HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONCLUDES THIRTIETH SESSION AFTER ADOPTING 29 RESOLUTIONS, TWO PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENTS AND ONE DECISION

The Human Rights Council concluded its thirtieth regular session this afternoon after adopting 32 texts on a wide range of issues, as well as its report for the session. The Council also adopted the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 countries, and appointed three mandate holders and four members of the Advisory Committee.

The Council recommended that the Secretary-General establish a Forum on People of African Descent, with the mandate to serve as a consultative mechanism for people of African descent in the diaspora as well as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council on the plight and needs of the people of African descent. The Council decided to renew, for a period of one year, the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, and the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, and extended by two years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. The Council extended the term of all Working Group mandate holders for two regular sessions of the Human Rights Council.

In concluding remarks, Joachim Rücker, President of the Human Rights Council, thanked the outgoing Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Flavia Pansieri, for her commitment and dedication to the cause of human rights, the professionalism and tremendous efforts on upholding respect for human rights throughout the world, fostering dialogue and cooperation in this field, as well as mainstreaming human rights and coordinating the human rights work among various stakeholders. The President said that any act of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperated with the United Nations and its mechanisms was unacceptable and had to end. Mr. Rücker stressed the responsibility of all to take necessary measures to prevent and ensure adequate protection against such acts.

In the resolution on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Council demanded that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council and the Commission of Inquiry, and that all parties work urgently towards the comprehensive implementation of the Geneva communiqué. In another resolution, the Council encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all alleged attacks by individuals and groups on journalists, human rights defenders, members of religious minority groups and other members of civil society.

In the text on the death penalty, the Council called upon States that had not yet acceded to or ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to consider doing so. In the resolution on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights, the Council called upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible. Human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, were addressed in a resolution which called upon States to review penal policies that could contribute to over-incarceration and overcrowding, in particular regarding the so-called “zero-tolerance policies”. The resolution on human rights and preventing and countering violent extremism urged States to take measures to ensure that counter-terrorism laws and implementing measures were consistent with and applied in a manner that fully respected human rights.

The Council called upon all States to stop adopting, maintaining or implementing unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, and the Charter of the United Nations. In the resolution on human rights and indigenous peoples, the Council decided to hold a half-day panel discussion on the causes and consequences of violence against indigenous women and girls, including those with disabilities. The promotion and protection of the human rights of peasants was the subject of another resolution, which requested the working group on the issue to hold its next two annual sessions for five working days each before the thirty-sixth session of the Council.

The Council also adopted a resolution on national policies and human rights, in which it requested the Office of the High Commissioner to organize an expert workshop to discuss effective, inclusive and participatory mechanisms and methodologies to mainstream human rights on the formulation and implementation of public policies. In another text, the Council decided to convene a panel discussion to take stock of the contribution of parliaments to the work of the Council and its universal periodic review and to identify ways to further enhance that contribution. Promoting international cooperation to support national human rights follow-up systems and processes was endorsed in the text which requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide technical assistance and capacity-building, upon request of the States concerned. In the resolution on equal participation in political and public affairs, the Council urged all States to ensure the full, effective and equal participation of all citizens in political and public affairs.

Several texts were adopted on assistance and technical cooperation in the field of human rights. In the resolution on the enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, the Council emphasized that the discussion to promote technical cooperation and capacity-building in the Human Rights Council should be based on consultations with and the consent of the States concerned. The Council requested the High Commissioner to provide technical assistance and to work with the Government of Yemen in the field of capacity-building and to identify additional areas of assistance to enable Yemen to fulfil its human rights obligations. In another resolution, the Council urged the international community to provide assistance in the setting up of a mechanism by the Central African authorities to fight against trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder victims, and decided to renew the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. The Council, in the resolution on Somalia, urged the international community to provide financial support to enable host countries to respond to the ongoing humanitarian needs of Somali refugees in the region, and decided to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia.

In the resolution on Sudan, the Council encouraged the initiative of holding a comprehensive, inclusive national dialogue in Sudan to achieve sustainable peace and asked the Government of Sudan to further promote and protect the right to freedom of religion and belief. The resolution on Cambodia invited the international community to continue to work with the Government of Cambodia in strengthening democracy as well as ensuring the protection and promotion of the human rights of all people in Cambodia. The Council also adopted the resolution on technical assistance in the field of human rights to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose Government was invited to continue its efforts to put an end to the impunity, in the first place for perpetrators of sexual crimes, and for all violators of human rights. Technical cooperation with Burundi was addressed by another resolution, in which the Council called upon the authorities of Burundi to conduct thorough and independent investigations of all violations and abuses of human rights, so that all perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Under the agenda item on racism and racial discrimination, the Council adopted two resolutions: one issuing a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and another on the Forum on People of African Descent in the Diaspora, in which it recommended that the Forum should serve as a consultative mechanism for people of African descent in the diaspora as well as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council.

