Human Rights Council
Session 5
[June 11-18, 2007]

The Human Rights Council met for just over a week in June, completing the first anniversary of this body since the decision to change the UN Human Rights structure. The first few days of this session featured reports on thematic issues, and the session concluded with the adoption of the Presidential text, "UN Human Rights Council: Institution-Building."

WILPF Reporting, involvement in the Council, and additional information is featured below.

 

WILPF Reporting

The Fifth Session Opens

• Report on the Opening Meeting of the Fifth Session

The fifth session of the Human Rights Council can be viewed directly from the UN Webcast. To view a particular report or WILPF statement, just look under "Orders of the Day" to find out when reports were given and statements delivered, and then select the link to that calendar day on the Webcast page.

Thematic Human Rights Reports

• Report on the adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights
• Report on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia, and related forms of intolerance
• Report on the Right to Food

The Reports on Human Trafficking and International Human Rights Solidarity have been postponed until further notice.

 

Additional Information

Reports prepared by Special Rapporteurs are available on the OHCHR website.

Briefings on other Reports that are relevant to WILPF involvement with the HRC are available below, courtesy of International Service for Human Rights:

• ISHR Report on Human Rights Situation in Haiti
• ISHR Report on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

 

WILPF Participation in the Fifth Session

NGO Side Event (Co-sponsored by WILPF)

• Report on NGO Side Event "The Independence of Judges and Lawyers: The Case of Iraq"

WILPF Statements

• WILPF Statement on toxic waste and armed conflict
• WILPF Statement on the human rights situation in Haiti
• WILPF Statement on final Institution-building text

 

Conclusions

• WILPF Report: Fifth Session Resolutions (Follow-Up to Special Sessions)
  
• Official HRC Report to the General Assembly link available from OHCHR

 

Human Rights Council Institution-Building Outcome

• WILPF Report on Institution-Building
• President's Institution-Building Text
• African Group's Code of Code of Conduct for Mandate-holders
• WILPF Statement on President's Institution-Building Text

The Institution-building text outlines the structure for the Council's new institutional machinery, including the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, the Special Procedures, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (which replaces the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights), and the Complaint Procedure (in replace of the Confidential 1503 Procedure).