HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONCLUDES FIFTH SESSION

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee this morning concluded its fifth session during which it adopted four recommendations and its report to the Human Rights Council. Among these recommendations were texts on the right to food, the right of peoples to peace, principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, and the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights.

Within its recommendations, the Committee assigned the conclusion of the study on discrimination in the context of the right to food to the present Drafting Group; and assigned the preparation of the preliminary study on ways and means to further advance the rights of people working in rural areas to the Drafting Group.

The Committee also submitted the revised principles and guidelines on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and members of their families to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its fifteenth session, and requested the Council to give due consideration to, and to adopt, the revised principles and guidelines.

Further, the Committee requested the Drafting Group on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace to submit a draft progress report to the sixth session of the Advisory Committee before its submission to the Council at its seventeenth session.

Concerning enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, the Committee entrusted a Drafting Group with the task of undertaking preparatory work for consideration by the Advisory Committee on the topic.

During the session, the Committee discussed its draft principles and guidelines on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, in which speakers noted the importance of expanding the scope of the principles and guidelines to all the relevant stakeholders, and added that the principles and guidelines should be practicable and implementable by as many actors as possible, including Governments.

With regard to its discussion on best practices with regards to missing persons in situations of armed conflict, a progress report had been sent to the Human Rights Council, which had expressed quite some support and requested a finalisation of the report. The next progress report would be issued in January. There would be another exchange of opinions and experiences here at this session, on which the next progress report would be based. The final report would be handed in to the sixteenth session of the Human Rights Council, and would contain specific recommendations on how to prevent and protect persons from disappearances.

The Committee also discussed a preliminary report of the Drafting Group on the right to food on the issue of discrimination in the context of the right to food, and speakers said that both the preliminary study and annexed declaration made an effort to address some of the structural obstacles to food sovereignty or towards ensuring the human right to food. However, it was suggested that further elaboration be given to the obstacles to food sovereignty, which could guide the Human Rights Council in addressing this problem. It was also stated that the full realization of the right to food depended also on the economic and social conditions within countries.

The Committee also discussed other requests stemming from the Human Rights Council, including human rights education and training, with a preliminary update on the draft declaration thereon; the right of peoples to peace; enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; and international solidarity.

The Advisory Committee approved its report to the Human Rights Council on its fifth session ad referendum before closing the session.


The Committee will hold its sixth session in January 2011.

Recommendations

In the recommendation on the study on discrimination in the context of the right to food, the Committee assigns the conclusion of the study on discrimination in the context of the right to food to the present Drafting Group, and requests the Group to report on it to the Advisory Committee at its sixth session; and assigns the preparation of the preliminary study on ways and means to further advance the rights of people working in rural areas to the Drafting Group on the right to food, and requests the Group to report to the Advisory Committee at its sixth session.

In the recommendation on the promotion of the right of peoples to peace, the Committee requests the Drafting Group to submit a draft progress report to the sixth session of the Advisory Committee before its submission to the Council at its seventeenth session; requests the Drafting Group to prepare a questionnaire to consult with Member States, civil society, academia and all relevant stakeholders to be distributed after the discussion at the sixth session of the Advisory Committee; and encourages the various stakeholders to contribute to the work under way.

In the recommendation on the draft principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their families, the Committee endorses the principles and guidelines submitted by Mr. Sakamoto, as orally revised; submits the revised principles and guidelines to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its fifteenth session as requested; and requests the Human Rights Council to give due consideration to, and to adopt, the revised principles and guidelines.

In the recommendation on the Drafting Group on enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, the Committee entrusts a Drafting Group with the task of undertaking preparatory work for consideration by the Advisory Committee; and encourages the Drafting Group to continue its preparatory work, based on the outline presented orally, with a view to submitting further elements to the Advisory Committee at its sixth session.

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. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann (Nicaragua – 2012), Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2013), Mr. Ansar Ahmed Burney (Pakistan - 2011), Mr. Shiqiu Chen (China - 2012), Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea - 2013), Mr. Emmanuel Decaux (France - 2011), Mr. Hector Felipe Fix Fierro (Mexico - 2011), Mr. Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany - 2013), Mr. Latif Huseynov (Azerbaidjan - 2011), Mr. Baba Kura Kaigama (Nigeria - 2013), Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation - 2013), Ms. Purificacion V. Quisumbing (Philippines - 2011), Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan - 2013), Mr. Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius - 2011), Ms. Halima Embarek Warzazi (Morocco - 2012), Mr. Jean Ziegler (Switzerland - 2012), Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2013).

The Chairperson was Purificacion V. Quisumbing, Vice-Chairpersons were Wolfgang Stefan Heinz, Vladimir Kartashkin, Dheerujlall Seetulsingh. The Rapporteur was Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann.


For use of the information media; not an official record

AC10/019E