Mr. Micol Savia
Representative of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers at the United Nations in Geneva
An introductory note
The Council of Human Rights (HRC) was established March 15, 2006 by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/251 a .
The CDU, which replaced the former Commission on Human Rights, is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and is responsible for promoting and securing universal observance of all human rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. The Council should, inter alia: to review and respond to violations of human rights by taking appropriate action to make recommendations to the General Assembly for the development of international law in the field of human rights, undertake a universal periodic review of the fulfillment by each State of its obligations on human rights, contribute to the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to humanitarian emergencies. The CDU
present an annual report to the General Assembly.
Composition - The CDU is an intergovernmental body composed of 47 states, elected by the General Assembly by an absolute majority by secret ballot. Can be formally elected to all Member States of the United Nations, but the resolution 60/251 states that, for purposes of the election, must be taken into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and the promises and commitments made by them for this purpose. Board members serve for three years and may be re-elected immediately and once only. The General Assembly, with majority of 2 / 3, may suspend a member of the State Council if this is responsible for serious and systematic violations of human rights.
The CDU, which replaced the former Commission on Human Rights, is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and is responsible for promoting and securing universal observance of all human rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. The Council should, inter alia: to review and respond to violations of human rights by taking appropriate action to make recommendations to the General Assembly for the development of international law in the field of human rights, undertake a universal periodic review of the fulfillment by each State of its obligations on human rights, contribute to the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to humanitarian emergencies. The CDU
present an annual report to the General Assembly.
Composition - The CDU is an intergovernmental body composed of 47 states, elected by the General Assembly by an absolute majority by secret ballot. Can be formally elected to all Member States of the United Nations, but the resolution 60/251 states that, for purposes of the election, must be taken into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and the promises and commitments made by them for this purpose. Board members serve for three years and may be re-elected immediately and once only. The General Assembly, with majority of 2 / 3, may suspend a member of the State Council if this is responsible for serious and systematic violations of human rights.
The election of the first Human Rights Council took place May 9, 2006) 2. For the current composition, see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/membership.htm.
See and working method - The UDC has an office in Geneva, which will meet regularly, taking at least three times a year for a total period not less than 10 weeks. The Council may, on request of 1 / 3 of its members, to convene the special sessions to deal with situations deemed urgent
3.
See and working method - The UDC has an office in Geneva, which will meet regularly, taking at least three times a year for a total period not less than 10 weeks. The Council may, on request of 1 / 3 of its members, to convene the special sessions to deal with situations deemed urgent
3.
The Agenda of the Council provides, at each session analysis of the following 10 points: 1) organizational and procedural issues, 2) Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 3) Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural, including the right to development, 4) human rights situations that require the attention of the Council; 5) Institutions and mechanisms of human rights; 6) universal periodic review; 7) Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories; 8) Follow up and implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of Vienna 9) Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of Dichiarazione e del Programma d'azione di Durban; 10) Assistenza tecnica e rafforzamento delle capacità.
Alle riunioni del CDU possono partecipare come osservatori: gli Stati delle Nazioni Unite che non sono membri dello stesso, agenzie specializzate, organizzazioni intergovernative, istituzioni nazionali che si occupano di diritti umani nonché le ONG aventi status consultivo presso l'ECOSOC, così come l'Associazione Internazionale dei Giuristi Democratici 4 La partecipazione delle ONG è regolata dalla risoluzione 1996/31 dell'ECOSOC e dalle pratiche stabilite dall'antica Commissione sui Diritti Umani.
Le ONG sostanzialmente possono:
–fare interventi orali della durata massima di due minuti su a subject on the agenda;
-submit written interventions of no more than 1.500/2.000 words. This work must be filed approximately two weeks before the start of each session and must be relevant to the topics to be covered during it. At the same time is widely distributed by the Secretariat of the CDU who distributes copies to all those who work and publish them on the site, placing them among the official documentation.
-can, finally, to reserve rooms in the Palais des Nations to carry out discussions and lectures on topics of interest to the Council. The Secretariat noted such "parallel events" on the agenda, which distributes a daily basis.
On June 18, 2007, after a year of intense negotiations, the CDU adopted Resolution 5 / 1 ("Institution-building package") laying the groundwork for the operation of its new mechanisms.
Alle riunioni del CDU possono partecipare come osservatori: gli Stati delle Nazioni Unite che non sono membri dello stesso, agenzie specializzate, organizzazioni intergovernative, istituzioni nazionali che si occupano di diritti umani nonché le ONG aventi status consultivo presso l'ECOSOC, così come l'Associazione Internazionale dei Giuristi Democratici 4 La partecipazione delle ONG è regolata dalla risoluzione 1996/31 dell'ECOSOC e dalle pratiche stabilite dall'antica Commissione sui Diritti Umani.
