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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OPENS NINETIETH SESSION
09 July 2007
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Human Rights Committee
9 July 2007
Hears Address by Representative of High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Right Committee, which reviews the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its 190 States parties, this morning opened its ninetieth session, hearing an address by a Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, following which it adopted its agenda and programme of work.
Bacre Ndiaye, Director of the Human Rights Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that since the Committee’s last meeting, significant progress had been made, in particular with regard to the Human Rights Council’s decision on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Regarding this process, it had been decided that there would be a three-hour review every four years of each country in a Working Group composed of all 47 Council members. Three rapporteurs would be identified to facilitate each review, the aim of which was an interactive dialogue between the country under review and the Council. Mr. Ndiaye said that the UPR process would now be fine-tuned and the first countries would be reviewed in 2008.
Turning to the treaty body system, Mr. Ndiaye said that the treaty bodies had continued their efforts for a stronger and more coherent system. It was also recommended that the Inter-Committee Meeting should meet twice annually and that it would make recommendations for the improvement and harmonization of working methods of treaty bodies.
Regarding the present session of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Ndiaye noted that in the coming three weeks, the Committee would examine three State party reports: Zambia, Sudan and the Czech Republic, and the status in Grenada in the absence of a report.
The Committee this morning also heard the presentation of the report of Committee Expert Christine Chanet, Chair of the Working Group on Communications, which had held 10 meetings last week in which it considered 26 recommendations and 24 projects.
When the Committee reconvenes this afternoon, at 3 p.m., it will begin its consideration of the initial report of Zambia (CCPR/C/ZMB/3).
Statement by the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
BACRE NDIAYE, Director of the Human Rights Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Representative of the High Commissioner, said that since the Committee’s last meeting, significant progress had been made, in particular with regard to the Human Rights Council, which held its fifth session. In particular interest to the Human Rights Committee was the Council’s decisions on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The Council adopted the final version of the UPR on 18 June 2007. Regarding this process, there would be a three-hour review every four years of each country in a Working Group composed of all 47 Council members. Three rapporteurs would be identified to facilitate each review, the aim of which was an interactive dialogue between the country under review and the Council. The UPR would be based on a compilation of several documents. This compilation would be facilitated by the new Universal Human Rights Index, for which the responsibility was transferred from a Swiss Academic Institution to the OHCHR on 14 June 2007. The final outcome of the UPR review would be discussed and adopted in plenary of the Council, with the full involvement of the concerned country. The outcome itself would be an objective assessment of the human rights situation in the country reviewed, the sharing of best practices, an emphasis on the importance of enhancing cooperation, provision of technical assistance and capacity building, and voluntary commitments and pledges by the country reviewed.
Mr. Ndiaye said that one might expect that the UPR would increase the numbers of ratifications and the timely submission of reports to treaty bodies. He also underlined that the President of the Council clearly indicated that they did not wish to see the UPR mechanism and the treaty body procedures to compete with, or undercut, one another. Rather, synergies of both should enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. Mr. Ndiaye said that the UPR process would now be fine-tuned and the first countries would be reviewed in 2008.
Turning to the treaty body system, Mr. Ndiaye said that the treaty bodies had continued their efforts for a stronger and more coherent system. The sixth Inter-Committee Meetings and the Nineteenth Meeting of Treaty Bodies Chairpersons were held in June 2007. Discussions focused on the working methods of treaty bodies, including their coordination and possibilities for their harmonization. Committees’ Chairpersons had a thorough discussion on the UPR mechanism with the former President of the Human Rights Council. Committee experts also discussed their cooperation with United Nations Specialized Agencies, NGO’s and National Human Rights Institutions. It was recommended that the Inter-Committee Meeting should meet twice annually and that it would make recommendations for the improvement and harmonization of working methods of treaty bodies.
On the reform of treaty bodies, Mr. Ndiaye said that consultations undertaken by OHCHR had shown a trend favouring an increased harmonization of working methods rather than fundamental structural reforms, which would take more time. He also noted that treaty bodies have continued to develop innovative working methods, drawing from each other’s experience.
In its work to increase the awareness of the work of treaty bodies, Mr. Ndiaye noted that the OHCHR office had continued to undertake training workshops to strengthen the capacity of key target groups, like national human rights institutions, NGO’s and the media to support and facilitate implementation of concluding observations at the national level. The Office was also developing a webpage that would provide information on OHCHR and treaty body specific activities on the follow-up to concluding observations.
Regarding the present session of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Ndiaye noted that in the coming three weeks, the Committee would examine three State party reports: Zambia, Sudan and the Czech Republic, and the status in Grenada in the absence of a report.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Ndiaye noted that Mr. Alessio Bruni, Chief of the Treaties and Council Branch retired on 1 July after 32 years of service and that Mr. Ibrahim Salama had been appointed as the new Chief, and would be starting his duties this August.
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For use of the information media; not an official record
9 July 2007
Hears Address by Representative of High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Right Committee, which reviews the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its 190 States parties, this morning opened its ninetieth session, hearing an address by a Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, following which it adopted its agenda and programme of work.
Bacre Ndiaye, Director of the Human Rights Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that since the Committee’s last meeting, significant progress had been made, in particular with regard to the Human Rights Council’s decision on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Regarding this process, it had been decided that there would be a three-hour review every four years of each country in a Working Group composed of all 47 Council members. Three rapporteurs would be identified to facilitate each review, the aim of which was an interactive dialogue between the country under review and the Council. Mr. Ndiaye said that the UPR process would now be fine-tuned and the first countries would be reviewed in 2008.
Turning to the treaty body system, Mr. Ndiaye said that the treaty bodies had continued their efforts for a stronger and more coherent system. It was also recommended that the Inter-Committee Meeting should meet twice annually and that it would make recommendations for the improvement and harmonization of working methods of treaty bodies.
Regarding the present session of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Ndiaye noted that in the coming three weeks, the Committee would examine three State party reports: Zambia, Sudan and the Czech Republic, and the status in Grenada in the absence of a report.
The Committee this morning also heard the presentation of the report of Committee Expert Christine Chanet, Chair of the Working Group on Communications, which had held 10 meetings last week in which it considered 26 recommendations and 24 projects.
When the Committee reconvenes this afternoon, at 3 p.m., it will begin its consideration of the initial report of Zambia (CCPR/C/ZMB/3).
Statement by the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
BACRE NDIAYE, Director of the Human Rights Procedures Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Representative of the High Commissioner, said that since the Committee’s last meeting, significant progress had been made, in particular with regard to the Human Rights Council, which held its fifth session. In particular interest to the Human Rights Committee was the Council’s decisions on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The Council adopted the final version of the UPR on 18 June 2007. Regarding this process, there would be a three-hour review every four years of each country in a Working Group composed of all 47 Council members. Three rapporteurs would be identified to facilitate each review, the aim of which was an interactive dialogue between the country under review and the Council. The UPR would be based on a compilation of several documents. This compilation would be facilitated by the new Universal Human Rights Index, for which the responsibility was transferred from a Swiss Academic Institution to the OHCHR on 14 June 2007. The final outcome of the UPR review would be discussed and adopted in plenary of the Council, with the full involvement of the concerned country. The outcome itself would be an objective assessment of the human rights situation in the country reviewed, the sharing of best practices, an emphasis on the importance of enhancing cooperation, provision of technical assistance and capacity building, and voluntary commitments and pledges by the country reviewed.
Mr. Ndiaye said that one might expect that the UPR would increase the numbers of ratifications and the timely submission of reports to treaty bodies. He also underlined that the President of the Council clearly indicated that they did not wish to see the UPR mechanism and the treaty body procedures to compete with, or undercut, one another. Rather, synergies of both should enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. Mr. Ndiaye said that the UPR process would now be fine-tuned and the first countries would be reviewed in 2008.
Turning to the treaty body system, Mr. Ndiaye said that the treaty bodies had continued their efforts for a stronger and more coherent system. The sixth Inter-Committee Meetings and the Nineteenth Meeting of Treaty Bodies Chairpersons were held in June 2007. Discussions focused on the working methods of treaty bodies, including their coordination and possibilities for their harmonization. Committees’ Chairpersons had a thorough discussion on the UPR mechanism with the former President of the Human Rights Council. Committee experts also discussed their cooperation with United Nations Specialized Agencies, NGO’s and National Human Rights Institutions. It was recommended that the Inter-Committee Meeting should meet twice annually and that it would make recommendations for the improvement and harmonization of working methods of treaty bodies.
On the reform of treaty bodies, Mr. Ndiaye said that consultations undertaken by OHCHR had shown a trend favouring an increased harmonization of working methods rather than fundamental structural reforms, which would take more time. He also noted that treaty bodies have continued to develop innovative working methods, drawing from each other’s experience.
In its work to increase the awareness of the work of treaty bodies, Mr. Ndiaye noted that the OHCHR office had continued to undertake training workshops to strengthen the capacity of key target groups, like national human rights institutions, NGO’s and the media to support and facilitate implementation of concluding observations at the national level. The Office was also developing a webpage that would provide information on OHCHR and treaty body specific activities on the follow-up to concluding observations.
Regarding the present session of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Ndiaye noted that in the coming three weeks, the Committee would examine three State party reports: Zambia, Sudan and the Czech Republic, and the status in Grenada in the absence of a report.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Ndiaye noted that Mr. Alessio Bruni, Chief of the Treaties and Council Branch retired on 1 July after 32 years of service and that Mr. Ibrahim Salama had been appointed as the new Chief, and would be starting his duties this August.
___________
For use of the information media; not an official record
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