CRINMAIL 64:
In this issue:
15th Session Summary
The 15th Session of the Human Rights Council closed on October 1st, having been in session since September 13th.
In addition to a half day discussion on women's equality before the law and an annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective, Special Rapporteurs reported on a number of thematic issues, including safe drinking water and sanitation, indigenous people, international solidarity, children in armed conflict and racism. Rapporteurs also presented reports on the current situation in Sudan and Somalia.
The Council considered several Universal Periodic Review outcomes during the 15th Session, including Kenya, Guinea, Sweden and Belarus. Special Procedure mandate holders were also appointed.
Children's rights featured most prominently in reports on:
a) From domestic work to modern slavery
In her report, the Special Rapporteur highlights various ways in which domestic servitude manifests itself, ranging from slavery as understood by the 1926 Slavery Convention to slavery-like practices, such as bonded domestic labour and child domestic labour. She finds that gender discrimination and domestic servitude are inextricably linked, the victims being almost always women and girls. Click here to read a summary of the report
Click here to read the full report
Click here to read an editorial from a previous CRINMAIL on child domestic workers.
b) Urgent need to protect the rights of migrant children
A new study by the United Nations Human Rights office has identified "serious protection gaps for migrant children in every region of the world." It calls on countries of origin, transit and destination to adopt a child-sensitive and rights-based approach to protect the human rights of children at all stages of the migration process. To read a summary of the report, click here
To read the draft report of the 15th Session, click here
Special Procedure Mandates
In a statement during the 15th Session, the Human Rights Council established a mandate on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, and extended the mandates on Arbitrary Detention, Cambodia and Health.
Click here to read the statement
Recent and Current Special Procedure Visits
Recent visits:
-Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Mr Walter Kalin, visited Iraq from 26th September to 3rd October 2010. Click here to read the press release
-Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Manfred Nowak, recently visited Kazahkstan from 29th September to 1st October 2010. Click here for further information.
-Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, concluded a visit to Mexico on October 16th. Click here to read the press release.
Current visits:
-The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Manfred Nowak, is currently on a visit to Greece. The visit is due to finish on October 20th 2010. Click here for further information.
-Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Ms. Najat Maalla M'jid, is currently visiting the United States. The visit is due to finish on October 27th 2010. Click here for further information.
For a full list of visits scheduled for 2010 and beyond, click here
Upcoming Universal Periodic Reviews
The 9th Session of the UPR is scheduled to take place from the 1st - 12th November 2010
The following countries are due to be reviewed:
Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mauritania, Lebanon, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, United States of America, Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia.
The 10th Session of the UPR is scheduled to take place from 24th January - 2nd February 2010
The following countries are due to be reviewed:
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Prinicpe, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Australia, Austria, Estonia and Georgia.
Session 11: Deadlines for Alternative Report Submissions:
Submissions in relation to the 16 countries scheduled to be reviewed at the eleventh session of the Working Group on the UPR (May 2011) should be sent to [email protected] by:
* 1 November 2010 for submissions on Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore; and
* 8 November 2010 for submissions on Salomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hungary and Latvia.
To view CRIN's children's rights specific reports on the UPR, click here
To learn more about the UPR and how it works, click here
Other News / Events
The Working Group on the review of the Human Rights Council will meet in Geneva from 25 to 29 October, 2010. Topics under discussion will include an evaluation of the work and functioning of the Council, and the identification of concrete gaps and shortcomings in the Council's work.
Finally, OHCHR have released a report detailing their activites and results for 2009. Click here to read this report.
Also, click here to subscribe to OHCHR's Civil Society updates.
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