Speakers Hope Council Will Uphold and Protect Human Rights in Spirit of Cooperation The Human Rights Council this morning opened its first session, hearing from the President of the General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and from a number…

Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly: I am very glad to be here in Geneva. I associate Geneva with very tough and difficult negotiations. I did the Iran-Iraq negotiations here in the 80s, I was here for Somalia in the 90s but today was a truly joyful occasion. The word…

Hears Statements from Ministers and Other Dignitaries from 21 Countries The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded the first day of its high-level segment, hearing from Ministers and other dignitaries from Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Gabon, Serbia, France, Morocco, Brazil, Germany, the Republic…

The first session of the Human Rights Council, which the President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson says will herald a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights, will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 19 to 30 June 2006. Mr. Eliasson, United Nations…

The first meeting of the newly established Human Rights Council opens in Geneva on Monday, 19 June, marking a new beginning for United Nations efforts to promote and protect fundamental freedoms worldwide. This inaugural session, set to last until 30 June, will bring together high-level…

MARKS 'NEW BEGINNING' FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTION, PROTECTION NEW YORK, 9 May 2006 - The General Assembly today, in what its President called a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights, elected the first 47 members of the newly-created Human Rights Council.Following three…