First, each and every Member State of the United Nations is reviewed with equal scrutiny and on the basis of same standards in relation to the enjoyment of all rights set out in, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The uniqueness of this process stems from its universality in a number of aspects. The feature clearly distinguishing the Council from its predecessor is the Universal Periodic Review. Furthermore, the Council plays a key role in ensuring accountability for human rights violations with the establishment of fact-finding missions or commissions of inquiry to examine the human rights situations (for instance as was in Darfur, Myanmar and recently in Gaza).ĩ. As a matter of fact, such increased number of panels and other forms of debates are welcome developments as this indicates an enhanced responsiveness of the Council to human rights issues.Ĩ. And six panels will be held during the next session of the Council in March 2010. Thus far, the Council has held a number of panel discussions as well as 10 special sessions on human rights situations in several countries and two thematic ones, in addition to its three regular sessions. The interactions with the High Commissioner for Human Rights have also expanded and become better structured with regular updates by her, well-defined questions and comments by delegations and numerous opportunities for the High Commissioner and her Office to introduce reports and comments on key aspects of the Council’s work.ħ. We have also noticed that increased time and space is being given to Special Procedures particularly thematic ones.

The Council has shown some remarkable signs of flexibility in terms of considering urgent matters through the convening of special sessions and adjusting to new demands through the organization of panel discussions.

In the area of standard-setting, I would like to recall that all core human rights treaties have emerged as a result of negotiations conducted in the former Commission and presently the Council with one of the most recent examples being the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was adopted by the General Assembly last year.Ħ. Hence it is now recognized that the Council could play a more effective role in the protection and promotion of human rights than the former Commission on Human Rights.ĥ. With the adoption of the founding resolution 60/251 in March 2006, the Human Rights Council was strengthened through a renewed composition, a higher status, a strong involvement in standard-setting activities, increased meeting time and an easier threshold in terms of calling for meetings to deal with emergencies. In what shall follow, I would like not only to underscore the achievements of the Human Rights Council but also to identify those areas where improvements may be meaningful and will lead to genuine progress.Ĥ.

Hence, I believe this Seoul seminar will certainly contribute to the current brainstorming/reflection aimed at strengthening the Human Rights Council.ģ. As you may probably know, a host of meetings have being been organized in different regions of the world in anticipation of the review of the HRC in 2011.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and the British Embassy to the Republic of Korea for organizing this important and timely meeting. It is my great pleasure and honour to participate on behalf of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in this seminar on “Ways to Ensure an Effective UN Human Rights Council.” High Commissioner Navi Pillay has asked me to convey her best wishes for the success of this important meeting.Ģ.

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