Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee today opened its eighth session, hearing statements from the President of the Human Rights Council and the Director of Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Committee discussed and adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session and began deliberations on the second item on its agenda, namely requests addressed to the Advisory Committee stemming from the Human Rights Council resolutions, taking up the draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace as well as a preliminary study on promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind. Laura Dupuy Lasserre, President of the Human Rights Council, said that the interaction between the Human Rights Council and the Advisory Committee should improve on the basis of the new practical adjustments introduced after the review process. Ms. Dupuy Lasserre invited observer delegations to interact with the members of the Committee and provide inputs and comments on the promotion of the rights of farmers and peasants; the detailed study on serious malnutrition and childhood diseases; and the report on international cooperation on human rights. Bacre Ndiaye, Director of Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, which first elements had been elaborated by this Committee, an important reference and tool for action, which provided guidance for the implementation of quality human rights education and training initiatives at the national level. Mr. Ndaiye reiterated the Secretariat's full support to the work of the Committee. Taking up the second item on its agenda, namely requests addressed to the Advisory Committee stemming from the Human Rights Council resolutions, the Committee started discussions on the draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace. Wolfgang S. Heinz, Committee Expert and Rapporteur of the Drafting Group, said that a new draft resolution on the right of peoples to peace would be submitted to the Council. The new draft declaration focused on core standards and included both positive and negative peace, including also elements on education, environment, victims and vulnerable groups. Mr. Heinz hoped that these discussions would contribute to the development of crucial ideas, a coherent and concise approach; and hoped that the Council would take note of the draft declaration and set up a mechanism of the Council to enter a dialogue among members so that the draft declaration would reach the General Assembly. On the preliminary study on traditional values of humankind, Vladimir Kartashkin, Committee Expert and Rapporteur of the Drafting Group, recalled that the Advisory Committee had been asked to prepare a study on such traditional values, as dignity, freedom, responsibility and how they could enhance the promotion of human rights. Despite considerable divisions in the Council and limited time, Mr. Kartashkin had attempted to develop a preliminary document that could serve as a basis for discussion. Mr. Kartashkin noted the criticism put forward, including on the question on whether traditional values were always valuable and on the prominent role played by religion. The real decision to be made was how to proceed to meet the requirements of the Council, including the many conflicting views held by Member States. The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, 21 February at 10 a.m., when it is scheduled to continue its discussion on traditional values of human kind and then take up follow-up to the report on the right to food.