WG on working methods and rules of procedures, 24.4.07 (afternoon), report by A.F.

discussion on new non-paper, A/HRC/4/122/Rev.3
facilitator: H.E. Ambassador of the Phillipines

discussed issues:

- start date of yearly cycle of the HR Council:
-> Council should start on January 1st every year as all other UN-bodies (introduced by South Africa)
-> other states think the Council should start in summer every year (as in his first year): ex: 1. Monday of June or July or August (supported by Canada, Russia, Portugal, Chile and others)

- place of meetings:
-> some states believe the council should be able to hold sessions outside of Geneva (introduced by India, supported by Russia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Argentina, Pakistan)
- especially the Europeans want to keep Geneva as the only meeting place (EU, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Chile, Iran)

- question of majority required for country-specific resolutions:
usually, the Council takes his decisions with a simple majority. But, regarding the Country-specific resolutions, China introduced the idea that for an adoption of such a resolution, a co-sponsorship of 1/3, and a affirmative vote of 2/3 of the memberstates present and voting shall be needed.
-> in favour of this proposal: china, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Bangladesh, Algeria, South Africa
-> against Chinese proposal: EU-States, Switzerland, Argentina, Chili, Canada, Australia


Even though this session was to be the last one of this WG as scheduled, on several points no consensus has been reached, therefore, other meetings of the WG will follow. Date and Place to be communicated.