Geneva, 18 September 2006 – Today saw the commencement of the Second Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), in a packed conference room in Palais des Nations with international delegations of Member states, Observer states, UN agencies, NGOs and media representatives anticipating a session with the first formations of more substantive modalities of the new human rights body, following its largely procedural first session in June.

Yet, as HRC President H.E. Luis Alfonso de Alba emphasized when figuring as a guest speaker at an NGO-preparatory meeting yesterday, upon concerns raised at the prevailing ambiguities still surrounding the HRC, “the only thing that is certain is that there is no certainty.” This statement was largely indicative of the sentiment within parts of the NGO community, and although de Alba could not provide the by-some-requested reassurance, the fact that there is an absence of predictability should not, and cannot, indicate an absence of objectives. Rather, for the international human rights community and civil society at large, this initial transitional period – from Commission to Council – could be seen as an opportune moment and affirmative change, at a time when procedures and modalities of participation are still to be set and still open to positive adjustment.

The Council has already been criticized by some for entering into the same entrapments of politicization as its predecessor and suffered negative appraisal over its largely one-sided resolutions passed with relation to Israel’s actions in Lebanon and the issue of ‘incitement to religious hatred and defamation of religions’ [in the wake of the Danish cartoon-controversy], and the body has yet to prove itself more firmly as a protagonist on the international human rights arena. This said, the human rights infant cannot be wholly and reasonably discredited after a mere three months of operation.

Whereas UN Member states at large all hold their responsibility for making this part of the overall UN reform as effective and meaningful as possible, in particular with respect to the responsiveness to human rights crises and not least the integrity of Council Members, international civil society, represented through participating NGOs, need to rise to the occasion and take its share in providing substantial input. During the proceedings today, contrary to feared ‘exclusion’, NGOs were repeatedly allocated time within the context of ‘Interactive Dialogue’ following reports of the Special Procedures. Whether this is indicative of future modalities of participation remains to be seen, but it nonetheless spurred a shared feeling amongst many in the non-state community that this was an encouraging opening.

Effective coordination/collaboration among NGOs does seem, however, to be a necessary feature of the sessions to come. The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) has largely facilitated a meaningful forum in this respect, with NGOs combining efforts and interests in joint statements under dialogues with respective mandates of the Special Procedures and meeting in regular strategy caucuses.

UNPO Members should follow closely the work of the HRC in order to identify how best to utilize this key UN pillar. The much-anticipated establishment of a credible and strong Universal Periodic Review and other mechanisms, such as extending and preserving the mandates of the 40-odd manifestations of the Special Procedures (e.g. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Independent Expert on Minorities and country monitors inter alia) will be vitally important elements.

UNPO continues to monitor and report on developments at the UN, including the progress and proceedings of the UN Human Rights Council, and emphasizes that the significance of the Commission’s successor should stand or fall on its merits in effectively addressing human rights problems and grave violations, many pertaining to UNPO Members worldwide, who have pinned their hopes to the anticipation that this creation is not simply new skin, old ceremony.

From Geneva, Maria Skeie for UNPO