Advisory Committee - Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights
The Human Rights Council at its nineteenth session, took note of the study of the Advisory Committee on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights (A/HRC/19/74) mandated pursuant to Council resolution 13/23.
The Council also requested the Office of the High Commissioner to organize a seminar on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, with the participation of States, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and other stakeholders, including academic experts and civil society, in addition to a member of the Advisory Committee. The seminar will build upon the study prepared by the Advisory Committee, including the recommendations contained therein.
The Seminar will take place on 15 February 2012. OHCHR has been tasked to prepare a summary of the seminar, which will be submitted to the 22nd session of the Council.
Background:
Council resolution 13/23 requested “the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to explore ways and means to enhance cooperation in the field of human rights”, to facilitate exchanges of information and best practices in this regard, taking into account the “views” of “States and relevant stakeholders”, and to submit proposals to the Council at its nineteenth session.
At its fifth session, the Advisory Committee set up a drafting group, with Mr. Chen, Mr. Decaux (Rapporteur), Mr. Hüseynov, Mr. Kartashkin, Ms. Quisumbing, Mr. Seetulsingh (Chairperson) and Ms. Warzazi tasked with undertaking preparatory work on the issue (Advisory Committee recommendation 5/4). Ms. Boisson de Chazournes was subsequently appointed to replace Mr. Decaux as Rapporeur as his mandate came to an end.
At its sixth session, the Advisory Committee considered a preliminary working paper (A/HRC/AC/6/CRP.4), which attempted to clarify the legal basis for international cooperation in the field of human rights and discuss the key issues that revolve around the dialectic between the two concepts.
At its seventh session, the Advisory Committee discussed the progress report (A/HRC/AC/7/2) and prepared a questionnaire to seek further views from States and relevant stakeholders (Advisory Committee recommendation 6/4).
At its eighth session, the Advisory Committee considered the responses to the questionnaire [about 10 responses had been received from States and NGOs] and the final report (A/HRC/AC/8/3), and submitted the revised version to the Human Rights Council at its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/74).