When UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke for the last time to the Commission on Human Rights he emphasised that “the era of declaration is now giving way, as it should, to an era of implementation.” [1] In the past, human rights implementation was often narrowly understood to mean passing a law and securing a favourable judicial decision. Of course, laws and …
In October 2013, before taking office as the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva, I led the Chinese delegation that participated in our second cycle review under the Universal Periodical Review (UPR). The review took place, of course, in Room 20 of the Palais des Nations, and I was deeply impressed by the colourful ceiling designed by the …
Quick summary The Human Rights Council held its first enhanced dialogue on the issue of human rights situation of migrants. 4 panel discussions were held during the session. 59 reports under the various items on the Council’s agenda were considered. The outcomes of the UPR working group reports of the following 14 countries were adopted: Armenia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, …
Quick Summary The 28th regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from 2nd to 27th March 2015. Opening the session , the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein drew attention to the the disconnect between the obligations and commitments of states under international law and the alarming regularity with which human rights are disregarded and violated. The high level segment was attended by, …
The work of the Human Rights Council is definitely underestimated. This point immediately struck me when I was elected President of the Council for the year 2015, and international and German media representatives approached me for interviews. “Isn’t the Council a tiger without teeth?” “What can the Council achieve without being able to impose sanctions like the Security Council?” “Looking …
The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, makes his inaugural address at the opening of the 27th session of the Human Rights Council. Quick Summary The 27th regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from 8th – 26th September 2014. At the opening of the session the new UN High Commissioner for Human …
On 23rd July, in view of the on-going crisis in Gaza, the United Nations Human Rights Council (‘the Council’) convened a Special Session on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The meeting – the 21st Special Session since the Council was established in 2006 – was called by twenty-two members of the Council, namely …
Human Rights Council President Baudelaire Ndong Ella presents flowers to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at the close of the Human Rights Council’s 26th Session. Quick Summary The 26th Session of the Human Rights Council was held from 10th – 27th June 2014. During the session the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, …
(3 – 28 March 2014) The Human Rights Council concluded its twenty-fifth session on Friday 28rd March 2014 after taking action on forty-two texts. Its high-level segment saw the participation of around 94 dignitaries, including the President of Tunisia and Vice President of Colombia. Key-note statements were delivered by the United Nations Secretary General, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, …
