Task Force on Secretariat services, accessibility and use of information technology
Mandate of the Task Force
The Task Force on secretariat services, accessibility and use of information technology was established in July 2011 pursuant to paragraph 61 of resolution 16/21 of the Human Rights Council.
It is mandated to study the issues contained in paragraphs 57-60 of the resolution, related to the improvement of the secretariat services to the Council and its mechanisms, the accessibility to the Council’s work for persons with disabilities and the feasibility of the use of information technology, and to present concrete recommendations thereon to the 19th session of the Council. See Council decision 19/119, and report of the task force contained in the annex. At the 21st session of the Council in September 2012, a progress report informing about the status of implementation of all Task Force recommendations was presented to the Council. See document A/HRC/21/CRP.1.
Composition of the Task Force
The Task Force is composed of the Bureau of the Human Rights Council and representatives of OHCHR and UNOG. Representatives of Member States and other stakeholders also contribute to the work of the Task Force.
Methods of work
On the issue of enhancing accessibility for persons with disabilities, the Task Force has held several meetings on how to enhance accessibility to the Human Rights Council, in terms of physical access to meeting rooms, as well as accessibility of o information and documentation. The taskforce regularly holds consultations with States, NHRIs, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders, to inform its work to promote equality and inclusion and to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities to the Council and its work, in accordance with international standards on accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Activities
Pursuant to paragraph 20 of the annex to Human Rights Council decision 19/119, the Council decided to endorse the view of the Task Force that an accessibility plan should be elaborated, to achieve improvements in accessibility to the Council and the work of its mechanisms.
In 2015 the taskforce held a consultation through a questionnaire on what the Human Rights Council’s accessibility plan should include, which saw the participation of States, UN entities, specialized agencies, NHRIs, NGOs, UN staff, persons with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders. The results of the consultations have been used to inform the work of the Task Force in relation to the elaboration and development of the accessibility plan.
For any queries, or information about accessibility of the Council, you may contact us, preferably by email, at: HRCouncil@ohchr.org
or
Human Rights Council Task Force on accessibility,
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
United Nations Office at Geneva,
CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 90 11
Related documents
- Task force of the human rights council on accessibility for persons with disabilities: accessibility plan (adopted on 15 December 2017) (Word)
- Status of implementation of recommendations, June 2013 (A/HRC/23/CRP.2) (Word)
- Progress report of the task force on secretariat services, accessibility for persons with disabilities and use of information technology (A/HRC/21/CRP.1) (Word)
- Review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/RES/16/21): English - French (Word)
- Task force on secretariat services, accessibility for persons with disabilities and use of information technology (A/HRC/DEC/19/119) (Word)
- Letter from the President on the issue of enhancing accessibility for persons with disabilities to the Council (Word)
- Accessibility guide to the Palais des Nations - Second version, updated in November 2018 (accessible PDF)