HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDS FIFTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 2 TO 6 AUGUST 2010

The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its fifth session from 2 to 6 August 2010 in Room XX of the Palais des Nations.

The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts who serve as a think tank to the Human Rights Council, will further its work in relation to requests addressed to it by the Council: a draft set of principles and guidelines to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; a study on discrimination in the context of the right to food, as well as a preliminary study on ways to advance the rights of people in rural areas; a study on best practices regarding missing persons; the integration of a gender perspective into the mandate of the Advisory Committee to further the human rights of women; the integration of the perspectives of people with disabilities to foster their inclusion in the work of the Human Rights Council; the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; and contributions to a draft declaration by the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity on the rights of peoples and individuals to international solidarity. The Advisory Committee will also focus on new requests addressed to it by the Council, including a draft declaration on the rights of people to peace and proposals to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights.

On Monday, 2 August, the Advisory Committee will discuss revised draft guidelines to prevent discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. In its resolution 8/13 on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to collect information on measures taken by Governments to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. It also asked the Advisory Committee to formulate a draft set of principles and guidelines on the subject, which were duly submitted to the Council in September 2009. The Council subsequently requested OHCHR to collect the views of relevant stakeholders and take them into full consideration to finalize the draft set of principles and guidelines, to be submitted to the Council at its fifteenth session in September 2010.

On Tuesday, 3 August, the Advisory Committee will address the issue of missing persons. Following a panel discussion on the issue held at the Human Rights Council’s ninth session in September 2008, the Council adopted decision 9/101, requesting the Advisory Committee to prepare a study on the best practices in the matter of missing persons and to submit it to the Council at its twelfth session, which was held in September 2009. The Council considered a progress report by the Committee at its fourteenth session in June 2010 and requested the Committee to finalize the study for submission to the Council at its sixteenth session in March 2011.

On Wednesday, 4 August, the Committee will discuss the issue of discrimination in the context of the right to food. The Committee is to complete a study on this topic, including identification of good practices of anti-discriminatory policies and strategies, and to report on it to the Council at its sixteenth session, taking into account the views and comments of all Member States and all other relevant stakeholders on the policies and strategies set out in the preliminary study, so that the Advisory Committee could take them into account for the conclusion of the study. In addition, the Council requested the Advisory Committee to undertake a preliminary study on ways to advance the rights of people working in rural areas in the production of food and/or other agricultural products and to report its findings to the Council at its sixteenth session in 2011.

On Thursday and Friday, the Advisory Committee will focus on the other requests addressed to it by the Council.

Background
Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, composed of 18 independent experts, was established to provide expertise in the manner and form requested by the Council, focusing mainly on studies and research-based advice.

The scope of the Advisory Committee’s advice is limited to thematic issues pertaining to the mandate of the Council, namely, the promotion and protection of all human rights. The Committee should be implementation-oriented and is also urged to establish interaction with States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society entities. The Committee is not mandated to adopt resolutions or decisions, but may propose to the Council, within the scope of its work as set out by the Council, suggestions for further enhancing its procedural efficiency, as well as further research proposals within the scope of the work set out by the Council.

Documentation and updated information on the Advisory Committee, including the session’s annotated agenda and draft programme of work, are posted on the Advisory Committee’s webpage (see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/advisorycommittee.htm).

Membership

The 18 members of the Advisory Committee were elected on 26 March 2008, at the seventh session of the Human Rights Council. The most recent elections were held on 26 March 2010 at the thirteenth session of the Human Rights Council. The membership of the Advisory Committee has to conform with the following geographical distribution guidelines set out in its establishing resolution: five members each from African and Asian States; three each from Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States; and two members from Eastern European States.

Members serve for a period of three years and are eligible for re-election once. In accordance with resolution 5/1, the staggering of terms of membership of the Advisory Committee members was determined by drawing lots immediately after the election. Hence, in the first term, one-third of the experts will serve for one year and another third for two years. Following is the list of members of the Advisory Committee and their respective terms of office: Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2013); Mr. Ansar Ahmed Burney (Pakistan - 2011); Mr. Shiqiu Chen (China - 2012); Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea - 2013); Mr. Emmanuel Decaux (France - 2011); Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann (Nicaragua -2012); Mr. Hector Felipe Fix Fierro (Mexico - 2011); Mr. Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany - 2010); Mr. Latif Huseynov (Azerbaijan - 2011); Mr. Baba Kura Kaigama (Nigeria - 2011); Mr. Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda – 2013); Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation - 2013); Ms. Purificacion V. Quisumbing (Philippines - 2011); Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan - 2013); Mr. Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius - 2011); Ms. Halima Embarek Warzazi (Morocco - 2012); Mr. Jean Ziegler (Switzerland - 2012); and Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2013).

At its fifth session, the Committee will hold elections of officers. The new Chairperson and Bureau will serve for the fifth and sixth sessions.


For use of the information media; not an official record

AC10/011E