HR Council, 4th Session, 29.3.07 Morning, report by A.F.

continuation of debate on 3 presented reports:
- Transnational corporations
- Health
- Human Rights Defenders


Agenda Item: "Related Debate":
issues raised:

- Importance of gender equality and rights of women: (by Argentina with support of 50 other states)
-> idea: the HR Council needs a strategy for gender mainstreaming, have a place in the Agenda for this item

- Concerns about HR situation in Zimbabwe: (by far the most often raised issue during the 2 hour debate)
(raised by Germandy as EU president with the support of 48 other states)
-> call for a dialogue of Government with the opposition
-> call for respect for HRs
-> call for the special rapporteurs on torture and freedom of opinion to visit Zimbabwe
-> African States underlined their opinion that african matters such as the situation in Zimbabwe should be dealt with by African States, and that the SADC is already looking for solutions
-> Zimbabwe tried to explain the hard life in its country as a result not of political repression but of the econimic sanctions imposed by the West. furthermore they stated that their government has been elected by the people of Zimbabwe, and that anyway the council should not interfere in internal affairs of the country.

- importance of one special form of discrimination, namely related to sexual orientation and gender identity (raised by Switzerland and supported by Norway in the name of the Nordic Countries)

- importance of fight against xenophobia and racism (raised by Mexico)