BACKGROUND RELEASE

30 July 2015

The fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will take place from 10 to 14 August 2015 in Room XX at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

During the session, the Committee, a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), will focus on thematic studies requested by the Council.

On Monday, 10 August, the Advisory Committee will open its session at 11 a.m.

It will then discuss the activities of vulture funds and their impact on human rights, one of the requests currently under consideration by the Committee (HRC resolution 27/30) and consider the preliminary report prepared by the rapporteur, Jean Ziegler.

The Committee is also expected to consider new topics on its agenda and to hear a series of presentations by experts in this regard, namely on the issues of unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents and human rights (HRC resolution 29/12), Tuesday, 11 August, in the afternoon, and on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members (HRC resolution 29/5), on Wednesday, 12 August, in the morning.

Additionally, the final report on local government and human rights will be presented by its rapporteur, Hoda Elsadda, on Tuesday, 11 August, in the morning, and the final report on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal by its rapporteur, Mikhail Lebedev, on Wednesday, 12 August, in the afternoon; both these reports will be considered by the Human Rights Council at its upcoming 30th session in September 2015.

On Thursday, 13 August, the Committee will discuss research proposals and the reflection papers it decided to prepare at the past session. The session will close on Friday, 14 August with the action taking and the adoption of the Committee’s report on its session.

Documentation relating to the fifteenth session, including the agenda and draft programme of work, can be found on the Advisory Committee’s webpage.

Background

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts who support the work of the Human Rights Council. It was established in 2008, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, to provide studies and research-based advice, as requested by the Council, and meets twice annually. The Committee’s work is implementation-oriented and follows thematic issues linked to the mandate of the Council, namely, the promotion and protection of all human rights. It interacts with States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society bodies.

Membership

The membership of the Advisory Committee conforms to the following geographical distribution guidelines set out in its establishing resolution: five members each from African and Asian States; three each from Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States; and two members from Eastern European States.

Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and expiration dates for their respective terms of office:

Saeed Mohamed Al Faihani (Bahrain) 2015; Mohamed Bennani (Morocco) 2017; Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France) 2017*; Mario L. Coriolano (Argentina) 2015; Laura-Maria Crãciunean (Romania) 2017; Hoda Elsadda (Egypt) 2016; Karla Hananía de Varela(El Salvador) 2016; Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda) 2016*; Mikhail Lebedev (Russian Federation) 2016; Kaoru Obata (Japan) 2016; Obiora Chinedu Okafor (Nigeria) 2017*; Katharina Pabel (Austria) 2015; Anantonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala) 2017*; Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea) 2017; Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan) 2017*; Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia) 2015; Yishan Zhang (China) 2016 and Jean Ziegler (Switzerland) 2016.

* Member serving second term

Programme of Work

Monday, 10 August

11 a.m. Opening of session, adoption of agenda, organizational and other matters.

Discussion on activities of vulture funds and the impact on human rights.

3 p.m. Discussion on activities of vulture funds and the impact on human rights (continued).

Tuesday, 11 August

noon Presentation of final report on local government and human rights.

3 p.m. Presentations and discussion on unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents and human rights.

Wednesday, 12 August

10 a.m. Presentations and discussion on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

3 p.m. Presentation of final report on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal.

Thursday, 13 August

Noon Discussion on reflection papers and research proposals, submission of draft actions.

3 p.m. Discussion on reflection papers and research proposals.

Friday, 14 August

11 a.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee and adoption of the report.

3 p.m. Action taking by the Advisory Committee and adoption of the report (continued). Closing of the session.

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For use of the information media; not an official record