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[NEW YORK, 22 May 2006] - The first session of the Human Rights Council will be held for two weeks from 19-30 June 2006 and is likely to consist of an opening ceremony, a high-level segment, and meetings on procedural matters. 19 June will also be the start of the annual meeting of the special rapporteurs, who will therefore be present in Geneva for the first session, although it is unclear what role they will play. The Council's second session will be held in September for three weeks from 11-29 September 2006. A third session of two weeks may be scheduled for 20 November - 1 December 2006, although concerns have been expressed regarding overlap with the work of the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Mexico has been elected president of the Human Rights Council for its first year. Luis Alfonso de Alba, who has been Mexico's representative to the international organisations in Geneva, has been designated by the government to take up the presidency in June. The Mexican representative is considered a strong chair by many human rights NGOs, who view his appointment as a positive outcome, particularly during the Council's first year, which will be crucial in setting key precedents. The Council is expected to have a bureau of five, including the president. The first session of the Human Rights Council is likely to focus on procedural issues, whereas the second session in September is expected to be more substantive in nature. Initially, the Council will need to undertake three general tasks: Among the priority tasks, the working groups of the Commission on Human Rights will need to be given clear decisions about the future of their work and the universal periodic review mechanism will need to be put in place in time for the 14 countries serving one-year terms to be reviewed within the Council's first year. Further information