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The 12th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will be held from 14 September until 2 October 2009 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, in Room XVII.
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Child Rights at the Human Rights Council 52
Child Rights at the Human Rights Council 51
Child Rights at the Human Rights Council 50
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Information note for NGOs
Draft programme of work and other documents
The latest version of the draft programme of work of the session has been posted on the HRC extranet (instructions for accessing the HRC extranet are included below). The draft programme of work is expected to be discussed at the organisational meeting of the Human Rights Council to be held on 28th August 2009. It has been prepared on the basis of the annual programme of work, which is available on the HRC Extranet.
Documents for the Human Rights Council’s 12th Session, including the annotated agenda, will be made available on the OHCHR Council webpage shortly. The Secretariat strongly encourages NGOs to consult the HRC Extranet, as well as the OHCHR Council website on a regular basis, as they are regularly updated as and when documentation becomes available.
The HRC extranet is accessible from the OHCHR Council web page at the following link: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/ Click on the HRC Extranet link on the left hand column of the webpage. Links HRC Extranet When prompted enter Password: hrc extranet Username: 1 session.
NGO written statements:
NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit written statements relevant to the work of the Human Rights Council (in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31). The HRC Secretariat wishes to draw the attention of NGOs to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, which authorises written statements of: a) 2,000 words for NGOs in general consultative status; and b) 1,500 words for NGOs in special consultative status and on the roster.
NGO written statements are to be submitted in accordance with the guidelines for the submission of NGO written statements: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/guidelines.htm NGOs may submit their written statements to the Council Secretariat electronically to [email protected]. Please kindly note that the deadline for the submission of written statements is Friday, 28 August 2009.
The Secretariat will not be able to ensure the timely processing and circulation of written statements late in submission.
Read the guidelines for written statements
Accreditation:
NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC wishing to accredit representatives to the 12th session of the Human Rights Council are invited to fax their letter of accreditation request/s to the Secretariat of the Council as of 31 August 2009 to the attention of: Ms. Francoise Kenfack, Accreditation Officer who can be reached at: Phone: +41 22 917 96 41 Fax: +41 22 917 90 08 E-mail: [email protected]
Please note that the Accreditation Officer will be located at Pregny Gate of the Palais des Nations during the duration of the session.
The letter requesting accreditation should: Be submitted on the official letterhead of the organisation;
• Clearly state the session of the Council the organisation wishes to attend, e.g. “[Name of organisation], wishes to send the following members to attend the [number of session] session of the Human Rights Council ([insert dates of session]) ...”;
•Be signed by the President and/or the Main Representative of the organisation in Geneva; •Indicate the name/s (first name and family name) of the person/s who will represent the organisation at the HRC session: o Names of persons must appear exactly as they appear in the ID document, o Family name(s) have to be capitalised.
•Ensure that the name(s) of those members already in possession of a valid identity badge issued by UNOG Security and Safety Section, and who plan to attend the 12th session of HRC, is/are also included in the accreditation letter, with an indication that the person(s) hold(s) an annual badge.
Please note that annual or temporary representatives of NGOs in possession of an identity badge issued by UNOG Security and Safety Section and valid for the duration of the session, will have unrestricted access to the conference rooms.
Any other participants without a UNOG identity badge should apply in person to the security entrance at Pregny Gate, 8 – 14 Avenue de la Paix; on presentation of an identity document and a copy of the letter of accreditation, a photo-badge valid for the duration of the Council session will be issued.
Assistance for requesting travel visas Upon request, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) NGO Liaison Office (not the HRC Secretariat) may issue relevant 'attestation of accreditation' for visa application purposes. In order to obtain such an attestation, NGOs enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC should explicitly indicate their need in the accreditation request faxed to the HRC Secretariat.
The latter will accordingly transmit the request to the UNOG Liaison Office which will issue the attestation and transmit it to the concerned NGO headquarters. Kindly note that request for ‘attestation of accreditation’ must be made, at least, 14 days before the beginning of the 12th session of the Human Rights Session. The UNOG Liaison Office may be contacted at the following address: United Nations Office at Geneva NGO Liaison Office Office of the Director-General Room 153 Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Tel: + 41 (0)22 917 21 27 Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 83 Email: [email protected]
Access to the public gallery: A limited number of seats in the Public Gallery, above the conference room, are available for persons wishing to observe the proceedings of the HRC without being accredited as participants (i.e. students, and academics).
Individuals or groups who wish to attend are required to fax a letter (24 hours before the desired date) to the HCR Secretariat, (+41 (0) 22 917 90 11 prior to the session, and at +41 (0) 22 917 04 94 during the session), containing the following information: (a) Date(s) of the visit; (b) Purpose of the visit; and (c) Full name(s) of those wishing to attend. Access to the public gallery will be granted depending on the availability of seating and other circumstances.
