COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO HOLD ANNUAL SESSION

BACKGROUND RELEASE
HR/CN/99/1
17 March 1999


United Nations Secretary-General to Address Commission on 7 April

The Commission on Human Rights will review the state of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world during its fifty-fifth session which will be held at the Palais des Nations from 22 March to 30 April 1999.

The Commission is the main human rights organ of the United Nations and it has an extensive mandate which allows it to examine the whole spectrum of human rights in its annual session.

Ministers and other senior officials from Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Yemen are expected to address the Commission, as well as representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. This list is not exhaustive.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to speak before the Commission on 7 April. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and the High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, are also expected to address the 53-member body.

According to the provisional agenda (E/CN.4/1999/1, E/CN.4/1999/1 Add.1, E/CN.4/12999/1 Add. 1 Corr.1) the Commission is expected to consider more than 20 items. The first substantive item will be the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on her activities and follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights.

The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation is one of the principal items on the agenda. The Commission is expected to review the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine. It will also take up the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world. Country situations which will be reviewed include Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Lebanon and the west Bekaa, Myanmar, Nigeria, Iraq, Sudan, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, territories of the former Yugoslavia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Burundi and East Timor. Many of the Special Rapporteurs on the country situations will present reports to the Commission on the latest developments in the States under their mandate.

Another principal question to be taken up by the Commission this year will be the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. Under this item, the Commission is expected to hear reports on, among other things, human rights and unilateral coercive measures; the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights; the right to food; the effects on the full enjoyment of human rights of the economic adjustment policies arising from foreign debt and, in particular, on the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development; human rights and extreme poverty; special problems facing developing countries in their efforts to achieve economic, social and cultural rights; and the effects of structural adjustment policies on the full enjoyment of human rights.

Under its item on civil and political rights, the Commission is expected to review questions on torture and detention, disappearances and summary executions, freedom of expression, independence of the judiciary and administration of justice and impunity, religious intolerance, states of emergency, conscientious objection to military service, human rights and terrorism, human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality, and hostage-taking.

Issues concerning racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination will include discussions on measures to ensure the human rights of migrant workers, questions concerning minorities and other vulnerable groups and individuals as well as indigenous issues. The Commission will also be looking at preparations underway for the World Conference Against Racism. A sessional Working Group will convene during the session for this purpose.

April 14 has been provisionally earmarked for a special dialogue on rights of the child. Various Special Rapporteurs have been asked to focus on children’s rights in presenting their reports. The Commission will continue to study under the rights of the child: the impact of armed conflict on children, the programme of action for the elimination of the exploitation of child labour, abduction of children from northern Uganda, and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Integration of the human rights of women and the gender perspective into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations, traffic in women and girls, and violence against women are also expected to be reviewed.

One of the first tasks of the Member States of the Commission will be to elect its Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons and Rapporteur for the session. They also have to approve their provisional agenda which has been revised following Commission resolution 1998/84 on a reform plan. Rationalization of the work and mechanisms of the Commission will be another of the important issues this session.

The Commission was established in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council, and it held its first session in 1947. In addition to preparing studies, making recommendations and drafting international human rights instruments, it also undertakes special tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly or the Council, including the investigation of alleged human rights violations. It also provides for the coordination of human rights activities in the United Nations system. The Commission has been authorized, since 1990, to meet exceptionally between regular sessions to consider particularly grave human rights situations, provided that a majority of its 53 members so agree.

Human Rights Violations

The Commission on Human Rights added the human rights situation in the territories occupied by Israel, including Palestine, in 1968 and it decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur in 1993 with the mandate to investigate Israel’s violations in the occupied territories. The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Hannu Halinen (Finland), will present his report to the Commission (E/CN.4/1999/24).

Other documents before the Commission under this item include the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 1998/1 on this issue (E/CN.4/1999/21) and a note listing all United Nations reports issued between sessions of the Commission that dealt with the conditions in which the citizens of the Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories were living under the Israeli occupation (E/CN.4/1999/23). Also before the Commission will be a report by the Secretary-General on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan (E/CN.4/1999/22).

While considering the question of human rights violations in any part of the world, the Commission will also have before it reports of the Secretary-General on, among other questions, human rights in southern Lebanon and the west Bekaa (E/CN.4/1999/26).

The Commission will have before it a report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Nigeria, Mr. Soli Jehangir Sorabjee (India) (E/CN.4/1999/36). Another report which will be studied is that by Mr. Maurice Copithorne (Canada) on human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, (E/CN.4/1999/32).

Under the situation of human rights in the former Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier (Czech Republic), will submit his report which will be considered by the Commission (E/CN.4/1999/42).

