HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THIRD SESSION

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee this afternoon concluded its third session during which it adopted six recommendations and its report to the Human Rights Council.

Among the recommendations adopted, the Advisory Committee submitted for the consideration of the Human Rights Council a draft set of principles and guidelines on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, as mandated by the Council in its resolution 8/13. It also recommended that the Council request all relevant United Nations bodies, special agencies and programmes, as well as Member States to give due consideration to the principles and guidelines in the formulation and implementation of their policies and measures for persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

The Committee recommended that its Drafting Group on human rights education and training to continue its consultations with all stakeholders regarding the preliminary text with a view to submitting a draft version of the declaration on human rights education and training to the Advisory Committee at its fourth session.

The Committee assigned the task of the preparation of the study on “Discrimination in the context of the Right to Food”, as mandated by the Council in its resolution 10/12, to the existing Drafting Group on the right to food.

The Advisory Committee recommended that the Human Rights Council request its Drafting Group to continue its work on a study on best practices in the matter of missing persons in situations of armed conflict as requested by the Council.

The Advisory Committee designated Mr. Miguel Alfonso Martinez to prepare an initial working paper on the need to initiate a study with the purpose to further clarify the content and scope of the right of peoples to peace; propose measures to raise awareness of the importance of realising this right; and suggest concrete actions to mobilise States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the promotion of the right of peoples to peace.

The Committee also designated Ms. Chinsung Chung to prepare an initial working paper on the need to study the human rights of elderly people, including making practical recommendations with a view to promoting and protecting these rights, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fourteenth session in June 2010.

The Advisory Committee also approved its report to the Human Rights Council on its third session before closing the session.


The Committee will hold its fourth session from 25 to 29 January 2010.


Membership

The 18 members of the Advisory Committee were elected on 26 March 2008, at the seventh session of the Human Rights Council. The membership of the Advisory Committee has to conform with 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 their respective terms of office: Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2010), Mr. Ansar Ahmed Burney (Pakistan - 2011), Mr. Shiqiu Chen (China - 2009), Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea - 2010), Mr. Emmanuel Decaux (France - 2011), Mr. Hector Felipe Fix Fierro (Mexico - 2011), Mr. Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany - 2010), Mr. Latif Huseynov (Azerbaidjan - 2011), Mr. Baba Kura Kaigama (Nigeria - 2011), Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation - 2010), Mr. Miguel Alfonso Martinez (Cuba - 2009), Mr. Bernards Andrews Nyamwaya Mudho (Kenya - 2010), Ms. Purificacion V. Quisumbing (Philippines - 2011), Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan - 2010), Mr. Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius - 2011), Ms. Halima Embarek Warzazi (Morocco - 2009), Mr. Jean Ziegler (Switzerland - 2009), Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2010).

The Chairperson of the third session was Halima Embarek Warzazi, Vice-Chairpersons were José Antonio Bengoa Cabello, Purificacion V. Quisumbing and Jean Ziegler. The Rapporteur was Latif Huseynov.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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