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[LONDON, 19 June 2006] - The Human Rights Council’s first session is currently taking place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The session will end on Friday 30th June. The Council is replacing the Commission on Human Rights as the main UN body in charge of monitoring and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. The Human Rights Council (HRC) was created on 15th March 2006 with the almost unanimous adoption of General Assembly Resolution A/Res/60/251. The Commission on Human Rights was formally abolished today, 16 June 2006. At the inauguration on Monday 19th June, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for “a clean break from the past” and a “new era” as the enhanced body seeks to give teeth to the protection of rights for all, an issue that often seemed to elude its much-criticised predecessor. “What must be apparent, above all, is a change in culture,” Mr. Annan told representatives from over 100 countries on Monday, appealing for an end to the confrontation and distrust that pervaded the now-replaced Human Rights Commission. "Never allow this Council to become caught up in political point-scoring or petty manoeuvre,” he entreated those present. “Think always of those whose rights are denied - whether those rights are civil and political, or economic, social and cultural; whether those people are perishing from brutal treatment by arbitrary rulers, or from ignorance, hunger and disease. The creation of the new Council was a major plank in Mr. Annan’s UN reform package In Larger Freedom, which he issued in March last year and which was later endorsed by the World Summit at UN Headquarters in New York in September. Although its final form does not contain all the elements Mr. Annan sought, it is regarded as a significant improvement on the Commission, with several features to make it stronger and more effective, including: The first session will mainly focuses on procedural issues while the second session (11-29 September 2006) is likely to be more substantial. The first session will consist of an opening ceremony (Monday 19th), a High-Level Segment (Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd) and meetings addressing the agreed agenda. The High-Level Segment (HLS) takes place during the first week, between 19-22 June. The HLS will consist of statements from dignitaries, i.e. government representatives of ministerial or higher rank or Vice-Ministers. In addition, heads of specialised agencies, programmes and intergovernmental organisations, including regional organisations, will also be provided an opportunity to address the HLS after States representatives. On the initiative of HRC President Designate Ambassador de Alba (Mexico), 3-5 NGO representatives are given the possibility to address Council members during the HLS (see next item). The NGO consultation process involving 60 NGOs and Ambassador de Alba ended on Friday 16th June and a list of speakers finalised. According to the draft agenda (the final agenda should be adopted next week) presented by the President Designate the programme of work for the rest of the first session includes: CRIN will be reporting from the Human Rights Council through the HRC CRINMAIL and daily updates on the HRC news page. In addition, CRIN has produced a new webpage on the Human Rights Council. The page offers information on the first HRC session for child rights NGOs. It provides links to daily news updates on the HRC, information on NGO participation and useful contacts. It contains background information on the Commission on Human Rights and the creation of the Human Rights Council, as well as on the historical involvement of child rights NGOs in the work of the Commission. For more information on the Human Rights Council, contact: Further information
The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR – UNOG,
8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 22 917 9000; Fax: +41 22 917 9016
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil