Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Website feature focusing on the proposed
reform of the Commission on Human Rights.
The new feature provides background
information about the reform process, IHF
statements and documents on reform related
issues, media coverage related to the reform
and links to governmental and non-
governmental sources providing additional
information.
[VIENNA, 12 July 2005] - The International Helsinki Federation for Human
Rights (IHF) today launched a new website feature focusing on the
proposed reform of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights.
The new feature provides background information about the reform
process, IHF statements and documents on reform related issues, media
coverage related to the reform and links to governmental and non-
governmental sources providing additional information. Part of the
information is available in Russian and French.
The feature will continue to be updated in coming months, can be visited
here.
Background information:
In March of this year, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed the
establishment of a new standing UN Human Rights Council. This body
would replace the existing UN Commission on Human Rights, the legitimacy
of which has been increasingly undermined by the politically selective
character of its work. Together with other UN reform proposals, the
proposal to create a Human Rights Council is to be considered at a UN
summit in New York on 14-16 September 2005. In advance of this summit,
informal deliberations are held among member states to discuss the
various reform proposals.
With support of the Swiss Helsinki Committee (SHC), the IHF is currently
implementing a project aimed at promoting a comprehensive reform of the
UN Commission on Human Rights. In the period leading up to the
September summit, the IHF will engage in a series of efforts to advocate
the establishment of a Human Rights Council that is capable of addressing
contemporary human rights challenges in a more credible and efficient way
than the existing Commission. The IHF is calling on states to agree to
endorse, at the September summit, a reform that is in accordance with a
number of key criteria regarding the mandate, membership and working
methods of the proposed new body. Moreover, the IHF is urging states to
decide on a continued process and timeline for determining the details of
the reform that are not agreed upon at the summit and to ensure that this
process is transparent and allows for the active participation of civil
society.
As part of the project, the IHF is seeking to mobilize its network of Helsinki
committees and cooperating organizations as well as other local civil
society groups on behalf of a comprehensive reform of the UN Commission
on Human Rights.