The Human Rights Council Concludes its Second Session : Protection capacity yet to be found

13/10/2006
Press release

Following the closure of the second session of the UN Human rights council, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) welcomed notable debates and increased participation of NGOs to them, but regretted the absence of action oriented decisions on specific situations.

As underlined in his Call for Action of Septembre 14 2006 [1], FIDH considered of particular importance this second session as the unprecedented opportunity since March 2005, for the new Council to hold substancial discussion on all human rights situations« The debates were notable and for the first time, NGOs were invited to effectively contribute to the interactive dialogue between UN protection mechanisms and States, with the exception of debates on « country specific » situations, where a full NGOs participation still needs to be achieved. » said President Kaba,

Yet, beyond these debates, FIDH regrets the Council’s absence of reaction on specific situations and to the calls of the victims. FIDH regretted in particular the absence of any decision under the 1503 procedure, a confidential procedure that deals with country situations, under which both Iran and Uzbekistan were reviewed: « It is a shame that members of the Council do not seem to have heard the voices of the victims of the escalating repression in these two countries », said President Kaba. « And beyond these two, FIDH had a number of specific situations for which specific responses were - and remain - desperatly needed» [2].

The first session of the Council was marked by the adoption of two important normative instruments: the Convention on enforced disappearances, and the declarations on indigenous peoples. Since then, the Council condemned Israel twice, through its two special sessions. Further the Council has failed to respond to victims of other situations of human rights violations.

And President Kaba concluded : « this situation reflects the current paralysis of the international community as a whole to put its words into action, and to translate declarations to respect human rights into an effective mandate of protection against violations. This is to our view the central challenge of the ongoing reform of the UN human rights mechanisms, which we urge member States to complete. ». The protection challenge of the new Human Rights Council remains to be met.

For more information, please call :

Simia Ahmadi, FIDH representative to the UN in Geneva, +41 78 71 81 646
Antoine Madelin, FIDH coordinator for inter-governmental organisations, + 32 485 22 22 87

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