The right to development was the subject of a resolution in which the Council requested the United Nations General Assembly to consider holding a high-level segment on the right to development during the general debate of its seventy-first session. In the text on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, the Council declared that democracy was a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems. The Council, in the resolution on the promotion of the right to peace, decided that the open-ended intergovernmental working group should hold its fourth session for five working days with the objective of finalizing the declaration.

Another resolution reviewed the mandate of the expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples. The Council also adopted the resolution on its contribution to the high level meeting on HIV/AIDS in 2016.

Two Presidential Statements were adopted on the reports of the Advisory Committee; and promoting the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health through enhancing capacity-building in public health against pandemics. A decision was also adopted on enhancing the efficiency of the Human Rights Council.

The Council elected three mandate holders by acclamation: Karima Bennoune (United States) as the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Ahmed Reid (Jamaica) as a Member of the Working Group of experts on people of African descent; and Henrikas Mickevicius (Lithuania) as a Member of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. To fill four vacant seats in the Advisory Committee, the Council appointed Imeru Tamrat Yigezu for the African States, Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Al Sheddi for the Asian States, Mario Luis Coriolano for the Latin American and Caribbean States, and Katharina Pabel for the Western European and Others States.

Documentation, statements, resolutions and reports relating to this and all Human Rights Council sessions are available on its webpage. Detailed, speaker-by-speaker coverage of every public meeting can be found on the website of United Nations Information Service Geneva.

The thirtieth session was held from 14 September to 2 October 2015. The thirty-first session of the Human Rights Council will be held in Room XX of the Palais des Nations from 29 February to 25 March 2016.

Summary of the Programme of Work

During the session, the 47-member body heard a presentation of the latest report of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, an oral report from the Office of the High Commissioner on the situation in Ukraine and a presentation of the High Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka. The Council held a total of 22 interactive and clustered dialogues with human rights experts and bodies, and took part in six thematic panel discussions.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, opened the session with an update on the activities of his Office. In his statement Mr. Zeid expressed specific concerns at the international community’s failure to address the situation in Syria. Some countries in the Middle East – Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey – and in Europe – Germany and Sweden – were showing commendable humanity and leadership when it came to hosting refugees and migrants needing protection. He implored decision-makers in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, as well as Europe, to take swift action to establish effective and principled migration governance and urged European States to put in place an architecture of migration governance that was far more comprehensive, thoughtful, principled and effective, and to expand channels of regular migration and resettlement, which would prevent deaths and cut smuggling. The people most responsible for migration were those leaders who had failed to uphold human rights, and robbed their people of hope, said the High Commissioner. He called on all States to accept scrutiny and to fully commit to the implementation of human rights recommendations by United Nations mechanisms. Upholding human rights was intrinsic to the obligations of sovereignty.

During the three-week session the Council convened six thematic discussions on a wide range of human rights issues. It held an annual discussion on the integration of gender perspective and a panel discussion on unilateral coercive measures. Panel discussions on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and on good governance in public service also took place. The Council held a half-day discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples and a panel discussion on the impact of the world drug problem.

In the first week the Council heard reports from and held discussions with the Working Group on arbitrary detention, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, the Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and non-recurrence and the Working Group on enforced disappearances. The Council also held a clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of older persons, the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, the Special Rapporteur on hazardous wastes, the Special Rapporteur on water and sanitation, the Independent Expert on democratic and equitable international order and the Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures. A report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on private military and security companies was presented, followed by the presentation of a series of thematic reports, including on the issues of the death penalty, prison overcrowding and the safety of journalists. At the end of the week, the Council met once in private under its Complaint Procedure.

In the second week of the session the Council heard reports from and held discussions with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, followed with a panel discussion on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It held a clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, followed by a half-day discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples. An interactive dialogue was held with the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and the Intergovernmental Working Group on rights of peasants presented its report. The second week ended with the consideration and adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) outcomes for the following 14 States (in order of review): Belarus, United States of America, Malawi, Mongolia, Panama, Maldives, Andorra, Bulgaria, Honduras, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Croatia, Jamaica and Libya.

