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[LONDON, 4 July 2006] - The Human Rights Council concluded its first session last Friday, 30th June. During the two-week session, which started on Monday 19th June, the Council adopted eight Resolutions, three Decisions and two Statements by the President. Most of the discussions that took place among Council members, observer States, NGOs, National Human Rights Institutions, and representatives from special procedures and treaty bodies, focused on the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 (which established the HRC). This included consideration of reports from the working groups of the Commission on Human Rights and discussions on procedural matters as set out in the GA Resolution. Other topics of discussions included pressing human rights issues (such as the situation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine; support for the Abuja Agreement (Darfur); avoiding incitement to hatred and violence for reasons of religion or race; the human rights of migrants; and the role of human rights defenders in promoting and protecting human rights); and dialogue and cooperation on human rights. The Council adopted a Resolution on incitement to racial and religious hatred and the promotion of tolerance and the President of the Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba of Mexico, issued a Statement on hostage-taking. Procedural issues The Council also adopted a Resolution on the universal periodic review mechanism, which would periodically review the situation of human rights in all countries (starting with Council members), and a Decision on the extension of all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights. Finally, the Council adopted a Decision on a framework for a programme of work for the first year, and also debated the issue of dialogue and cooperation on human rights, which included human rights education and learning, advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building. New legal instruments After its deliberations, the Council decided to adopt a Resolution on the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and a Resolution on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Both texts were forwarded to the General Assembly for adoption at its next session. The Council also issued a Statement to welcome the entry into force on 22 June 2006 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which was adopted on 18 December 2002 by the General Assembly in its Resolution 57/199. With regards to the situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, the Council adopted a Resolution in which it decided to undertake substantive consideration of the human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories at its next session and to incorporate this issue in its following sessions. Next sessions On the last day, the President said that following a request signed by 21 Member States of the 47 Member States of the Council to hold a Special Session on the situation on human rights in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. It was announced yesterday that this special session would take place on Wednesday 5th July, 3-6pm, in the Salle des Assemblées, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva. The Second (regular) session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 18 September to 6 October 2006; the 3rd session, from 27 November to 8 December; the 4th, from 12 March to 6 April 2007. Further information