The report of Mr. Roberto Garreton (Chile), the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (E/CN.4/1999/31) and the report of the Secretary-General’s Investigative Team to that country (E/CN.4/1999/30) will be before the Commission. Other reports which will be reviewed by the Commission are the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Leonardo Franco (Argentina), on Sudan (E/CN.4/1999/38); the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Max van der Stoell (the Netherlands), on Iraq (E/CN.4/1999/37); the report of the Secretary-General on East Timor (E/CN.4/1999/28); the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius), on Myanmar (E/CN.4/1999/35) and the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/29); the report of the Special Representative, Mr. Michel Moussalli (Switzerland), on Rwanda (E/CN.4/1999/33) and the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (E/CN.4/1999/34); the report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alejandro Artucio (Uruguay), on Equatorial Guinea (E/CN.4/1999/41); an oral report by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil), on Burundi as well as a note by the Secretariat (E/CN.4/1999/43); the report of the Secretary-General on Cyprus (E/CN.4/1999/25); and a note by the Secretariat on Afghanistan (E/CN.4/1999/40) as well as a report by Special Rapporteur Kamal Hossain (Bangladesh.)

Issues concerning advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights will also be taken up, including a review of the situation of human rights assistance to Somalia - the report of the Independent Expert, Ms. Mona Rishmawi (Jordan), (E/CN.4/1999/103 and Add. 1); as well as the situation of human rights in Haiti - a note by the Secretariat (E/CN.4/1999/102); and Cambodia - the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden), (E/CN.4/1999/101) and the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/100).

The Commission might also consider situations brought to its attention by the Sub-Commission concerning Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Mexico. The Sub- Commission also drew its attention to the violations of the rights of human rights defenders in all countries. It might also consider the situation of human rights in Kosovo after the General Assembly drew its attention to resolution 53/164 on that issue.

Situations which appear to reveal a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights will be examined under Economic and Social Council resolution 1503 adopted in 1970. Since then, particular situations relating to 75 countries have been placed before the Commission under the procedure. This work will be carried out in closed meetings on the basis of a confidential report from the Commission’s Working Group on Situations as well as other confidential documents.

Civil and Political Rights

Also on the agenda is the question of civil and political rights and the human rights of all persons subjected to any form of torture and detention. Among the issues to be examined are the following: hostage-taking; the draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the status of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; arbitrary detention; disappearances and summary executions; right to freedom of opinion and expression; independence of the judiciary, administration of justice and impunity; the right to restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; impunity; religious intolerance; states of emergency and conscientious objection to military service.

Documentation under civil and political rights include the report of the Special Rapporteur on torture, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley (United Kingdom), (E/CN.4/1999/61 and Add.1) which includes the report on his mission to Turkey; the report of the Working Group on a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture (E/CN.4/1999/59), the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention against Torture (E/CN.4/1999/54); the report of the Secretary-General on the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture to the General Assembly (A/53/283) and updated information for the Commission (E/CN.4/1999/55); the reports of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (E/CN.4/1999/63 and Add.1-4) which include the reports on missions to Peru, the United Kingdom and Romania; and the reports of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (E/CN.4/1999/62 and Add. 1-2) which include reports on its missions to Yemen and Turkey.

Further documents under this item include the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Abid Hussain (India) (E/CN.4/1999/64 and Add. 1-2) which include reports on his missions to Malaysia and Hungary; the report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia), (E/CN.4/1999/60 and Add.1); a report by the Independent Expert on the right to reparation, Mr. Charif Bassiouni (Egypt/United States), (E/CN.4/1999/65); the report of the Secretary-General on impunity (E/CN.4/1999/57); and the reports of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance, Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia), (E/CN.4/1999/58 and Add. 1-2) which include reports on his missions to the United States and Viet Nam.

The Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), will present a report (E/CN.4/1999/39 and Add.1) on this issue.

Right to Self-Determination

As it considers the right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation, the Commission will have before it a report by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/10) which considers the situation in occupied Palestine. Under the same item, the Commission will also have before it a report by the Special Rapporteur on the question of the use of mercenaries, Mr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros (Peru). The report is (E/CN.4/1999/11).

Realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been a standing item with high priority on the Commission's agenda since 1975. Under it the Commission studies the special problems faced by developing countries in their efforts to achieve these human rights.

These include, for example, problems related to the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, foreign debt, and economic structural adjustment policies and their effects on the full enjoyment of human rights.

Among the issues to be considered by the Commission under this item are the links between human rights and unilateral coercive measures, the environment, extreme poverty and the right to food. A report on this last issue by the High Commissioner is contained in document (E/CN.4/1999/45).