In the third and final week of the session a general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories took place, and was followed by an interactive dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The third week also saw a panel discussion on impact of world drug problem and interactive dialogues on the High Commissioner’s oral update on Ukraine, the High Commissioner’s report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the High Commissioner’s oral update on Libya. Interactive dialogues were also held with the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia, the Independent Expert on Sudan, the Independent Expert on the Central African Republic and the Independent Expert on Somalia. A presentation of the High Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka took place and was followed by a discussion. In the final two days of the thirtieth session, on 1 and 2 October, the Council continued the general debate and took action on the draft resolutions and decisions tabled during the session. The President of the Council appointed the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, one member of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and one member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

Resolutions and Decisions

Action on Texts under Agenda Item 1 on Organizational and Procedural Matters

In a decision (A_HRC_30_L.28) on enhancing the efficiency of the Human Rights Council, adopted without a vote, the Council decided to extend the term of all Working Group mandate holders for two regular sessions of the Human Rights Council, and to adjust the working cycle of the Consultative Group so that it commences in April and ends in March of the following year.

In a statement by the President of the Council (A_HRC_30_L.32) on the reports of the Advisory Committee, adopted without a vote, the Council took note of the reports of the Advisory Committee on its fourteenth and fifteenth sessions (A/HRC/AC/14/2 and A/HRC/AC/15/2), and also noted that the Advisory Committee had made certain research proposals.

