Mr Chairman,
I am speaking on behalf of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO) and human rights non-governmental organisations working in Geneva.
We would like to express our deep appreciation for this opportunity to join our voices to those of States in thanking all members of the Secretariat for their efforts to facilitate the work of NGOs during the Commission on Human Rights. In particular we would like to express our gratitude to the NGO Liaison Officer, Laura Dolci-Kanaan, and her team for their tremendous efforts, often beyond the call of duty, to strengthen the good relations between the Secretariat, the Bureau and NGOs. We also appreciate the expanded access to IT facilities, including the Extranet.
We commend the Expanded Bureau for continuing past practices relating to NGOs including the regular meetings that have proved a useful forum for NGOs to voice concerns and to clarify and find solutions to various issues.
We would like to extend a particular word of appreciation to you, Mr Chairman, for your openness to and frankness with NGOs before and during this session of the Commission. This has been invaluable and establishes an example that we would like to see followed in the future.
We fully support your view, Mr Chairman, that any reform of the Commission must build on its successes including its standard setting work, the work of the Special Procedures and its engagement with civil society.
We strongly believe that one of the primary accomplishments of the Commission is the unique participation of NGOs in its work. This year that unique participation has been enhanced through the increase openness in the process of negotiation of resolutions. We welcome this initiative. We urge that this good practice be maintained for the mutual benefit of all parties. We consider that resolutions have been refined and improved by the close collaboration between delegations, civil society and other interested parties in this way.
To conclude, we hope that the good practices that have been maintained, strengthened and established at this year’s Commission will be continued during the inter-sessional period and in the future here or in any other body that may be established to replace this Commission.
Thank you, Mr Chairman