HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONCLUDES FOURTEENTH REGULAR SESSION

The Human Rights Council closed its fourteenth regular session this afternoon, adopting 18 texts on a wide range of issues, and appointing several mandate holders, including Christof Heyns as Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Heiner Bielefeldt as Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Kishore Singh as Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Calin Georgescu as Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights; Fatsah Ouguergouz as Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Burundi; and Marzuki Darusman as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It extended the mandate of the Special Procedure on the human rights of internally displaced persons as a Special Rapporteur for a period of three years, and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief for a further period of three years.

The Council also appointed Miguel D'escoto Brockman as a member of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, to fill the vacancy from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as Ariel Dulitzky to the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances and Faiza Patel to the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination.

In a resolution adopted subsequent to the urgent debate on “Grave Attacks by Israeli Forces against the Humanitarian Boat Convoy”, the Council condemned in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces against the humanitarian flotilla of ships which resulted in the killing and injuring of many innocent civilians from different countries and called upon the Occupying Power Israel to immediately lift the siege on occupied Gaza and other occupied territories. It also decided to dispatch an independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance.

The Council also adopted texts on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace, on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States, on the role of prevention in the protection and promotion of human rights, on the promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity, on enforced or involuntary disappearances, on violence against women, on the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, on missing persons, on the proclamation of an International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, on concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, on regional cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asia-pacific Region, on technical assistance and cooperation in the Kyrgyz Republic, attacks on school children in Afghanistan, and assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights.

At this session, the Council heard a number of high profile reports and held interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures presenting them, including the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism,
the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti, and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery on behalf of Special Procedure Mandate Holders.

It also held an interactive dialogue on a joint study on Global Practices of Secret Detention in the Context of Counter-Terrorism prepared by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on arbitrary detention and the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. Another interactive debate was held on the annual report of Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967, in which the Council heard a presentation by Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on her progress report on the follow-up to the report of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. An interactive debate was also held with the Chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights also updated the Council on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' activities, which was followed by a general debate held in the context of the agenda item on the Annual report of the High Commissioner. The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights also presented to the Human Rights Council thematic reports from the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Council then held a general debate on these.

During the session, the Council held a number of general debates, including on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention; human rights bodies and mechanisms; on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories; on the follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance and follow up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; and technical assistance and capacity building.

The Council adopted the outcome of the reports of the Universal Periodic Review of Qatar, Nicaragua, Italy, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, El Salvador, Angola, Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, the Gambia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also held a general debate on the topic of the Universal Periodic Review.

On 7 June, the Council held its annual day of discussion on women’s human rights with a focus on “Empowering Women through Education”.

The Council also held panel discussions on giving voice to the victims of human trafficking; on the protection of journalists in armed conflict; on the adverse effects of the movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights; and on the human rights dimensions of maternal mortality.

The fourteenth session, which was presided over by Ambassador Alex Van Meeuwen of Belgium, was held from 31 May to 18 June 2010. The fifteenth regular session of the Council will be held from 13 September to 1 October 2010.

Resolutions Adopted by the Council

Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development

On trafficking in persons, especially women and children: regional and sub-regional cooperation in promoting a human rights-based approach to combating trafficking in persons, the Council calls upon Governments to take appropriate measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, through inter alia: to promote the provision of gender and age sensitive responses which adequately address the needs of women, children and men as victims; to promote an effective prosecutorial and judicial response with a victim-oriented approach; to promote cross-border cooperation of counter-trafficking practitioners; and to support legislative or other measures to discourage the demand that fosters all exploitation of persons, including the demand created by sex tourism and forced labour.

On the promotion of the right of peoples to peace, the Council stresses the importance of peace for the promotion and protection of human rights for all; also stresses that the deep fault line between the rich and the poor poses a major threat to global prosperity, peace, human rights, security and stability; further stresses that peace and security, development and human rights are the foundations for collective security and well-being.

