COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS DISCUSSES DRAFT DECISION TO REQUEST ECOSOC FOR A THIRD ANNUAL SESSION IN NEW YORK

AFTERNOON
HR/ESC/99/11
30 April 1999



The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon discussed a draft decision to request the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a third additional annual session to be held in New York.

In the course of the discussion, a number of Committee experts underlined the need to have a third regular session annually in order to deal with the current backlog of reports awaiting consideration by the Committee. It was argued that one of every three sessions of the Human Rights Committee was held in New York and that this situation had contributed very significantly to improving the profile and prominence of the work of that Committee.

Emphasizing the urgency to have a third session, one expert said that given the number of States parties, 139 at present, it would take 14 years to handle their reports if the present pattern and rhythm of 10 reports per year continued.

The draft decision also noted that there was a very different potential constituency which might follow the Committee’s work in New York, including government delegations, non-governmental organizations, the media and international agencies.

Furthermore, the draft text underlined that the effectiveness and profile of the work of the Committee could be further enhanced by holding sessions in New York. The document requests on an exceptional basis the holding of one additional three-week session of the Committee, as well as a pre-sessional working group of one week's duration, in the course of the year 2000, in New York.

A final version of the draft decision will be presented to the Committee next week.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 3 May, it will take up the report of Denmark.