In a statement by the President of the Council (A_HRC_30_L.43) on promoting the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health through enhancing capacity-building in public health against pandemics, adopted without a vote, the Council called for the development of resilient and sustainable health systems, including through national efforts and international cooperation; and recognized the vital and complementary role of civil society in responding to pandemics.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item 2 on the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.29) on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, adopted without a vote, the Council encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all alleged attacks by individuals and groups on journalists, human rights defenders, members of religious minority groups and other members of civil society; and requested the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to assess progress on the implementation of its recommendations and other relevant processes related to reconciliation, accountability and human rights, and to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-second session, and a comprehensive report followed by discussion on the implementation of the present resolution at its thirty-fourth session.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 3 on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.2) on human rights and unilateral coercive measures, adopted by a vote of 33 in favour, 14 against and no abstentions, the Council called upon all States to stop adopting, maintaining or implementing unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.3) on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requested the High Commissioner to hold, in 2016, a workshop on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.8) on human rights and indigenous peoples, adopted without a vote, the Council requested the Special Rapporteur to report on the implementation of her mandate to the General Assembly at its seventieth session, and decided to hold, at its thirty-third session, a half-day panel discussion on the causes and consequences of violence against indigenous women and girls, including those with disabilities.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.11_Rev.1) on the question of the death penalty, adopted by a vote of 26 in favour, 13 against and 8 abstentions, the Council called upon States that have not yet acceded to or ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to consider doing so; and requested the Secretary-General to dedicate the 2017 supplement to his quinquennial report on capital punishment to the consequences arising at various stages of the imposition and application of the death penalty on the enjoyment of the human rights of the persons facing the death penalty.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.12) on the right to development, adopted by a vote of 33 in favour, 10 against and 4 abstentions, the Council urged the High Commissioner to pursue his efforts to enhance support for the promotion and protection of the realization of the right to development; and decided to continue to act to ensure that its agenda promoted and advanced sustainable development and the achievement of the remaining Millennium Development Goals as well as Sustainable Development Goals.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.14) on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, adopted by a vote of 31 in favour, 14 against and 2 abstentions, the Council declared that democracy included respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and was a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems; and requested the Independent Expert to continue developing studies on the adverse human rights impacts of international investment agreements, bilateral investment treaties and multilateral free trade agreements on the international order.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.15) on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, adopted by a vote of 32 in favour, 14 against and 1 abstention, the Council called upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occurred and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition; and requested the Working Group on the use of mercenaries to continue the work on the strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use and training of mercenaries.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.16) on human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, adopted without a vote, the Council called upon States to spare no effort in providing for effective legislative, judicial, social, educative and other relevant mechanisms and procedures to ensure the full implementation of standards on human rights in the administration of justice.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.17) on the contribution of the Human Right Council to the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in 2016, adopted without a vote, the Council decided to convene a panel discussion at its thirty-first session on the progress and challenges in addressing human rights issues in the context of efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the International Guidelines on HIV and Human Rights.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.25_Rev.1) on human rights and preventing and countering violent extremism, adopted by a vote of 37 in favour, 3 against and 7 abstentions, the Council urged States to take measures to ensure that counter-terrorism laws and implementing measures were consistent with and were applied in a manner that fully respects human rights; and decided to convene a panel at its thirty-first session to discuss the human rights dimensions of preventing and countering violent extremism.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.27_Rev.1) on equal participation in public affairs, adopted without a vote, the Council urged all States to ensure the full, effective and equal participation of all citizens in political and public affairs; and requested the Office of the High Commissioner to organize an expert workshop to discuss the existing guidance on the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item 4 on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.5_Rev.1) on the grave and deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 6 against and 12 abstentions, the Council demanded that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council and the Commission of Inquiry by granting it immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the country, and demanded that the Syrian authorities facilitate, and all other parties to the conflict do not hinder, the full, immediate and safe access of the United Nations and humanitarian actors, including to besieged areas.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 5 on Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.9) on the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted without a vote, the Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a two-day expert workshop open to the participation of States, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.13) on the promotion of the right to peace, adopted by a vote of 33 in favour, 12 against and 2 abstentions, the Council decided that the open-ended intergovernmental working group should hold its fourth session for five working days with the objective of finalizing the declaration.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.19) on promotion and protection of the human rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, adopted by a vote of 31 in favour, 1 against and 15 abstentions, the Council decided that the working group with the mandate to negotiate, finalize and submit to the Human Rights Council a draft United Nations declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas should hold its next two annual sessions for five working days each before the thirty-sixth session of the Council.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.23) on the contribution of parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review, adopted without a vote, the Council decided to convene, at its thirty-second session, a panel discussion to take stock of the contribution of parliaments to the work of the Council and its universal periodic review and to identify ways to enhance further that contribution.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 9 on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.20) - From Rhetoric to Reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, adopted by a vote of 37 in favour, 12 against and 3 abstentions, the Council called upon all States to end posturing and denialism about the existence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; and requested the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to commence preparations for the commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.21) on the Forum on People of African Descent in the Diaspora, adopted by a vote of 32 in favour, 12 against and 3 abstentions, the Council recommended that the Secretary-General, through the General Assembly, review and rescind the mandate of the independent eminent experts for the successful implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and, in lieu of that mandate, to establish a forum on people of African descent; and also recommended that the mandate of the forum on people of African descent should serve as a consultative mechanism for people of African descent in the diaspora as well as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 10 on Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.1_Rev.1) on technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council called upon all parties in Yemen to respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, to stop immediately attacks on civilians and to ensure humanitarian access to the affected population; and requested the High Commissioner to provide technical assistance and to work with the Government of Yemen in the field of capacity-building and to identify additional areas of assistance to enable Yemen to fulfil its human rights obligations.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.6) on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights in the Central African Republic, adopted without a vote, the Council called on the authorities of the Central African Republic to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms to the whole population and to take all necessary measures to end the impunity of perpetrators of acts of violence and other violations and abuses of human rights; and decided to renew, for one year, the mandate of the independent expert to assess and to monitor the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.7) on assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council strongly urged the international community to provide financial support to enable host countries to respond to the ongoing humanitarian needs of Somali refugees in the region, and to support the reintegration of those returning to Somalia as well as internally displaced persons; and decided to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia for a period of one year.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.10_Rev.1) on enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decided that the theme for the annual thematic panel discussion under agenda item 10 to be held during its thirty-first session would be “Technical cooperation and capacity-building to promote and protect the rights of all migrants, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities”.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.18) on technical assistance and capacity-building to improve human rights in Sudan, adopted without a vote, the Council urged the Government of Sudan to further its efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights; requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to the Government of Sudan by its request on ways to improve the human rights situation in the country; and decided to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan for a period of one year.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.22_Rev.1) on advisory services and technical assistance for Cambodia, adopted without a vote, the Council urged the Government of Cambodia to take appropriate measures to encourage and enable civil society, including independent trade unions and the media, to play a constructive role in consolidating democratic development in Cambodia; and decided to extend by two years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.24) on national policies and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner to organize, prior to the thirty-second session of the Human Rights Council, an expert workshop to discuss effective, inclusive and participatory mechanisms and methodologies to mainstream human rights on the formulation and implementation of public policies.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.26) on promoting international cooperation to support national human rights follow-up systems and processes, adopted without a vote, the Council encouraged States to establish and strengthen national human rights follow-up systems and processes and to seek, as needed, technical assistance and capacity-building; and requested the High Commissioner to organize an inter-sessional half-day panel discussion during the twenty-sixth session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, to share experiences and good practices in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights follow-up systems.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.30) on technical assistance and strengthening of capacities in the area of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopted without a vote, the Council invited the Government to continue its efforts, with the help of the international community, to put an end to the impunity; and requested the international community to give priority to structural assistance and assistance of long duration, on the entirety of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in order to optimize the long-term impact of technical assistance programmes.

In a resolution (A_HRC_30_L.31) on technical cooperation and capacity building for Burundi in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council called upon all parties to refrain from any action that could exacerbate tensions in Burundi and to take into account the best interests of the country and to safeguard the Arusha Accords; and requested the High Commissioner to continue to provide and strengthen his activities in technical assistance and capacity-building as requested by the Government of Burundi through his office established in Burundi.


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