HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS FIFTH SESSION FROM 11 TO 18 JUNE

The Human Rights Council will hold its fifth session from 11 to 18 June at the Palais des Nations to debate the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.

At the beginning of the session, the Council will hear from a number of its thematic and country-specific Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts. It then has to conclude its year-long discussion on institution building in the Council, including on the issues of 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.

The Council will consider reports from its Special Procedures on the issues of the independence of judges and lawyers, trafficking in persons, racism, the right to food, toxic and dangerous products and wastes, adequate housing, extreme poverty and human rights and international solidarity.

It will also hear from its Special Procedures dealing with the situation of human rights in Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Haiti.

The Council’s Expert Group on Darfur is also expected to present its report to the Council under the section on the follow-up of the decisions of the Human Rights Council.

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 procedure under which situations of violations of human rights are reviewed behind closed doors.

From 25 to 29 June, the Council will act as the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference.

Reports to be Submitted to the Council

Country-Specific Reports

The Council will have before it the following reports:

- report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Adrian Severin (A/HRC/4/16);
- report of the Personal Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Cuba, Christine Chanet (A/HRC/4/12);
- report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia, Yash Ghai (A/HRC/4/36);
- 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 Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar (A/HRC/5/2);
- the report of the Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Louis Joinet (A/HRC/4/3);
- and the report of the Expert Group which is presided over by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan, and is composed of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences to ensure effective follow-up and to foster the implementation of resolutions and recommendations on Darfur (A/HRC/5/6).

Reports Concerning Civil and Political Rights

The Council will have before it the following reports:

- report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy (A/HRC/4/25 and Add.1-3);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diene, (A/HRC/5/10), as well as the summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received (A/HRC/4/19/Add.1) and the report on his mission to the Russian Federation (A/HRC/4/19/Add.3);
- and the report of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, Rudi Muhammad Rizki (A/HRC/4/8).

Reports Concerning Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Council will have before it the following reports:

- report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler (A/HRC/4/30 and Add.1);
- report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari (A/HRC/4/18 and Add.1-3);
- and the report of the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, Arjun Sengupta (A/HRC/5/3).

Other Reports

The Council also will have before it the following reports:

- report of the Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, Okechukwu Ibeanu (A/HRC/5/5 and Add.1);
- and the report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Sigma Huda (A/HRC/4/23 and Corr.1, and Add.1 and 2).


Composition of the Human Rights Council

The composition of the Council at the fifth 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).


Draft timetable for the 5th session of the Human Rights Council
(11-18 June 2007)





For use of the information media; not an official record

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