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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0342/01 0542352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 232352Z FEB 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8053
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1919

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000342 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KUNR PHUM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: TEXT OF DRAFT RESOLUTION 
FROM THE GA PRESIDENT 
 
 
¶1.  On February 23, UN General Assembly President Eliasson 
convened informal consultations of the GA plenary on the 
Human Rights Council to present his draft resolution text. 
Full text of the resolution follows in para 2.  Septel 
provides summary of and comment on the text. 
 
¶2.  Begin text of draft resolution: 
 
23.02.06 
 
Draft Resolution by the President of the General Assembly 
 
Human Rights Council 
 
The General Assembly, 
 
PP1   Reaffirming the purposes and principles contained in 
the Charter of the United Nations, including developing 
friendly relations among nations based on respect for the 
principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, 
achieving international cooperation in solving international 
problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian 
character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human 
rights and fundamental freedoms for all, 
 
PP2   Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and recalling 
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and 
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural 
Rights and other human rights instruments, 
 
PP3   Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, 
indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually 
reinforcing and that all human rights must be treated in a 
fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same 
emphasis, 
 
PP4   Reaffirming also that while the significance of 
national and regional particularities and various historical, 
cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, all 
States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural 
systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human 
rights and fundamental freedoms, 
 
PP5   Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in 
conformity with the Charter, to respect human rights and 
fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind 
as to race, color, sex, language or religion, political or 
other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or 
other status, 
 
PP6   Acknowledging that peace and security, development and 
human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and 
the foundations for collective security and well-being and 
recognizing that development, peace and security and human 
rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, 
 
PP7   Affirming the need for all States to continue 
international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden 
understanding among civilizations, cultures and religions and 
emphasizing that States, regional organizations, 
non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the 
media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, 
respect for and freedom of religion and belief, 
 
PP8   Recognizing the work undertaken by the United Nations 
Commission on Human Rights and the need to preserve and build 
on its achievements and to redress its shortcomings, 
 
PP9   Recognizing also the importance of ensuring 
universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity in the 
consideration of human rights issues, and the elimination of 
double standards and politicization, 
 
PP10  Recognizing further that the promotion and protection 
of human rights should be based on the principles of 
cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening 
the capacity of Member States to comply with their human 
rights obligations for the benefit of all human beings, 
 
PP11  Acknowledging that non-governmental organizations play 
an important role, at the national, regional and 
international level, in the promotion and protection of human 
rights, 
 
PP12  Reaffirming the commitment to strengthen the United 
Nations human rights machinery with the aim of ensuring 
effective enjoyment by all of all human rights - civil, 
political, economic, social and cultural rights, including 
the right to development - and to this end, the resolve to 
create a Human Rights Council. 
 
OP1   Decides to establish a Human Rights Council, based in 
Geneva, in replacement of the Commission on Human Rights, as 
a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.  The General 
Assembly shall review the status within five years. 
 
OP2   Decides that the Council will be responsible for 
promoting universal respect for the protection of all human 
rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction 
of any kind and in a fair and equal manner. 
 
OP3   Decides that the Council should address situations of 
violations of human rights, including gross and systematic 
violations, and make recommendations thereon. It should also 
promote effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human 
rights within the United Nations system. 
 
OP4   Decides also that the work of the Council shall be 
guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, 
objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international 
dialogue and cooperation with a view to enhance the promotion 
and protection of all human rights - civil, political, 
economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to 
development. 
 
