiatives for the right to truth and memory and had also tried to preserve the necessary archives for this. MERCOSUR was also sharing experience in the construction of socio-economic and cultural rights indicators.

JEAN-BAPTISTE MATTEI (France) said over the past 15 years the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had enforced the heritage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. France was of the view that it was a priority to combat all forms of discrimination and to ensure equality between men and women. France was anxious to see the full implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and had mainstreamed gender balance into its national policies. France also paid attention to combating violence against women and took an initiative in the General Assembly, in this regard. France would like to see the Human Rights Council enhance its means of action to pay more attention to the question of the rights of the child, including in the area of children in armed conflict. France supported the drafting of an Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a view to improving the implementation of these rights. France also paid particular importance to the question of human rights defenders and, in that regard, was of the view that the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders was of special importance.

PASQUALE D'AVINO (Italy) said that the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna considered “human rights education, training and public information essential for fostering understanding, tolerance and peace” and further called on States to include human rights in the curricula of all learning institutions. It was with regards to this issue that Italy was pleased to announce that, together with Costa Rica, Morocco and Switzerland, it had recently established an informal partnership aimed at raising awareness on human rights education within the Council. Finally, the Italian Government was also deeply engaged in the ongoing process to draft an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Italy was in favour of a comprehensive approach, in consistence with the principles of universality and the indivisibility of all human rights.

SERGEY CHUMAREV (Russian Federation) said that 50 years ago people were talking about the end of history and there had been a general opinion that there was a kind of clash of civilisations. Nowadays they were speaking about the cultural diversities when speaking about human rights. The dialogue could not take place without a discussion with the private sector. The importance of the openness of the High Commissioner was underlined. In the area of human rights there was a sort of mythology that human rights were universal and independent: this had still to be implemented. Standard setting work was needed but the setting of norms should not lose sight of the overall picture. An intercultural dialogue should help overcome the over-bureaucratisation. The Russian Federation appealed to the Council to be more detailed in its approach of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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