4th Session of the Human Rights Council: Wednesday 20th March 15:00 - 18:00 - 15th Plenary Meeting by PM

- Answers by the Independent expert on minorities issues
Ms. Gay Mc Dougall
1) The poor population is more incline to be victim of violence
2) It is hard to define precisely the notion of “conflict prevention”
3) Willingness to collaborate with regional organizations (AU, OAS)
4) Minorities issues: interconnection between all pillars of the UN: (Peace and security, human rights, development…)

- Answers by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
Mr. Jorge A. Bustamante
1) What is the responsibility for the countries of origin of the migrants? that one must be reduced
2) Countries of origin are reticent to admit their errors
3) Importance of the participation of the civil society

- Answers by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen
1) Problem of the definition of indigenous people
2) This problem does not have to harm the development of their rights
3) The Council has to facilitate the Declaration’s implementation

- Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights of internally displaced persons (IDP’s)
Mr. Walter Kälin
1) Focus on durable situations
2) Peace settlements should mention the fate of the IDP’s
3) It is necessary to study the major causes creating such movements

- Report by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
Ms. Yakin Ertürk
1) Culture based discourses, used to justify or explain violence against women, tend to reduce the phenomenon to a cultural problem
2) Gender inequality is one of the common elements of history across all cultures and civilizations
3) It is important to underline the universality of violence against women and its socio-historical causes, because we are increasingly observing the strengthening of cultural relativist claims over women’s lives
4) The mandate of this Special Rapporteur was created in the wake of the Vienna Summit on Human Rights, which affirmed that women’s rights are human rights
- Report by the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
Mr. Juan Miguel Petit
1) Issue of illegal trafficking of children’s organs and tissues is still greater
2) It is primordial that all States adopt legislation and standards regulating organ and tissue transplantation
3) He recommends all States to set up rapid-response programmes regarding the abduction of children; Ensure that criminal proceedings against sellers and traffickers and to establish assistance and rehabilitation facilities specifically designed for victims
4) Educational programmes as well as awareness-raising activities are essentiel


- Interactive dialogue with delegates

Interesting Speakers:

Australia: help for improve the statute of the women in the area of South Pacific (Fiji, Vanuatu), with good results.
Germany (on behalf of the European Union): The increase of the number of IDP’s is disturbing.
Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Conference): The International community must pay special attention to the plight of women and their families living under foreign occupation; Grateful to the report to mention the gun ownership and the wide spread portrayal of women as sexual objects in the media as new patterns of cultural practices that discriminate against women.

Paul Milliet