On the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, the Council calls upon creditors and debtors alike to consider the preparation of human rights impact assessments with regard to development projects, loan agreements or Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers; and urges States, international financial institutions and the private sector to take urgent measures to alleviate the debt problem of developing countries particularly affected by HIV/AIDS, so that more financial resources can be used for health care, research and treatment of the population in the affected countries.

On the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights, the Council requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult States, national human rights institutions, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, using a questionnaire format, on the conceptual and practical dimensions of prevention with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, and to compile and publish the responses on the website of the Office; and also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to convene a workshop, based on the above-mentioned consultations, on the role of prevention for the promotion and protection of human rights.

On the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, the Council expresses concern at the persistent problems of large numbers of internally displaced persons worldwide, in particular the risk of extreme poverty and socio-economic exclusion, their limited access to humanitarian assistance, vulnerability to human rights violations and difficulties resulting from their specific situation, such as lack of food, medication or shelter; and decides to extend the mandate of the Special Procedure on the human rights of internally displaced persons as a Special Rapporteur for a period of three years.

On the promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity, the Council reaffirms that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights; recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific and reiterates its call upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the independent expert in the discharge of her mandate.

On enforced or involuntary disappearances, the Council calls upon Governments to offer support to all victims of enforced disappearances, especially women and children affected by this crime; also calls upon Governments to prevent the occurrence of enforced disappearances; urges Governments to continue their efforts to elucidate the fate of disappeared persons and to ensure that competent authorities in charge of investigation and prosecution are provided with adequate means and resources to resolve cases and bring perpetrators to justice.

On the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Council condemns all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as well as violations of the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.

On accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, the Council calls upon States to take all measures to empower women and strengthen their economic independence, including through their full participation in the development and implementation of socio-economic policies and poverty eradication strategies, and to give priority to and to promote their access, without discrimination, to education, training, economic opportunity and economic advancement; and further urges States to publicly condemn violence against women and provide visible and sustained leadership to confront the attitudes, customs, practices and gender stereotypes that lie at the core of harmful acts and practices that are violent towards women.

On the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 4/1, the Council encourages all States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a view to its early entry into force.

Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention

On the “Grave Attacks by Israeli Forces against the Humanitarian Boat Convoy”, the Council condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces against the humanitarian flotilla of ships which resulted in the killing and injuring of many innocent civilians from different countries; demands the Occupying Power Israel to immediately release all detained men and material and facilitate their safe return to their homelands; calls upon the Occupying Power Israel to immediately lift the siege on occupied Gaza and other occupied territories; calls upon the Occupying Power Israel to ensure the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment to the occupied Gaza strip; and decides to dispatch an independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance.

Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms

On missing persons, the Council requests the Advisory Committee to finalize the study on best practices and to submit it to the Council at its sixteenth session.

Follow-up and Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

On the Proclamation of 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, the Council recommends that the General Assembly proclaim 24 March the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, Follow-up and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

On a call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Council decides to convene a Panel during the High Level Segment of the sixteenth session, that will focus on the enjoyment of the rights of peoples of African descent; and further decides to dedicate two working days of the eighth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group to preparations for the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

On regional cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Council requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report containing the conclusions of the fifteenth annual workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region.

On technical assistance and cooperation on human rights in Kyrgyzstan, the Council strongly condemns the human rights violations committed during the protests surrounding the change of government; calls for a full and transparent investigation that holds perpetrators accountable for the loss of life of 7 April 2010; urges the Government of Kyrgyzstan to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to promote respect for democracy and the rule of law.

On addressing attacks on school children in Afghanistan, the Council condemns attacks targeting innocent school children; and urges all parties in Afghanistan to take appropriate measures to protect children and uphold their rights.

On assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, the Council decides to hold, during its fifteenth session, a stand-alone interactive dialogue, with the participation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia, on technical cooperation, capacity-building and effective measures to improve the human rights situation in Somalia and to enhance the effectiveness of United Nations support in the promotion and protection of human rights.


For use of information media; not an official record

HRC10/086E