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Fourth
Special Session of Council Concludes after
Adopting
Decision on Darfur by
Consensus
The Human Rights Council this afternoon
adopted by consensus a decision to dispatch a
high-level mission to assess the human rights
situation in Darfur and the needs of Sudan in this
regard after expressing its concern regarding the
seriousness of the human rights and humanitarian
situation in Darfur.
According to the decision, the mission
will be made up of five highly qualified persons,
to be appointed by the President of the Human
Rights Council following consultation with the
members of the Council, as well as the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Sudan. The mission was requested to report to the
Council at its fourth session next
spring.
In
concluding remarks, Luis Alfonso de Alba, the
President of the Council, said the decision would
allow for a new situation to be created which
would specifically contribute to alleviating the
human rights situation in Darfur. He reaffirmed
his intention to conduct wide-ranging, albeit
informal, consultations before appointing the
members of the mission to be sent to Darfur. He
recognized the importance of coordinating and
cooperating at all times, not only with the United
Nations authorities – and he already expressed
need for support from the African Union – but
mostly with the Government and authorities of
Sudan. It was of utmost urgency that this decision
be implemented for the good of Sudan and the good
of the people in Darfur.
In statements following the adoption of
the decision, delegations said that stopping the
violence in Darfur would halt the suffering of the
civilian population, and criminals had to be
brought to justice for peace to be maintained. A
consensus agreement for practical action to
address the plight of those in Darfur had been
reached, and this was to be applauded.
The resolution had
a pro-victim dimension, speakers said, and this
arose from the very mandate of the Council, and
matched a new perspective in international law,
which placed the human being and the human being's
dignity above that of States. Delegations hoped
the decision would contribute to putting an end to
the violation of human rights, international law,
and the crime of impunity in Darfur.
The holding of the
special session was a positive sign, showing the
international community that the Council was doing
its duty. It was hoped that the high-level mission
would identify ways to allow all parties to
alleviate the dire human rights situation, and
that the Government of the Sudan would implement
recommendations for the better protection of its
citizens there, speakers said. It was vital that
the mission should live up to the very high
standards which were set out by the
Secretary-General in his message to the Council -
that it be independent, universally-respected, and
expert.
Speakers
noted that there had been one goal in everyone's
mind: to restore the credibility of the Council,
and with the help of all delegations, and the
cooperation of Sudan, they had achieved that goal.
The most important element in all of this was what
could be collectively done to address the
situation on the ground and enhance the protection
and well-being of the people in Darfur.
The special
session on Darfur was the council's fourth special
session and it started on 12
December.
Speaking
this afternoon were the representatives of Algeria
for the African Group, Finland, France, Germany,
Ecuador, Russian Federation, Guatemala, United
Kingdom, India, Azerbaijan, Pakistan for the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, Saudi
Arabia for the Arab League, Netherlands, China,
Brazil, Zambia, Tunisia, Cuba, and Morocco.
Sudan spoke as a
concerned country.
The next regular session of the Council
will be held from 12 March to 5 April 2007.
Decision on
Darfur
In a decision on the human rights
situation in Darfur, adopted by consensus, the
Council expresses its concern regarding the
seriousness of the human rights and humanitarian
situation in Darfur. It welcomes the signing of
the Darfur Peace Agreement, urges its full
implementation and calls upon parties who have not
signed it to do so, and all parties to observe the
ceasefire. The Council decides to dispatch a
high-level mission to assess the human rights
situation in Darfur and the needs of Sudan in this
regard, comprising five highly qualified persons,
to be appointed by the President of the Human
Rights Council following consultation with the
members of the Council; as well as the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Sudan; requests the Secretary-General and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
to provide all administrative, technical and
logistical assistance required to enable the
high-level mission to fulfil its mandate promptly
and efficiently, in coordination with the
President of the Human Rights Council and also
requests the latter to consult as appropriate with
the concerned country; and requests the high-level
mission to report to the Council at its fourth
session. |