HR News Update:

December 2009

The Geneva Human Rights Team wishes you all an amazing festive season. Remember Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure!!, but first read the last HR Update of the year which summarizes WILPF’s work over the last months.

Please click on the following links :

1. 12th Human Rights Council session [14 September - 02 October]
2. Business & Human Rights [5 & 6 October]
3. Civil & Political Rights Switzerland [12 & 13 October ]
4. 12th HRC Special Session on Gaza [15 & 16 October]
5. NGO Roundtables Beijing+15 [30 & 31 October]
6. Beijing+15 European Review [02 & 03 November]
7. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights DR Congo [02 & 03 November]
8. 6th Universal Periodic Review [30 November - 11 December]
9. International Human Rights Day [10 December]
10. Section HR deadlines!

1. 12th Human Rights Council Session

During the 12th Human Rights Council session the full Genevan intern team was involved. Every intern had a chance to prepare an oral statement, address the council, follow sessions and report on these. Please read the following reports and statements to find out what WILPF’s input was:

Reports:

Oral statements:

2. Business and human rights

The OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) consulted a wide range of stakeholders to discuss the policy framework “Protect, Respect and Remedy”, for better managing the human rights challenges posed by business enterprises. It was a positive first step, because apart from the voluntary OECD international business guidelines regulation is not in place. Please click HERE to read the WILPF report written by economic justice intern Elin Hagberg.

3. Civil & Political Rights Switzerland

The Human Rights Committee reviewed Switzerland in its compliance to the Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. During the two-day review Swiss IB member Helena Nyberg joined WILPF interns Katherin Machalek and Leila Chaker to follow the meeting. The main issue WILPF noted was the discussion on migrant women and their right to maintain a resident permit independent of their husband in cases of domestic violence. Please click HERE to read the concluding observations and HERE to read more on WILPF’s work with the HR treaty bodies.

4. 12th HRC Special Session on Gaza

During the regular session of the HRC (Human Rights Council) the Palestinian Authorities agreed to postpone the discussions on the Goldstone Report to March 2010. Due to internal and external pressure and protest the Palestinian Authorities, supported by 18 Member States, requested a Special Session on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and East Jerusalem.

The Special Session focused on the follow-up of the much discussed Goldstone Report. WILPF made an oral statement (watch it here) requesting the HRC to accept all of the fact finding recommendations and actions. The Resolution, which was adopted by a majority vote, endorses the recommendations and recommends the General Assembly (GA) to consider the report during the main part of its sixty-fourth session. Unfortunately the GA discussions did not result in substantive follow-up.

5. NGO Roundtables Beijing+15

In preparation of the regional reviews of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women organized a NGO roundtable conference. Following the talking points, WILPF’s Kirsti Koltoff, Susi Snyder and Ilse Wermink raised issues surrounding military expenditure, women in armed conflict and funding for the new UN gender infrastructure. WILPF’s input can be found in the final recommendations of the Conference and read in the WILPF report of the event.

The NGO recommendations will be made available during the 54th CSW (Committee on the Status of Women) meeting in booklet form.

6. Beijing+15 European Review

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) reviewed the Beijing Declaration in a two day session. In preparation to this meeting WILPF faxed a letter to all missions involved with the Beijing Review, requesting more attention for Critical Area E – women in armed conflict.

The review did not deserve that name, as discussions were never in depth and there were no real reactions to the NGO roundtable recommendations presented via oral statements. If you want to read more about the meeting please read WILPF’s report. The final document, the chairperson’s conclusions were weak and general. It is up to those attending the CSW meeting in March to ensure that there will be a true Beijing+15 review.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) reviewed the Beijing Declaration in a two day session. In preparation to this meeting WILPF faxed a letter to all missions involved with the Beijing Review, requesting more attention for Critical Area E – women in armed conflict.

The review did not deserve that name, as discussions were never in depth and there were no real reactions to the NGO roundtable recommendations presented via oral statements. If you want to read more about the meeting please read WILPF’s report. The final document, the chairperson’s conclusions were weak and general. It is up to those attending the CSW meeting in March to ensure that there will be a true Beijing+15 review.

7. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights DR Congo

After their first report to the CESCR (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) in 1988, the DR Congo submitted a combined second, third, fourth and fifth report during the 43th session. Domestic violence, sexual violence against women and girls, resources for compensation payments for women and prostitution were the main issues raised. Please read the WILPF report written by Leila Chaker for the specific questions and answers and the Committee’s Concluding Observations. If you would like to learn more about WILPF’s work with the treaty bodies, please click HERE.

8. 6th Universal Periodic Review

WILPF covered the 6th session of the Universal Periodic Review for the countries in which we have sections or groups. Please click on the following links for more information:

The UPR provides WILPF with a unique opportunity to bring national WILPF efforts to the international human rights stage. How? Read the 8 Section Action Steps to get involved with the UPR! For example, the Swedish section provided information for the stakeholder summary of their country.

During a side event the analysis of the UPR recommendations so far was presented. The amount of recommendations per country has increased and they have become more action focused. The real test for the UPR lies in the second UPR review of countries and the level to which there is a focus on follow-up and compliance with promises made.

9. International Human Rights Day

International Human Rights Day this year was focused on working against discrimination. In her statement, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the following: “Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours and produce half of the world’s food, yet earn only 10 percent of the world’s income and own less than one percent of the world’s property. Despite significant improvements over the past century, women and girls are still discriminated against to some degree in all societies and to a great degree in many. Every day countless numbers of women are sexually or physically abused, and the vast majority of their abusers go unpunished and future abuse is undeterred”.

10. Section HR deadlines!