Le ONG sostanzialmente possono:
–fare interventi orali della durata massima di due minuti su a subject on the agenda;
-submit written interventions of no more than 1.500/2.000 words. This work must be filed approximately two weeks before the start of each session and must be relevant to the topics to be covered during it. At the same time is widely distributed by the Secretariat of the CDU who distributes copies to all those who work and publish them on the site, placing them among the official documentation.
-can, finally, to reserve rooms in the Palais des Nations to carry out discussions and lectures on topics of interest to the Council. The Secretariat noted such "parallel events" on the agenda, which distributes a daily basis.
On June 18, 2007, after a year of intense negotiations, the CDU adopted Resolution 5 / 1 ("Institution-building package") laying the groundwork for the operation of its new mechanisms.
universal periodic review
is new Universal Periodic Review mechanism established by resolution 60/251. The General Assembly, with that resolution, the CDU has a mandate to run a universal periodic review of the fulfillment by each State of the United Nations for meeting its obligations on human rights. The resolution specifies that the committee needs to ensure universal coverage and equal treatment for all Member States, must also be a cooperative mechanism based on interactive dialogue and on the active participation of the state testing.
On this basis, in its resolution 5 / 1, the Council has specifically defined terms and timing of the EPU. Adopted a timetable for the review of all UN member states by 2011 and determined that the examination is conducted by a Working Group (Working Group) composed of 47 members of the Council. For each exam, in order to facilitate the work, he was appointed a group of three rapporteurs (troika), randomly selected among all Member States, which prepare the draft final report of the Working Group.
The EPU is held on the basis of three documents: a report prepared by the State under review and a report compiled by the High Commissioner of the United Nations on the basis of data from various organizations and UN agencies, and finally, an ever compiled by the High Commissioner, containing "information from credible and trustworthy other interested parties. "
In this latest report can help the NGO submission of written observations of a maximum of 5 or 10 pages, depending on whether they are presented by one or more organizations. Such written comments must be filed within a perentori5.
In practice, the universal periodic review, being conducted by States rather than by independent experts, is raising many doubts as to its effectiveness. Remains tuttavia la possibilità per le ONG di segnalare e denunciare eventuali violazioni dei diritti umani e di contribuire alla stesura di uno dei tre rapporti di cui sopra.
SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Le Special Procedures sono delle procedure che esistevano già in costanza della vecchia Commissione sui Diritti Umani, e che oggi sono state riprese dal CDU.
Il Consiglio dei Diritti Umani può dare mandato a uno o più esperti indipendenti di analizzare, monitorare, e relazionare sulla situazione dei diritti umani in un dato territorio, o su una tematica specifica. Attualmente ci sono 8 Mandati per paese 6 , e 30 per tema .
Durante la prossima sessione del CDU (2 - 27 marzo 2009), dovrebbero essere presentati, tra gli altri, i rapporti di:
•Mr. Olivier de Schutter (Belgio), Special Rapporteur (SR) sul diritto al cibo;
•Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque (Portogallo), Esperto Indipendente (IE) sul tema dell'accesso all'acqua potabile;
•Ms. Raquel Rolnik (Brasile), SR sul diritto ad un'abitazione adeguata senza discriminazioni;
•Mr. Martin Scheinin (Finlandia), SR sulla promozione e rispetto dei diritti umani nella lotta contro il terrorismo;
•Mr. Manfred Nowak (Austria), SR sulla tortura;
•Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), SR sulla libertà di religione;
•Ms. Gay McDougall (USA), IE sul tema delle minoranze; • Ms.
Margaret Sekaggya (Uganda), SR on the situation of human rights defenders.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES On this basis, in its resolution 5 / 1, the Council has specifically defined terms and timing of the EPU. Adopted a timetable for the review of all UN member states by 2011 and determined that the examination is conducted by a Working Group (Working Group) composed of 47 members of the Council. For each exam, in order to facilitate the work, he was appointed a group of three rapporteurs (troika), randomly selected among all Member States, which prepare the draft final report of the Working Group.
The EPU is held on the basis of three documents: a report prepared by the State under review and a report compiled by the High Commissioner of the United Nations on the basis of data from various organizations and UN agencies, and finally, an ever compiled by the High Commissioner, containing "information from credible and trustworthy other interested parties. "
In this latest report can help the NGO submission of written observations of a maximum of 5 or 10 pages, depending on whether they are presented by one or more organizations. Such written comments must be filed within a perentori5.
