UN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM: Reform of Commission on Human Rights

Submitted by crinadmin on

Summary: Decisive negotiations are currently taking place at the General Assembly in New York around the creation of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which will replace the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The UN is keen to involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the reform process.

At the initiative of the President of the 60th session of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, and the two co-chairs on the establishment of the HRC, the Commission on Human Rights will hold open-ended informal consultations on 22 November 2005 (10am - 1pm) at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva. On the same day, from 4-6pm, there will also be a meeting with NGOs on "The 2005 World Summit Outcome: follow-up and implementation".

The meeting will consist of a briefing by the President of the General Assembly and the two co-chairs on the on-going process of negotiations in New York regarding the modalities for the establishment of a Human Rights Council and in particular the transitional arrangements. An inter-active discussion will follow, with a possibility to make comments, put forward proposals and ask questions to the President and the co-chairs.

In addition, a letter to Jan Eliasson has been drafted and endorsed by a group of organisations and individuals concerned about the nature of a new Human Rights Council. NGOs and individuals interested in adding their signature to this joint HRC letter should contact Dokkhi Fassihian (dfassihian@demcoalition.org) or Peggy Hicks (hicksp@hrw.org).

For more information on the consultations, contact:

Kate Hardie, Secretariat of the Commission

Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 9256; Fax: + 41 (0) 22 917 9011

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?ID=6576

To read the NGOs’ letter, go to:

http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?ID=6575

The International Service for Human Rights is seeking views from concerned NGOs on how a new Human Rights Council should work and invites them to complete a questionnaire.

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6485

For more information about the NGO Group Subgroup for the Commission on Human Rights, visit: www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.htm

For general information on the Human Rights Council and the reform of the Commission on Human Rights, visit: http://www.crin.org/CHR/news

For background information on the status of the negotiations, go to: http://www.un.org/reform

To read the UN Secretary-General’s report "In Larger Freedom", visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?ID=6574&flag='news'

 

pdf: www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.htm

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http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.htm
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