HLS, 7th March

7th Session of the Human Rights Council
Geneva, 7th March 2008

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES ANNUAL REPORT OF HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Morning

This morning United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, presented her annual report to the HRC. Then an interactive dialogue was followed about this document. Ms. Arbour announced that she will not seek a second term in the Office as she had informed the Secretary-General.

Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms. Arbour began her statement by expressing deep sadness at the killings yesterday in Israel and Iraq. With regard to the Universal Periodic Review process, Ms. Arbour said the Council must support the participation of least developed countries to the review. However she noticed that it is involved financial commitments. In this regard, she urged donor countries to give special attention to the two Universal Periodic Review trust funds mandated by the General Assembly.
She stated that poverty and global inequalities remain fundamental issues for the OHCHR. She reaffirmed OHCHR’s efforts to place women’s rights at the core of the work of the Office. Ms. Arbour welcomed the renewal of agreements for OHCHR offices in Nepal, Colombia and Mexico. She also thanked the Government of Senegal with which OHCHR reached an agreement in November 2007, for the establishment of a Regional Office for West Africa. The High Commissioner expressed her concerns regarding the situation in West Darfur where violence has recently increased. The OHCHR praised Kofi Annan’s commitment to the Kenyan crisis and encouraged the parties to reach an agreement to determinedly pursue peace. She also said that she had been concerned by acts of violence recently committed in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Arbour said that is unacceptable that some member states accused the integrity of her Office, blaming it for hypocrisy, insubordination and dereliction of duties.

Statements by concerned countries
Speaking as concerned countries were Mexico, Sudan, Georgia, Colombia, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Kenya. All of them thanked the High Commissioner for her work and efforts and also expressed regrets that she would not seek a second mandate. They also made some remarks about the relationship between the OHCHR and the Council. Some countries insisted on the fact that the High Commissioner has to have financial independence and autonomy of action to be really effective. Others said that there was a lack of coordination with States and budget planning.

Interactive Debate in the Report of the High Commissioner
Speaking in the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner were Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Indonesia, Cuba, India, Israel, China, Egypt on behalf of the African Group, Slovenia on behalf of the European Union, Sweden, Brazil, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Algeria, France, Germany, Australia and United Kingdom.

Havio Abbas, Indonesia
Mr. Abbas, on behalf of his government, praised Ms. Arbour’s work carried on during her mandate. Indonesia expressed its appreciation to the successful commitment of the Council, as major tool for the protection of Human Right. Considering the UPR one of the most innovative mechanisms, Mr. Abbas declared his country’s commitment to be evaluated.

Juan Antonio Fernandez Palacios, Cuba
The representative of Cuba regretted the decision of the High Commissioner not to seek a second term. He greeted her for her great work.

Swashpawan Singh, India
After praising Ms. Arbour’s tireless efforts to ensure the functioning of the Council, Mr. Singh underlined the importance of the geographical balance in the Council. With regard to the conflict of relations between the HRC and the OHCHR, India urged that this issue requires more discussions. The two bodies should work in tandem in order to achieve their common goals.

Wang Qun, China
China, expressing its deep impression following Ms. Arbour decision not to seek a second mandate, hopes that she will continue her commitment for the protection of Human Rights. Representative of China remarked that the action plan for 2008-2009 made much reference to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Consequently he stated that it was hoped that the Council would also take into account other regions. Remarks about the geographic imbalance inside the staff of OHCHR and the question of transparency in budgetary matters were mentioned. The importance of the Durban Conference was underlined as a major tool to fight racism.

Eva Tomic, Slovenia on behalf of the European Union
The European Union is really sorry that Ms. Arbour will not seek a second mandate. The UPR would be essential for the credibility of the Council and provided the international community a transparent, candid, meaningfully constructive review process. The EU appreciated the update of the High Commissioner concerning the strategic thematic areas such as impunity, poverty, discrimination, armed conflict and violence, among others.

Erlinda F. Basilio, Philippines
The Philippines praised Ms. Arbour’s hard work devoted during these past four years for the promotion of human rights. The Philippines attached great importance to the UPR, as one of the most effective tool to improve the international mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Hoonnin Lim, Republic of Korea
Representative of the Republic of Korea thanked the High Commissioner for her outstanding work. Mr. Hoonnin Lim welcomed the plan to open some new regional offices. He remarked also that consultations should take place between the OHCHR and the Council in order to improve its relationship. However, he reaffirmed that the independence of the Office, as part of the United Nations Secretary, had to be respected.

Caroline Millar, Australia
The representative of Australia thanked the high Commissioner for the leadership, integration and innovation that she had accomplished into the OHCHR. Ms. Millar thanked also Ms. Arbour for her remarks concerning the apology of Australia to its indigenous people.

Explanations of Vote after Vote on Resolution on Palestine
Speaking in explanations of the vote after the vote on the resolution on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which was adopted the 6th March 2008, were Brazil, Japan and Uruguay.

Marco and Meriam