In practice, the universal periodic review, being conducted by States rather than by independent experts, is raising many doubts as to its effectiveness. Remains tuttavia la possibilità per le ONG di segnalare e denunciare eventuali violazioni dei diritti umani e di contribuire alla stesura di uno dei tre rapporti di cui sopra.
SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Le Special Procedures sono delle procedure che esistevano già in costanza della vecchia Commissione sui Diritti Umani, e che oggi sono state riprese dal CDU.
Il Consiglio dei Diritti Umani può dare mandato a uno o più esperti indipendenti di analizzare, monitorare, e relazionare sulla situazione dei diritti umani in un dato territorio, o su una tematica specifica. Attualmente ci sono 8 Mandati per paese 6 , e 30 per tema .
Durante la prossima sessione del CDU (2 - 27 marzo 2009), dovrebbero essere presentati, tra gli altri, i rapporti di:
•Mr. Olivier de Schutter (Belgio), Special Rapporteur (SR) sul diritto al cibo;
•Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque (Portogallo), Esperto Indipendente (IE) sul tema dell'accesso all'acqua potabile;
•Ms. Raquel Rolnik (Brasile), SR sul diritto ad un'abitazione adeguata senza discriminazioni;
•Mr. Martin Scheinin (Finlandia), SR sulla promozione e rispetto dei diritti umani nella lotta contro il terrorismo;
•Mr. Manfred Nowak (Austria), SR sulla tortura;
•Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), SR sulla libertà di religione;
•Ms. Gay McDougall (USA), IE sul tema delle minoranze; • Ms.
Margaret Sekaggya (Uganda), SR on the situation of human rights defenders.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Advisory Committee replaces the former Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. E 'consists of a group of experts (18) 7 that conducts studies and research on behalf and under the direction of the Council.
It meets twice a year for a maximum of 10 working days. Accredited NGOs may participate in its work with written and oral interventions and may organize parallel events. The inaugural session was held in August 2008. The second session in January 2009. The next meeting is scheduled between 3 and 7 August 2009.
It meets twice a year for a maximum of 10 working days. Accredited NGOs may participate in its work with written and oral interventions and may organize parallel events. The inaugural session was held in August 2008. The second session in January 2009. The next meeting is scheduled between 3 and 7 August 2009.
La risoluzione 5/1 del Consiglio dei diritti umani, ricalcando lo schema della vecchia procedura 1503, ha istituito un meccanismo che consente ai singoli ed alle associazioni di portare all'attenzione del Consiglio casi di gravi e flagranti violazioni di diritti umani o delle libertà fondamentali, in qualsiasi parte del mondo queste accadano.
Ai sensi dell'art. 87 della predetta risoluzione, le comunicazioni relative a pretese violazioni sono ammissibili quando:
a)non sono manifestamente politically motivated e si attengono al diritto internazionale;
b)presentano una descrizione oggettiva delle dedotte violazioni, ed indicano il diritto alleged to infringe;
c) do not use offensive language;
d) shall be submitted by a person or a group of people assumed to be victims of a violation of human rights or fundamental freedoms, or by a person or group of persons, including NGOs, who in good faith and in accordance with international law, claiming to have direct and reliable knowledge of such violations. The knowledge of the facts may be second hand, provided it is accompanied by evidence;
s) are not only based on information provided by the mass media;
f) are not already subject to a special procedure or other procedure of the United Nations in the field human rights;
g) were carried out all domestic remedies, unless it is clearly ineffective remedies or unduly delaying a long time.
communications before they are eventually brought to the attention of the Council are examined by two Working Group: Working Group on
• Comunications. The Working Group on Communications is made up of five members appointed by the Advisory Committee from among its members, one for each regional group and respecting gender equality. The WG has to decide on the admissibility of communications and assess the substance of the alleged facts before reporting them if the State concerned. The notifications are sent to eligible Working Group on Situations.
-Working Group on Situations. Il Gruppo di Lavoro sulle Situazioni è composto da 5 membri, nominati uno da ciascun gruppo regionale e tenuto conto della parità di genere. Il WG on Situations, sulle basi delle informazioni e raccomandazioni ricevute dal WG on Communications, deve presentare al Consiglio un rapporto sui casi
rilevati di gravi e flagranti violazioni dei diritti umani, e fare raccomandazioni al Consiglio sulle misure da prendere, preparando una bozza di risoluzione.