OP5   Decides further that the Council will, inter alia: 
 
a)    promote human rights education and learning as well as 
advisory services, technical assistance and 
capacity-building, to be provided in consultation and with 
the consent of the Members States concerned, 
b)    serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all 
human rights, 
c)    make recommendations to the General Assembly for the 
further development of international law in the field of 
human rights, 
d)    promote the full implementation of human rights 
obligations undertaken by States and the follow-up of the 
goals and commitments related to the promotion and protection 
of human rights emanating from United Nations conferences and 
summits, 
e)    undertake a universal periodic review based on 
objective and reliable information of the fulfillment by each 
State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a 
manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal 
treatment with respect to all Member States. The review shall 
be a cooperative mechanism based on an interactive dialogue 
with the full involvement of the country concerned and with 
consideration given to its capacity-building needs.  Such a 
mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the work of 
treaty-bodies. The Council shall develop the modalities and 
necessary time allocation of the universal periodic review 
mechanism within one year after the holding of its first 
session. 
f)    contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, towards 
the prevention of human rights violations and respond 
promptly to human rights emergencies, 
g)    assume the role and responsibilities of the Commission 
on Human Rights relating to the work of the Office of the 
High Commissioner for Human Rights, as decided by the General 
Assembly in its resolution 48/141, 
h)    work in close cooperation in the field of human rights 
with governments, regional organizations, national human 
rights institutions and civil society, 
i)    make recommendations with regard to the promotion and 
protection of human rights, 
j)    submit an annual report to the General Assembly, 
 
OP6   Decides that the Council will assume, review, and where 
necessary improve and rationalize, all mandates, mechanisms, 
functions and responsibilities of the Commission on Human 
Rights, in order to maintain a system of special procedures, 
expert advise and complaint procedure.  The Council shall 
complete this review within one year after the holding of its 
first session. 
 
OP7   Decides that the Human Rights Council shall consist of 
47 Member States which shall be elected directly and 
individually by secret ballots by the majority of the members 
of the General Assembly.  The membership shall be based on 
equitable geographic distribution and seats shall be 
distributed as follows among regional groups:  African Group 
13; Asian Group 13; Eastern European Group 6; GRULAC 8; WEOG 
¶7.  The members of the Council will serve for a period of 
three years and shall not be eligible for immediate 
re-election after two consecutive terms. 
 
OP8   Decides that the membership in the Council shall be 
open to all Member States of the United Nations.  When 
electing members of the Council, Member States shall take 
into account the candidates' contribution to the promotion 
and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges 
and commitments made thereto.  The General Assembly, by a 
two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, may 
suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member 
of the Human Rights Council that commits gross and systematic 
violations of human rights. 
 
OP9   Members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest 
standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, 
fully cooperate with the Council, and be reviewed under the 
universal periodic review mechanism during their term of 
membership. 
 
OP10  The Council shall meet regularly throughout the year 
and schedule not fewer than three sessions per year, 
including a main session, for a total duration of no less 
than ten weeks, and shall be able to hold special sessions 
when needed at the request of a Member of the Council with 
the support of one-third of the membership of the Council. 
 
OP11  Decides that the Council shall apply the rules of 
procedure established for committees of the General Assembly, 
as applicable, unless subsequently otherwise decided by the 
General Assembly or the Council and also decides that the 
participation of and consultation with observers, including 
States that are not members of the Council, specialized 
agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, national 
human rights institutions as well as non governmental 
organizations, shall be based on arrangements, including 
ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, and practices observed by the 
Commission, while ensuring the most effective contribution of 
these entities. 
 
OP12  Decides that the methods of work of the Council shall 
be transparent, fair and impartial and enable genuine 
dialogue, be result-oriented, and allow subsequent follow-up 
discussions to recommendations and their implementation, and 
allow for substantive interaction with special procedures and 
mechanisms. 
 
OP13  Recommends the Economic and Social Council to request 
the Commission on Human Rights to conclude its work at its 
62nd session and to abolish the Commission on 16 June 2006. 
 
OP14  Decides to elect the new members of the Council.  The 
terms of membership shall be staggered and such decision will 
be taken for the first election by the drawing of lots, 
taking into consideration geographical regional distribution. 
 
 
OP15  Decides that the elections of the first members of the 
Council shall take place on 9 May 2006 and that the first 
meeting of the Council shall be convened on 19 June 2006. 
 
OP16  Decides that the Council shall review its work and 
functioning five years after its establishment and report to 
the General Assembly. 
 
BOLTON