Furthermore, the Commission will examine the reports of its Special Rapporteur on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic waste and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Fatma Zohra Ksentini (Algeria), (E/CN.4/1999/46 and Add.1) which include a report on her visit to the Latin American countries of Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica. It will also take up the report of its Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty, Ms. Anne-Marie Lizin (Belgium), (E/CN.4/1999/48) ; the report of the Special Rapporteur on the effect of foreign debt on the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, Mr. Reinaldo Figueredo (Venezuela), (E/CN.4/1999/47); and the report of the Independent Expert on the effects of structural adjustment policies on the full enjoyment of human rights, Mr. Fantu Cheru (United States), (E/CN.4/1999/50) and the report of the working group on the same subject (E/CN.4/1999/51.) Concerning realization of the right to development, the Commission will have before it the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (E/CN.4/1999/19) and a report by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/20).

The Commission will also act on a number of resolutions submitted to it by the Subcommission which deal with respect for economic, social and cultural rights.

Racism, Xenophobia and All Forms of Discrimination

Again this year, the Commission will deal with the issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination. In 1997, the Commission requested the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and related intolerance, Mr. Maurice Glèlè-Ahanhanzo (Benin), with all the appropriate assistance and resources to carry out his mandate to examine any forms of discrimination against Blacks, Arabs and Muslims, xenophobia, Negrophobia, anti-Semitism, and related intolerance, as well as governmental efforts to overcome them. The Special Rapporteur’s report (E/CN.4/1999/15 and Add.1) will be among the documents before the Commission, along with the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the objectives of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (E/CN.4/1999/12).

Human Rights Promotion and Protection, Rights of Women, Vulnerable Groups

Under this item, the Commission will have before it the report of the Secretary-General on minimum humanitarian standards entitled “Fundamental Standards of Humanity” (E/CN.4/1999/92). It will also examine the question of a culture of peace, enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, and the issue of human rights defenders. The Commission will also have before it the report of the Secretary-General on the question of the death penalty (E/CN.4/1999/52); and the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Covenants on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1999/91).

The issue of human rights and terrorism will continue to be considered by the Commission as a matter of priority. It will also consider the issue of human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality and will have before it the report of the Secretary-General on this issue (E/CN.4/1999/56).

Other issues the Commission will take up under this item are the development of public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign for Human Rights; the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education; human rights and bioethics; human rights and the environment; and guidelines for the regulation of computerized personal data files.

The Commission will also be considering the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms including treaty bodies, national institutions and regional arrangements, and adaptation and strengthening of the United Nations machinery for human rights.

Also under this item, the Commission will review regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, the composition of the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and thematic procedures.

The Commission will also be examining the reports of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka), (E/CN.4/1999/68 and Add.1-4) which include reports on her missions to the United States and Indonesia. The report of the Secretary-General (A/53/354) on traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls will also be before the Commission. Issues concerning integrating the human rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and traffic in women and girls will also be reviewed.

Also before the Commission will be a reports by Francis Deng (Sudan), Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons, (E/CN.4/1999/79 and Add.1-2) which include reports on his missions to Azerbaijan and Africa. It will also review a note by the High Commissioner transmitting the report of the meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights and of the advisory services programme which was held in Geneva from 26 to 29 May 1998 (E/CN.4/1999/3 and Corr. 1, Add. 1 and Corr. 1-2 and Add.2).

Under the sub-item other vulnerable groups and individuals, the Commission will have before it the report of the Secretary-General on contemporary forms of slavery (E/CN.4/1999/75) and his report on the financial situation of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (E/CN.4/1999/85). It will also review the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/76) in which he solicits the opinion of Governments, specialized agencies and international non-governmental organizations on the guidelines on the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in the context of HIV/AIDS, as recommended by the experts who participated in the second International Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.

Protection of Specific Groups

The General Assembly, in its resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, proclaimed the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People commencing on 10 December 1994. The Commission, in resolution 1998/13, requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her capacity as Coordinator for the Decade, to submit an updated annual report reviewing activities within the United Nations system under the programme of activities for the Decade to the Commission at its fifty-fifth session. The Commission will have before it the report of the High Commissioner (E/CN.4/1999/81) which contains relevant information on the financial status and activities of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations and the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.

The Commission will also have before it the report of the open-ended inter-sessional Working Group of the Commission to elaborate a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (E/CN.4/1999/82). It will also be considering the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group to elaborate and consider further proposals for the possible establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations system (E/CN.4/1999/83).