Entrambi i WG si riuniscono almeno due volte l'anno, con sessioni di 5 giorni lavorativi ciascuna. Il Consiglio deve considerare le violazioni portate alla sua attenzione dal WG ogni volta che sia necessario, ma comunque almeno una volta l'anno. Il lasso di tempo che intercorre tra la trasmissione the complaint to the State concerned and consideration of the case by the Council must not exceed 24 months.
The Council, in turn, may decide to: a) suspend the examination of the situation b) continue to keep the situation under control, requiring the State concerned to provide information, c) continue to keep the situation under control, appointing a highly qualified independent expert to monitor the situation and report to the Council; d) make the procedure public e) recommend to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical assistance to the State concerned.
The Human Rights Council and its instruments have, unfortunately, so far disappointed many expectations. In fact his work is often determined by political and diplomatic balance between the States, at the expense of human rights protection. Nevertheless, states the principles and fundamental rights, reaching advanced positions so that in many countries of the Western world would be considered extremist. Ai sensi dell'art. 87 della predetta risoluzione, le comunicazioni relative a pretese violazioni sono ammissibili quando:
a)non sono manifestamente politically motivated e si attengono al diritto internazionale;
b)presentano una descrizione oggettiva delle dedotte violazioni, ed indicano il diritto alleged to infringe;
c) do not use offensive language;
d) shall be submitted by a person or a group of people assumed to be victims of a violation of human rights or fundamental freedoms, or by a person or group of persons, including NGOs, who in good faith and in accordance with international law, claiming to have direct and reliable knowledge of such violations. The knowledge of the facts may be second hand, provided it is accompanied by evidence;
s) are not only based on information provided by the mass media;
f) are not already subject to a special procedure or other procedure of the United Nations in the field human rights;
g) were carried out all domestic remedies, unless it is clearly ineffective remedies or unduly delaying a long time.
communications before they are eventually brought to the attention of the Council are examined by two Working Group: Working Group on
• Comunications. The Working Group on Communications is made up of five members appointed by the Advisory Committee from among its members, one for each regional group and respecting gender equality. The WG has to decide on the admissibility of communications and assess the substance of the alleged facts before reporting them if the State concerned. The notifications are sent to eligible Working Group on Situations.
-Working Group on Situations. Il Gruppo di Lavoro sulle Situazioni è composto da 5 membri, nominati uno da ciascun gruppo regionale e tenuto conto della parità di genere. Il WG on Situations, sulle basi delle informazioni e raccomandazioni ricevute dal WG on Communications, deve presentare al Consiglio un rapporto sui casi
rilevati di gravi e flagranti violazioni dei diritti umani, e fare raccomandazioni al Consiglio sulle misure da prendere, preparando una bozza di risoluzione.
Entrambi i WG si riuniscono almeno due volte l'anno, con sessioni di 5 giorni lavorativi ciascuna. Il Consiglio deve considerare le violazioni portate alla sua attenzione dal WG ogni volta che sia necessario, ma comunque almeno una volta l'anno. Il lasso di tempo che intercorre tra la trasmissione the complaint to the State concerned and consideration of the case by the Council must not exceed 24 months.
The Council, in turn, may decide to: a) suspend the examination of the situation b) continue to keep the situation under control, requiring the State concerned to provide information, c) continue to keep the situation under control, appointing a highly qualified independent expert to monitor the situation and report to the Council; d) make the procedure public e) recommend to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical assistance to the State concerned.
NGOs, as we try to limit their intervention, they are able to act within the human rights system of the United Nations. The important thing is knowing how to take advantage of small opportunities with great energy.
*** *** ***
1 Resolution 60/251 was adopted by the General Assembly 170 votes in favor, 4 against (United States of America, Israel, Palau, Marshall Islands) and 3 abstentions (Iran, Belarus and Venezuela).
2 As required by resolution 60/251, the seats were allocated on the basis of equitable geographical distribution: 13 seats for African states, 13 seats for Asian States, 6 seats for Eastern European States, 8 seats to the Latin American and Caribbean seats to seven Western states and three other states
have recently been convened three special sessions: in May 2008 on the food crisis, in November 2008 on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in January 2009 on the invasion of Gaza.
4 The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), founded in 1946, representing bar associations and councils of more than 100 countries worldwide, including the Italian Association of Democratic Lawyers. See www.iadllaw.org.
5 The deadlines for submission of written comments in relation to the 16 states that will review during the 6th session dell'EPU (November 30 - 11dicembre 2009) are 13 and 20 April 2009.
6 Burundi, Cambodia, North Korea, Haiti, Myanmar, the Occupied Territories of Palestine, Somalia and Sudan.
7 Independent experts shall be appointed by the Council and shall hold office for a term of three years, renewable once. *** *** ***
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