Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace (18-21 February 2013)
The first session of the Open-ended Working Group will take place from 18 to 21 February 2013 in room XVIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, with daily meetings from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.
Mandate
At its 20th session, on 5 July 2012, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 20/15 by which it decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group to meet for 4 working days prior to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council (25 February-22 March 2013) to progressively negotiate a draft United Nations declaration on the right to peace, on the basis of the draft submitted by the Advisory Committee without prejudging relevant past, present and future views and proposals.
Background
In its resolution 8/9, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a workshop on the right of peoples to peace which took place on 15 - 16 December 2009 in Geneva. Several high level experts participated in the workshop. The report of the Office of the High Commissioner on the outcome of the expert workshop (A/HRC/14/38) was presented to the 14th session of the Human Rights Council.
The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 14/3, noted with satisfaction the outcome of the workshop on the right of peoples to peace, and further requested the Advisory Committee in consultation with Member States, civil society, academia and all relevant stakeholders, to prepare a draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace, and to report on progress to the Council at its 17th session.
At its 5th session the Advisory Committee established a drafting group on the draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace.
The drafting group prepared, upon request by the Committee (A/HRC/AC/5/3), a questionnaire to facilitate consultations with Member States, civil society, academia and all relevant stakeholders. The drafting group then submitted a draft progress report on the draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace to the 6th session of the Advisory Committee.
At its 6th session, the Advisory Committee adopted this progress report which was submitted to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its 17th session (A/HRC/17/39 and, A/HRC/17/39/Corr.1). In its resolution 17/16, the Human Rights Council considered this progress report and requested the Advisory Committee to present a draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace and to report to the Council at its 20th session. Additionally, the Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to re-transmit the questionnaire prepared by the Advisory Committee on the issue of the right of peoples to peace, in order to seek the views and comments of Member States, civil society, academia and all relevant stakeholders.
At its 8th session, the Advisory Committee requested the drafting group to finalize its work on the draft declaration on the right of peoples to peace, revised in light of comments received by Member States, civil society, academia and other relevant stakeholders and discussions held at the 7th session of the Advisory Committee, for submission to the 20th session of the Human Rights Council.
At its 20th session, the Human Rights Council considered the report of the Advisory Committee (A/HRC/20/31) and adopted resolution 20/15 by which it decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group as stated in the mandate section.
Participants
The working group is open-ended. This means that all United Nations Member and Observer States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations with ECOSOC consultative status, and other relevant stakeholders may attend public meetings of the working group.
Accreditation
Member States, United Nations specialised agencies, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations wishing to accredit to one or more of the meetings taking place during the same period indicated below, should request accreditation only once and clearly indicate by completing the registration form to which meeting(s) accreditation is being requested:
- 10th session of the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council (18-22 February 2013)
- 1st session of the Working Group on Right to Peace (18- 21 February 2013)
- 22nd session of the Human Rights Council (25 February - 22 March 2013)
The request of accreditation should be addressed to the attention of Ms. Julia Begey and submitted by email to: hrcaccreditation@ohchr.org or by fax: +41 22 917 90 11 (prior to the session) or fax: +41 22 917 04 94 (during the session).
To request additional information on matters related to the Working Group on the Right to Peace, please do not hesitate to contact us at: wgrightpeace@ohchr.org.
Documentation
Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly
- 39/11. Right of peoples to peace
Resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council
- 8/9- Promotion on the right of peoples to peace
- 14/3- Promotion of the right of peoples to peace
- 17/16- Promotion of the right of peoples to peace
- 20/15.-Promotion of the right to peace
Reports considered by the Human Rights Council
- A/HRC/14/38 - Report of the Office of the High Commissioner on the outcome of the expert workshop on the right of peoples to peace
- A/HRC/17/39 - Progress report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the right of peoples to peace
- A/HRC/17/39/Corr.1- Corrigendum
- A/HRC/20/31 - Report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the right of peoples to peace
Pre-session documents
In-session documents
- Report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the right of peoples to peace (A/HRC/20/31)
Post-session documents
Statements made during the first session of the Open-ended Inter-governmental Working Group on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace
18 February 2013
19 February 2013:
20 February 2013: