HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO HOLD FIRST
SESSION FROM 19 TO 30 JUNE
16 June 2006
Human Rights Council
BACKGROUND RELEASE 16 June 2006
The first session of the Human Rights Council, which the President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson says will herald a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights, will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 19 to 30 June 2006.
Mr. Eliasson, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, are expected to join dozens of dignitaries from around the world to inaugurate the Council, which replaces the Commission on Human Rights.
At the opening meeting, the 47-member Council is expected to elect its Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Rapporteur, and adopt its agenda. A four-day high-level segment will follow.
In welcoming the election of the members of the Council on 9 May, Mr. Eliasson said the world was now witnessing a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights. He said the work of the Council would be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international dialogue and cooperation with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the Council will offer the United Nations a unique opportunity to make a fresh start in its vital work of upholding the highest standards of human rights. He said the Council was required to conduct a regular review of the human rights record of all countries, beginning with its own members. This would give its members the chance to show the depth of their commitment to promote human rights both at home and abroad.
The Commission on Human Rights, which since its creation in 1946 had been the principal human rights organ of the United Nations, had suffered in recent years under charges of politicisation and criticism that States known to violate human rights on a large scale were members of the body.
The Commission has a large group of thematic or country-specific procedures and mechanisms to help it carry out its work, and among other things, the Council, which inherits these bodies, has to review, and where necessary improve and rationalize, all mandates within one year after the holding of its first session, according to General Assembly resolution A/60/251 which created the Council.
The resolution also states that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon; and that the work of the Council shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
The Council is mandated to meet regularly throughout the year for no fewer than three sessions, including a main session, for a total duration of no less than 10 weeks.
Membership of the Council
The Council is composed of 47 members (with year of term's end)
African States: Algeria (2007), Cameroon (2009), Djibouti (2009), Gabon (2008),
Ghana (2008), Mali (2008), Mauritius (2009), Morocco (2007), Nigeria (2009),
Senegal (2009), South Africa (2007), Tunisia (2007) and Zambia (2008)
Asian States: Bahrain (2007), Bangladesh (2009), China (2009), India (2007),
Indonesia (2007), Japan (2008), Jordan (2009), Malaysia (2009), Pakistan (2008),
Philippines (2007), Republic of Korea (2008), Saudi Arabia (2009) and Sri Lanka (2008)
Eastern European States: Azerbaijan (2009), Czech Republic (2007),
Poland (2007), Romania (2008), Russian Federation (2009) and Ukraine (2008)
Latin American & Caribbean States: Argentina (2007), Brazil (2008) , Cuba (2009),
Ecuador (2007), Guatemala (2008), Mexico (2009), Peru (2008) and Uruguay (2009)
Western European & Other States: Canada (2009), Finland (2007), France (2008),
Germany (2009), Netherlands (2007), Switzerland (2009) and United Kingdom(2008).
LIST OF ALL PERSONS MANDATED TO CARRY OUT THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES
MANDATES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Country-specific procedures
Belarus
Mr. Adrian Severin (Romania)
Special Rapporteur
Cuba
Ms. Christine Chanet
(France)
Personal Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand)
Special Rapporteur
Myanmar
Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro
(Brazil)
Special Rapporteur
Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
Mr. John Dugard
(South Africa)
Special Rapporteur
ThThematic procedures
Adequate housing
Mr. Miloon Kothari
(India)
Special Rapporteur
Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
Mr. Doudou Diène
(Senegal)
Special Rapporteur
Education
Mr. Vernor Muñoz Villalobos
(Costa Rica)
Special Rapporteur
Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Mr. Philip Alston
(Australia)
Special Rapporteur
Extreme poverty
Mr. Arjun Sengupta
(India)
Independent expert
Freedom of opinion and expression
Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
(Kenya)
Special Rapporteur
Freedom of religion or belief
Ms. Asma Jahangir
(Pakistan)
Special Rapporteur
Highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Mr. Paul Hunt
(New Zealand)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen
(Mexico)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights defenders
Ms. Hina Jilani
(Pakistan)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Human rights of internally displaced persons
Mr. Walter Kälin
(Switzerland)
Representative of the Secretary-General
Human rights and international solidarity
Mr. Rudi Muhammad Rizki
(Indonesia)
Independent expert
Human rights of migrants
Mr. Jorge A. Bustamente
(Mexico)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights and transnational corportations and other business enterprises
Mr. John Ruggie
(United Status of America)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Illicit movement and dumping of toxic waste
Mr. Okechukwu Ibeanu
(Nigeria)
Special Rapporteur
Independence of judges
and lawyers
Mr. Leandro Despouy
(Argentina)
Special Rapporteur
Minority issues
Ms. Gay McDougall
(United States of America)
Independent expert appointed by the High Commissioner
Right to food
Mr. Jean Ziegler
(Switzerland)
Special Rapporteur
Sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography
Mr. Juan Miguel Petit
(Uruguay)
Special Rapporteur
Effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt
Mr. Bernards Andrew
Nyamwaya Mudho
(Kenya)
Independent expert
Special Rapporteur
on the promotion and
protection of human rights while countering terrorism
Mr. Martin Scheinin
(Finland)
Special Rapporteur
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Mr. Manfred Nowak (Austria)
Special Rapporteur
Trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
Ms. Sigma Huda
(Bangladesh)
Special Rapporteur
Violence against women, its causes and consequences
Ms. Yakin Ertürk
(Turkey)
Special Rapporteur
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Ms. Leila Zerrougui
(Algeria)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Mr. Stephen J. Toope
(Canada)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on People of African Descent
Mr. Peter Lesa Kasanda
(Zambia)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on the use of mercenaries
Ms. Amanda Benavides de Pérez
(Colombia)
Current Chairperson
TeTechnical cooperation programmes
Burundi
Mr. Akich Okola
(Kenya)
Independent expert
Cambodia
Mr. Yash Ghai
(Kenya)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Mr. Titinga Frédéric Pacéré
(Burkina Faso)
Independent expert
Haiti
Mr. Louis Joinet
(France)
Independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General
Liberia
Ms. Charlotte Abaka
(Ghana)
Independent expert
Somalia
Mr. Ghanim Alnajjar
(Kuwait)
Independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General
Sudan
Ms. Sima Samar
(Afghanistan)
Special Rapporteur
1503 procedure
Uzbekistan
Ms. Michèle Picard
(France)
Independent expert
For use of the information media; not an official record
BACKGROUND RELEASE 16 June 2006
The first session of the Human Rights Council, which the President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson says will herald a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights, will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 19 to 30 June 2006.
Mr. Eliasson, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, are expected to join dozens of dignitaries from around the world to inaugurate the Council, which replaces the Commission on Human Rights.
At the opening meeting, the 47-member Council is expected to elect its Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Rapporteur, and adopt its agenda. A four-day high-level segment will follow.
In welcoming the election of the members of the Council on 9 May, Mr. Eliasson said the world was now witnessing a new beginning for the promotion and protection of human rights. He said the work of the Council would be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive international dialogue and cooperation with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the Council will offer the United Nations a unique opportunity to make a fresh start in its vital work of upholding the highest standards of human rights. He said the Council was required to conduct a regular review of the human rights record of all countries, beginning with its own members. This would give its members the chance to show the depth of their commitment to promote human rights both at home and abroad.
The Commission on Human Rights, which since its creation in 1946 had been the principal human rights organ of the United Nations, had suffered in recent years under charges of politicisation and criticism that States known to violate human rights on a large scale were members of the body.
The Commission has a large group of thematic or country-specific procedures and mechanisms to help it carry out its work, and among other things, the Council, which inherits these bodies, has to review, and where necessary improve and rationalize, all mandates within one year after the holding of its first session, according to General Assembly resolution A/60/251 which created the Council.
The resolution also states that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon; and that the work of the Council shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
The Council is mandated to meet regularly throughout the year for no fewer than three sessions, including a main session, for a total duration of no less than 10 weeks.
Membership of the Council
The Council is composed of 47 members (with year of term's end)
African States: Algeria (2007), Cameroon (2009), Djibouti (2009), Gabon (2008),
Ghana (2008), Mali (2008), Mauritius (2009), Morocco (2007), Nigeria (2009),
Senegal (2009), South Africa (2007), Tunisia (2007) and Zambia (2008)
Asian States: Bahrain (2007), Bangladesh (2009), China (2009), India (2007),
Indonesia (2007), Japan (2008), Jordan (2009), Malaysia (2009), Pakistan (2008),
Philippines (2007), Republic of Korea (2008), Saudi Arabia (2009) and Sri Lanka (2008)
Eastern European States: Azerbaijan (2009), Czech Republic (2007),
Poland (2007), Romania (2008), Russian Federation (2009) and Ukraine (2008)
Latin American & Caribbean States: Argentina (2007), Brazil (2008) , Cuba (2009),
Ecuador (2007), Guatemala (2008), Mexico (2009), Peru (2008) and Uruguay (2009)
Western European & Other States: Canada (2009), Finland (2007), France (2008),
Germany (2009), Netherlands (2007), Switzerland (2009) and United Kingdom(2008).
LIST OF ALL PERSONS MANDATED TO CARRY OUT THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES
MANDATES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Country-specific procedures
Belarus
Mr. Adrian Severin (Romania)
Special Rapporteur
Cuba
Ms. Christine Chanet
(France)
Personal Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand)
Special Rapporteur
Myanmar
Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro
(Brazil)
Special Rapporteur
Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
Mr. John Dugard
(South Africa)
Special Rapporteur
ThThematic procedures
Adequate housing
Mr. Miloon Kothari
(India)
Special Rapporteur
Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
Mr. Doudou Diène
(Senegal)
Special Rapporteur
Education
Mr. Vernor Muñoz Villalobos
(Costa Rica)
Special Rapporteur
Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
Mr. Philip Alston
(Australia)
Special Rapporteur
Extreme poverty
Mr. Arjun Sengupta
(India)
Independent expert
Freedom of opinion and expression
Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
(Kenya)
Special Rapporteur
Freedom of religion or belief
Ms. Asma Jahangir
(Pakistan)
Special Rapporteur
Highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Mr. Paul Hunt
(New Zealand)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen
(Mexico)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights defenders
Ms. Hina Jilani
(Pakistan)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Human rights of internally displaced persons
Mr. Walter Kälin
(Switzerland)
Representative of the Secretary-General
Human rights and international solidarity
Mr. Rudi Muhammad Rizki
(Indonesia)
Independent expert
Human rights of migrants
Mr. Jorge A. Bustamente
(Mexico)
Special Rapporteur
Human rights and transnational corportations and other business enterprises
Mr. John Ruggie
(United Status of America)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Illicit movement and dumping of toxic waste
Mr. Okechukwu Ibeanu
(Nigeria)
Special Rapporteur
Independence of judges
and lawyers
Mr. Leandro Despouy
(Argentina)
Special Rapporteur
Minority issues
Ms. Gay McDougall
(United States of America)
Independent expert appointed by the High Commissioner
Right to food
Mr. Jean Ziegler
(Switzerland)
Special Rapporteur
Sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography
Mr. Juan Miguel Petit
(Uruguay)
Special Rapporteur
Effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt
Mr. Bernards Andrew
Nyamwaya Mudho
(Kenya)
Independent expert
Special Rapporteur
on the promotion and
protection of human rights while countering terrorism
Mr. Martin Scheinin
(Finland)
Special Rapporteur
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Mr. Manfred Nowak (Austria)
Special Rapporteur
Trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
Ms. Sigma Huda
(Bangladesh)
Special Rapporteur
Violence against women, its causes and consequences
Ms. Yakin Ertürk
(Turkey)
Special Rapporteur
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Ms. Leila Zerrougui
(Algeria)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Mr. Stephen J. Toope
(Canada)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on People of African Descent
Mr. Peter Lesa Kasanda
(Zambia)
Current Chairperson
Working Group on the use of mercenaries
Ms. Amanda Benavides de Pérez
(Colombia)
Current Chairperson
TeTechnical cooperation programmes
Burundi
Mr. Akich Okola
(Kenya)
Independent expert
Cambodia
Mr. Yash Ghai
(Kenya)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Mr. Titinga Frédéric Pacéré
(Burkina Faso)
Independent expert
Haiti
Mr. Louis Joinet
(France)
Independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General
Liberia
Ms. Charlotte Abaka
(Ghana)
Independent expert
Somalia
Mr. Ghanim Alnajjar
(Kuwait)
Independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General
Sudan
Ms. Sima Samar
(Afghanistan)
Special Rapporteur
1503 procedure
Uzbekistan
Ms. Michèle Picard
(France)
Independent expert
For use of the information media; not an official record