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Geneva, 19 June, 2006
1st
Session of the Human Rights Council
The WILPF delegation to the Human
Rights Council is pleased to present its daily reporting channel on the
developments of the newly-established UN body. WILPF members will now be
able to access reports that highlight issues relating to WILPF action as
they are brought up in the Council meetings.
Monday marked the historic first session of the first
Human Rights Council, following the dissolution
of the Human Rights Commission. The first day of this two-week long
session was reserved for the High Level Segment, which consisted of
speeches given by various ministers and dignitaries.
The morning opened with official acknowledgment of the
election of H.E. Mr. Luis Alfonso de Alba as President of the Human Rights
Council, followed by general addresses delivered by President of the UN
General Assembly H.E. Mr. Jan Eliasson, the United Nations Secretary
General H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms. Louise Arbour.
Mr. Eliasson summarized the laying of the groundwork
that led up to the actualization of the Human Rights Council first
session, and the engagement of multilateral institutions, noting that "the
resolution on the Human Rights Council was also a victory for
multilateralism." The emphasis on the role of human rights, development,
and peace and security as mutually reinforcing pillars was brought up by
Mr. Kofi Annan in his address, who stated, "In short, lack of respect for
human rights and human dignity is the fundamental reason why the peace of
the world today is so precarious, and why prosperity is so unequally
shared." Ms. Louise Arbour followed, by giving a future outlook on the
readiness of the new Council to address the shortcomings of the past
commission while also advising "the new body to tap into the enormous
resources of expertise and experience that human rights defenders,
nongovernmental organizations and civil society as a whole can offer."
The speeches given during the High-Level Segment gave
several hints of the positions and hints that different member states will
wan to prioritise in the Council's work. Relevant to WILPF's interests,
the delegation could highlight the following:
Economic and Social Rights:
The First Deputy
Prime Minister of Spain Ms Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega mentioned
that her country was firmly committed to the equality and interdependence
of all human rights and that they would like to see the Working Group on
the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights obtain a drafting mandate, not a merely exploring one. Ms Paulina
Veloso, Minister of the Presidency of Chile also emphasised the importance
of economic and social rights. Furthermore, Mr Celso Nunes Amorim,
Minister of External Relations of Brazil commented that to fight hunger,
disease and poverty was a primary method to fight for human
rights.
Right to Peace:
The Vice-President of
Colombia, Mr Francisco Santos Calderon highlighted the importance of the
right to peace and security within the context of the realisation of Human
Rights.
Women's Human Rights:
The participation of
women in political an civil forums was highlighted by several High-Level
Speakers, among them H. E. Mr Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Canada, Ms Veloso of Chile. Moreover, Dr Bernard Rudolf Bot, Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Netherlands, among others, brought up the importance of
combating violence against women and the role the Human Right Council
could be taking on improving this situation. H. E. Mohamed Bouzoubaa,
Minister of Justice of Morocco brought up the work that his country has
been developed on the role of women within the family institution. H.E. Mr
Oluyemi Adeniji Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria said that the most
vulnerable victims of armed conflict are women and children and that this
should be taken into account.
The Draft Convention on Forced
Disappearances:
Several countries mentioned their support for the
adoption of the draft Convention on Enforced Disappearances, and it looks
like there is widespread consensus that the draft is ripe for adoption. Ms
Akiko Yamanaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan spoke about the
importance of the draft convention in the Japanese context. H.E. Mr
Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister for Foreign Affairs of France claimed "the
Draft Convention on Enforced Disappearances be a test of the new Council
to protect human rights." The Chilean dignitary, Ms Veloso, also brought
up her own experience on undergoing the terrible suffering of having a
disappeared family member
Palestine:
Some state representatives
brought up the question of the occupied territories of Palestine in the
context of the right of self-determination, among them Mr Bouzoubaa of
Morocco, who was concerned by the human rights violations and living
conditions in the Palestinian occupied territories.
Pledges:
All states who are
members of the Human Rights Council made pledges on
improving the situation of human rights domestically. Among those who
mentioned their commitment to their pledge where the
representatives of Colombia, Spain, Canada an Sri Lanka.
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