HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OPENS EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

The Human Rights Committee, which reviews the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its 153 States parties, this morning opened its eighty-fifth session, hearing an address by a Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, following which it adopted its agenda and programme of work.

The Committee was addressed by Alessio Bruni, a Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who said that at the World Summit in New York last month, an Outcome Declaration had been adopted, in which Heads of States declared that the protection of human rights was a central purpose of the United Nations, and that without human rights there could be no security, and no development. The most positive element in the Declaration was the reference to the responsibility to protect, and it recognised that States had the responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

The Outcome Declaration also stated that the international community had the responsibility to use diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means to help States protect their own populations. The concluding observations, legal interpretation and the jurisprudence of the Committee guided the Office of the High Commissioner in turning human rights commitments into reality, and in responding to the key challenge of implementation, Mr. Bruni said.

Committee Expert Edward Johnson-Lopez presented the work of the Working Group on communications during its pre-sessional meeting. The Working Group had adopted recommendations, and had discussed the powers of the Special Rapporteur for communications regarding submissions.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m. this afternoon, it will begin its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Canada (CCPR/C/CAN/2004/5).



Statement by the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

ALESSIO BRUNI, Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said since the July session, important developments had occurred related to the reform of the UN and in particular to human rights. At the World Summit, an Outcome Declaration had been adopted, in which Heads of States declared that the protection of human rights was a central purpose of the United Nations, and that without human rights there could be no security and no development. The most positive element in the Declaration was the reference to the responsibility to protect, and it recognised that States had the responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and that the international community had the responsibility to use diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means to help States protect their own population. The High Commissioner considered this Summit and its outcome as an important step, and had stressed at the time that much work remained to be done to translate these solemn commitments into reality, and to strengthen the human rights work of the United Nations.

During the Committee’s discussion on 20 July 2005 with the High Commissioner on her Plan of Action, particular attention had been paid to both the need to finalise and implement the drafting of harmonised guidelines on reporting and to the proposal to establish a unified standing human rights treaty body, Mr. Bruni said. The role of the Committee was essential in the reform process, as its participants had the expertise and insight that was needed to rely upon to produce the concept paper on the process. In September, the Working Group on a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance had approved the text of a new Draft Convention with a new, independent monitoring mechanism, and this represented significant progress in international law. It would be transmitted to the Commission on Human Rights and subsequently to the General Assembly for approval, and opened to signature and ratification probably towards the end of 2006.

Since the eighty-fourth session, Moldova had signed the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, while Bosnia-Herzegovina had submitted its initial report, Mr. Bruni said. The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) had committed itself to report to the Committee on Kosovo, which was under its administration at present. It was the first time that a United Nations agency or institution had accepted to report on how the provisions of a major human rights instrument were being guaranteed. The present session had a charged agenda, with the consideration of four reports, a large number of communications, continued deliberations on the revised General Comment on article 14 of the Covenant, a discussion on the working methods of the Committee, and the progress reports submitted by Special Rapporteurs. The Office of the High Commissioner would provide full support in assisting the Committee to fulfil its mandate. The concluding observations, legal interpretation and the jurisprudence of the Committee guided the Office in turning human rights commitments into reality, and in responding to the key challenge of implementation.