UNPO supports the call by a range of NGO’s for more time to be allocated at the Human Rights Council for the discussion of additional ‘Human Rights Situations that Require the Attention of the Human Rights Council’.

Below is a Joint Letter to the President of the Human Rights Council:

Concerning Agenda Item 4 of the 6th Session

4 September 2007

Dear President Costea,

As NGOs from around the world we would like to express to you our strong disappointment and dismay at the non-inclusive, unequal and severely abbreviated manner with which Agenda Item 4, as communicated in the Draft Program of Work for the 6th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), treats global human rights situations.  

As formulated, Agenda Item 4 would only allow a half-day of the HRC to be devoted to “Human Rights Situations that Require the Attention of the Human Rights Council.”   Furthermore, during this half-day the Expert Group on Darfur will present their follow-up report.  Assuming that state delegations and non-governmental organizations are allowed to respond to this report, it is highly likely that the Expert Report on Darfur will be the only topic of discussion possible during the highly limited time slot allotted to Agenda Item 4.   While the human rights situation in Darfur is extremely important to NGOs around the world, and should be dealt with in a serious manner by the HRC, it is by no means the only grave, urgent or important human rights situation that the HRC should allow to be taken into consideration.   By only allowing time for the human rights situation in Darfur to be considered under Agenda Item 4, the HRC will set a highly disturbing precedence of selectivity and non-inclusiveness that has the danger of undermining the relevance and legitimacy of the HRC as a fair and globally inclusive human rights institution.   

The content of Agenda Item 4 was left unspecified in HRC Resolution 5/1, “Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council.”  However, the undersigned organizations strongly believe that this Agenda Item must be constructed and carried out in a manner that reflects and conforms to the Principles of the Agenda and Framework for the Program of Work, as laid out at the beginning of Section 5, HRC Resolution 5/1.  These Principles include:  Universality, Impartiality, Non-selectiveness, Constructive dialogue and cooperation, Balance, and Inclusive/comprehensive. 

Furthermore, the above mentioned Principles are in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 which establishes the Human Rights Council.  This resolution sets authoritative standards that must be observed by the HRC including “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” (Paragraph 2), “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” (Paragraph 4), and “that the methods of work of the Council shall be transparent, fair and impartial and shall enable genuine dialogue” (Paragraph 12). 

By creating a de facto exclusion of all human rights situations except one, Agenda Item 4, as currently formulated, may be in violation of the principles and objectives outlined in HRC Resolution 5/1, and G.A. Resolution 60/251.  To guard the HRC against violating its institutional requirements and preserve its global legitimacy, we strongly urge you to reconsider the manner in which Agenda Item 4 is currently constructed. 

In order to ensure that Agenda Item 4 is inclusive, non-selective and balanced we recommend that its length be extended to a period of two full days, of which not less then one full day is dedicated to an open forum in which human rights situations not explicitly included on the Agenda of the HRC can be discussed by both state delegations and non-governmental organizations.  This formulation would be in accordance with the institutional principles and objectives of the HRC, while also strengthening the legitimacy of this important institution.

Sincerely,

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
Hannah Forster

Africa Democracy Forum    
Franck Kamunga, Coordinator

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies  
Moataz El Fegiery, Programs Director

The Carter Center
Karin D. Ryan, Director, Human Rights Program

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative     
Maja Daruwala, Director 

Conectas Human Rights
Lucia Nader, International Relations Coordinator 

Democracy Coalition Project
Ted Piccone, Executive Director 

Open Society Institute
Jarrett Blanc, Policy Analyst for Multilateral Affairs