UN Human Rights Council

Regular Sessions


LATEST NEWS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: FOURTH SESSION
The fourth session of the Human Rights Council (12-30 March), concluded with the adoption of ten resolutions and four decisions, including follow-up resolutions to missions to Darfur and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

During the three-week session, numerous reports on a range of issues were considered, from racism and racial discrimination to violence against women and indigenous peoples.

The Council furthermore heard the Special Procedures of the Council present reports on the human rights situation in Burundi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The resolution adopted on Darfur expressed regret at the fact that the high-level mission could not visit the region, and voiced deep concern about the seriousness of the ongoing violations of human rights in Darfur, whilst the text adopted on the Occupied Palestinian Territory noted the failure of Israel to implement resolutions S-1/1 and S-3/1, effectively hindering the dispatch of the urgent fact-finding mission.

Two special events also took place during the session; one on violence against children and another on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ahead of the Convention being opened for signature on 30 March 2007 . The treaty aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by the 650 million people worldwide living with disabilities. A record 82 states (including the UK ) signed up on its opening day. As of October 2007, 118 countries have signed the Convention, but only seven (excluding the UK ) have ratified it.

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LATEST NEWS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: THIRD SESSION
During its third session (29 November - 8 December), the UN Human Rights Council adopted six resolutions and one decision – including on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; preparations for the Durban Review Conference; global efforts for the total elimination of racism and intolerance; and regional cooperation for the protection and promotion of human rights in the Asia and Pacific region, which currently has no human rights instruments – and held debates with the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon and the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. The Special Adviser, Juan Méndez , said he would collaborate with the Human Rights Council whilst providing the Security Council with early warning reports. At an expert lunch on 14 December, organised for the FCO by UNA-UK, Méndez welcomed the Council’s subsequent decision on Darfur (see above), especially after he reported that at the 3 rd this session on the Council, certain states had dismissed links between the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government. Stelios Perrakis, Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon , told the Council that some of the weapons used during the 33-day conflict were illegal, such as cluster munitions, and that Israel had violated obligations following from international law and humanitarian law, and had disregarded its international and individual responsibility. The findings of the mandate review working group, which met from 13-15 November, were also discussed, including strengthening Special Procedures and the Complaint Procedure. The UN Team at the FCO has been lobbying hard to establish the universal periodic review mechanism, maintain country-specific mandates and the independent appointment of Special Rapporteurs (as opposed to opening up appointments to a Council vote).

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LATEST NEWS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SECOND SESSION
The Council suspended its second session (18 September – 6 October) until 27 November, when it will take action on all the draft proposals that it could not consider given their high number and the insufficient time available in order to guarantee the due and balanced consideration of all proposals. It will subsequently begin its Third Session.

During its Second Session, the Council heard from the thematic Special Procedures on issues as diverse as racism and transnational corporations; the right to health and the independence of judges; and arbitrary detention and economic and structural reform. The Council also considered the reports of country-specific Special Rapporteurs, including on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Painting a grim picture of the human rights situation in the DPRK, Vitit Muntarbhorn (Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK) highlighted egregious transgressions involving the rights to food and life, humane treatment and a host of other freedoms. The Council also heard reports on the Lebanon and discussed the situation of human rights in Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

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