The meeting was dedicated to the presentation of a computerized system of troika selection, though still with some technical problems. The president of the counsel assured the members that the technicalities will be figured out before the next session.
Brief analysis on the troika system:
Troika System is a selection mechanism of the rapporteurs for the Universal Periodic Review, which is envisaged by the HRC to assess compliance of each Member State with the respective human rights obligations. Each Member State is to be assessed by 3 rapporteurs coming from 3 different countries and belonging to distinct regional groups. Troika selection system is deemed to provide for a democratic, geographically proportionate and independent Universal Periodic Review.
Troikas will be composed of Members of the Council only. In order to ensure equitable geographic distribution, each Member State should only be a member of three troikas, with the exception of three Member States that may serve a fourth time (since there are 47 members of the Council and 48 countries will have to be reviewed every year).
The setting up of troikas is a work in progress and a public meeting will take place on 26th November session to select officially the troikas for the first review cycle.
The course of discussion:
Pakistan rose the point of concern on how many times can a country refuse to be assigned as a rapporteur for the Review mechanism. A maximum of three times can a State be considered as a rapporteur for troika mechanism. Any State has nevertheless a prerogative to be excused from being a rapporteur, but it can only express such a refusal once.
China advised to send notice to all member-states, instead of only coordinating countries. It also believes that a State needs at least 24 hours period so that to be able to submit a refusal to be rapporteur.
Canada stressed that it won’t exercise any sort of opting-out from the rapporteur’s selection and strongly encouraged other members to follow the same course of action.
The United Kingdom drew attention to the fact that once having 16 troikas, there is an additional member at each session. A flaw lies in the fact that there 47 State-members and 48 are needed for troika mechanism. The UK strongly envisaged the proposal of 24 hours to be given for each State to reply to its assignment as a rapporteur, especially taken into account very small delegations which are not even present in Geneva, and which do not have possibility to get immediately in touch with the capital.
Thailand expressed a concern regarding the fact that some small countries may not have capacity to be rapporteur three times in the same session.
The meeting stands adjourned till November 23rd.
Vladyslav Lanovoy
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