Measures to improve the situation and ensure the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers will again be considered during the forthcoming session. The Commission will have before it the Secretary-General's report on the status of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (E/CN.4/1999/77). It will also have before it the report of the Working Group on migrants and human rights (E/CN.4/1999/80).

Concerning the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the Commission will review the reports of the Secretary-General on promoting and protecting effectively the rights of persons belonging to minorities (E/CN.4/1999/78) as well as the report of the Working Group of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/18).

Rights of the Child

The question of the rights of the child has received increased attention in recent years, especially since the entry into force in 1990 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Commission will have before it the report of the Special Representative on the impact of armed conflict on children, Mr. Olara Otunnu (Cote d’Ivoire), (A/53/482). It will also consider the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the Sub- Commission (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/12) on replies of States concerning the implementation of the programme of action for the elimination of the exploitation of child labour. The report of the Secretary-General on the abduction of children from northern Uganda (E/CN.4/1999/69) will be reviewed, as will the report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Ms. Ofelia Calcetas-Santos (Philippines), (E/CN.4/1999/71) as well as a report on her mission to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (E/CN.4/1999/71 Add.1).

At its fifty-fourth session, the Commission urged its open-ended Working Group responsible for elaborating a draft optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography to redouble its efforts with the aim to finalize the draft optional protocol before the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Working Group will present the report of its fifth session (E/CN.4/1999/74). The Commission will also review the latest report of its open-ended inter-sessional Working Group on a draft optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts (E/CN.4/1999/73).

The Commission will also have before it the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1999/70) on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Other Matters

The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia will also be reviewed by the Commission under the agenda item on organization of the work of the session.

Composition of Commission

The composition of the Commission for 1999 is as follows: Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.




ANNEX

List of Thematic and Country Specific Procedures and Mechanisms of
the Commission on Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights can appoint personalities with a background in human rights and establish working groups to study country situations or specific issues relating to human rights and to submit reports for its consideration. Following is the list of thematic and country specific procedures and mechanisms:

Country-Specific Procedures

Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan - Mr. Kamal Hossain (Bangladesh)

Special Rapporteur on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - Mr. Jiri Dienstbier(Czech Republic)

Special Rapporteur on Burundi - Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Brazil)

Special Rapporteur on Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire) -
Mr. Roberto Garretón (Chile)

Special Rapporteur on Equatorial Guinea - Mr. Alejandro Artucio (Uruguay)

Special Rapporteur on Iraq - Mr. Max van der Stoel (Netherlands)

Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Iran (Islamic Republic of) -
Mr. Maurice Copithorne (Canada)

Special Rapporteur on Myanmar - Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah (Mauritius)

Special Rapporteur on Nigeria - Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee (India)

Special Rapporteur on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 -
Mr. Hannu Halinen (Finland)

Special Representative on Rwanda - Mr. Michel Moussalli (Switzerland)

Special Rapporteur on Sudan - Mr. Leonardo Franco (Argentina)

Thematic Procedures

Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of racism, racial - discrimination and xenophobia - Mr. Maurice Glèlè-Ahanhanzo (Benin)

Special Rapporteur on Education - Ms. Katarina Tomasevski (Croatia)

Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions -
Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)

Independent Expert on Extreme poverty - Ms. Anne-Marie Lizin (Belgium)

Special Rapporteur on Foreign debt - Mr. Reinaldo Figueredo (Venezuela)

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of opinion and expression - Mr. Abid Hussain (India)

Special Rapporteur on Illicit movement and dumping of toxic waste -
Ms. Fatma Zohra Ksentini (Algeria)

Special Rapporteur on Independence of judges and lawyers -
Mr. Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia)

Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally displaced persons -
Mr. Francis Deng (Sudan)

Special Rapporteur on Mercenaries - Mr. Enrique B. Ballesteros (Peru)

Special Rapporteur on Religious intolerance - Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia)

Expert on Restitution, compensation and rehabilitation for victims of grave violations of human rights - Mr. Cherif Bassiouni (Egypt/USA)

Independent Expert on Right to development - Mr. Arjun Sengupta (India)

Special Rapporteur on Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography -
Ms. Ofelia Calcetas-Santos (Philippines)

Independent Expert on Structural adjustment policies -
Mr. Fantu Cheru (United States of America)

Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - Mr. Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom)


Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, its causes and consequences
Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka)

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Chairman: Mr. Kapil Sibal (India)

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances -
Chairman: Mr. Ivan Tosevski (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)


Technical cooperation programmes

Cambodia Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden)


Haiti Independent Expert - Adama Dieng (Senegal)

Somalia Independent Expert - Mona Rishmawi (Jordan)

“1503 procedure” Independent Expert on Chad - Ms. Emna Aouij (Tunisia)