NGO parallel events:
As under the arrangements and practices observed by the HRC in its former sessions, NGOs duly accredited to the 12th session of the HRC will be able to organize parallel events of relevance to the work of the Human Rights Council, taking into account availability of rooms. Room booking requests will be received as of 31 August 2009 by the Secretariat, and will be processed on a first come first serve basis, subject to availability of rooms.
All requests should be sent by fax to: Fax: + 41 (0) 22 917 90 11 Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 96 41 NOTE: Kindly also be advised that NGOs wishing to co-sponsor an NGO parallel event should fill the relevant ‘Co-sponsorship Form’ which is also attached to the email. The Secretariat will rely only on the information contained in the co-sponsorship forms for the preparation of the relevant Bulletin of Informal Meetings annexed to the Order of the Day.
The NGO in charge of organizing the parallel event may invite guests not accredited to the HRC session to be present at their meeting. The concerned NGO is requested to provide the HRC Secretariat, with a complete list of its guests at least 48 hours prior to the day of the meeting.
Accordingly, "Parallel Event" photo-badges will be issued on the day of the scheduled event, at the "Pregny Gate" security entrance, upon presentation of a valid identification paper. Please be advised that the Secretariat does not provide interpretation for NGOs' parallel events. NGOs may bring their own interpreters, if they so wish, and inform the HRC Secretariat accordingly ahead of time.
It is reminded that the use of cameras/videos during parallel events is prohibited. Only journalists and camera-people accredited on a yearly basis with UNOG are allowed to use camera and video equipment.
A live Webcast service will be available under the Council’s webpage, covering the plenary session online, and will be accessible through this link: http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/ NGO Liaison Office:
During the upcoming 12th session of the Human Rights Council and the lead-up to it, OHCHR's NGO Liaison Officer, Mr. Tsatsu Dawson, will be in charge of facilitating the participation of NGO representatives in the work of the Council. Kindly note the following contact details Mr. Tsatsu Dawson, e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +41 (0)22 917 9656 (until • 11 September) Ms Marie-Claire Tchanga (intern), email: [email protected], • [email protected], Tel: +41 (0)22 917 9754 (until 11 September) A second updated NGO information note will be issued approximately two weeks before the session.
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Read the full list of all Special Procedures mandate holders here
Find out more about Special Procedures
Special Procedures: Facts and Figures 2007
Special Procedures Country Visits 2009
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CRIN - sign up to the special HRC CRINMAIL.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Press releases are issued by the HRC on a daily basis during HRC sessions and are available on the OHCHR website. In addition, relevant documents are posted on the Human Rights Council extranet (sign up).
Relevant and updated information on the 5th session of the HRC will be regularly posted on the HRC Extranet. Username: hrc extranet - Password: 1session.
A live Webcast service will be available under the Council’s webpage, covering the plenary session online, and will be accessible through this link.
Civil society news and perspectives are available on the CONGO website (Conference of NGOs in consultative relationship with the UN) and the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) - ISHR: Human Rights Council daily updates
UN - FAQs about the Human Rights Council
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The Working group for the Human Rights Council, of the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, brings together NGOs willing to promote the rights of the child at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The WG’s aim so far has been to ensure that the Human Rights Council addresses the specific rights and situations of children worldwide in its regular work and sessions on human rights. By advocating for the inclusion of its concerns into the Council's Resolutions, the NGO community has ensured better support and coherence between international politics and local realities affecting the realisation of children's rights.
The WG was active during the negotiations on the creation of the Human Rights Council and during consultations on the first session of the Council.
It produced a call for action in May 2006, calling on the Human Rights Council to act on four specific child rights issues: violence against children - sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography - children affected by armed conflict and displacement - children in conflict with the law.
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Universal Periodic Review (what is this?)
The first session of the Working Group on UPR was held from 7 to 18 April 2008 in Geneva, at Palais des Nations. The fourth session held was being from 2 to 13 February 2009. A special webpage has been launched on the OHCHR website (internet): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx
CRIN has produced a special information page on the UPR: http://www.crin.org/HRC/UPR.asp and has distributed a UPR tookit produced by the Working Group.
We have also produced reports on child rights in the submissions for the first and second session.
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For more information about the Working Group for the Human Rights Council, contact:
Cecile Trochu, co-Convenor
OMCT
Email: [email protected]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.asp
or Jennifer Grant, co-Convenor
Save the Children UK
Email: [email protected]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.asp
Any other enquiries:
Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)
East Studio
2, Pontypool Place, London, SE1 8QF, United Kingdom
+44 20 7401 2257
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.crin.org/HRC
pdf: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/12session/