NEW YORK, 28 August (Department of Political Affairs) — The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene the United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace at the European Parliament premises in Brussels on 30 and 31 August 2007.  Its theme is “Civil society and parliamentarians working together for peace in the Middle East”.

The Conference will provide a timely opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground, with particular attention given to the role of elected representatives in advancing the cause of Middle East peace in concert with civil society.  It will build on the results of the previous international conferences, giving civil society representatives and other participants from all regions of the world, and especially from Europe, an opportunity to highlight their work and coordinate their response to the recent developments.  It is envisaged that a plan of action will be adopted by civil society participants at the close of the Conference.

The opening session will be held on Thursday, 30 August, at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room PHS 03C050.  Statements are expected to be made by Angela Kane, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Paul Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Leila Shahid, General Delegate of Palestine to Belgium and the European Union and Representative of Palestine; and Pierre Galand, Chairman of the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) and Representative of the International Coordinating Network for Palestine (ICNP).  The opening session will be followed by a plenary session during which experts will make presentations followed by a discussion period.  In two rounds of workshops, non-governmental organization representatives will discuss civil society actions, plans and concerns.  The proceedings and conclusions of the workshops will be summarized in the second plenary session.  The official languages of the Conference will be English and French.  Documentation will be available, to the extent possible, in these languages.

Plenary session I, “The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and civil society response” will begin in the morning of Thursday, 30 August 2007, at 11.15 a.m. in Conference Room PHS 03C050.  The session will assess the impact of the occupation on the situation on the ground, and discuss humanitarian emergency and action by the international community, as well as action by civil society organizations working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Speakers will include:  Waseem Khazmo, Communications Advisor at the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization; Danny Rubinstein, Editorial Board Member of Ha’aretz; Clare Short, Member of the British Parliament for Birmingham (Ladywood Party); Nadia Hilou, Member of Knesset (Labour – Meimad); Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), and Raymond Dolphin, Consultant on access issues for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The first round of workshops will take place in Conference Rooms PHS 03C050, ASP 03G002 and ASP 03C003 from 3.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Workshop I (Conference Room ASP 03G002) will reflect on action taken by civil society in connection with the fortieth anniversary of the occupation and consider how to build on it and to move forward.  The workshop will also look into ways to connect civil action related to Israeli-Palestinian conflict with worldwide peace and social movements.  Resource persons will include:  Jamal Juma, Coordinator of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign; Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, Coordinator at the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions; Doris Musalem, Professor at the University Autonoma Metropolitana of Mexico; Na’eem Jeenah, Spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Committee of South Africa and President of the Muslim Youth Movement; and Betty Hunter, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in London.

Workshop II (Conference Room PHS 03C050) will discuss the role of parliaments and parliamentarians, mainstream parties and movements, elected local officials and trade unionists in promoting just and lasting peace in the Middle East and ways to engage them in civil action movement towards that end.  Resource persons will include:  Pierre Galand, Chairman of the ECCP; Jordi Pedret, Member of the Spanish Parliament; Nadia Hilou, Member of Knesset (Labour – Meimad); Bassam Al-Salhi, General Secretary of the Palestinian People’s Party and PLC Member; Carlos Carnero González, Member of the European Parliament, and Christopher Doyle, Director of the  Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding.

Workshop III (Conference Room ASP 03G003) will be dedicated to campaigns to uphold international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the construction of the wall.  Resource persons will include:  Andreas van Agt, Professor and former Prime Minister of The Netherlands; Abdullah Abdullah, PLC Member; Sayyeda Salam, Coordinator of One Voice Movement in London; and Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in the Gaza Strip (PCHR).

The second round of workshops will take place on Friday, 31 August, from 10.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Workshop IV (Conference Room ASP 03G003) will consider European contribution to international peace efforts and ways to enhance it, including in connection with the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008.  Resource persons will include:  Richard Kuper, Spokesperson for European Jews for a Just Peace; Abdelaziz Aboughosh, Ambassador of Palestine to Malaysia; and Eoin Murray, Coordinator at Trócaire (CARITAS).

Workshop V (Conference Room PHS 03C050) will discuss ways to strengthen campaigns to end the occupation, in particular grassroots campaigns against the wall, rallying around Bil’in, and campaigns to realize the inalienable rights ofthe Palestinian people, including the right of return.  Resource persons will include:  Phyllis Bennis, ICNP Co-Chair and Director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies; Mohammed Khatib, Principal organizer of the village of Bil’in; Arlene Clemesha, Professor of Arab Culture at the University of Săo Paulo and Director of International Relations at the Institute for Arab Culture; Victor Makari, Coordinator at the Office for the Middle East and Asia Minor of the Presbyterian Church (USA); Muhammad Jaradat, Coordinator at the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights; and Tobias Schnebli, Member of Collectif Urgence Palestine.

Workshop VI (Conference Room ASP 03G002) will be dedicated to empowering women and women’s organizations with a view for them to play a decisive role in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace.  Resource persons will include:  Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Wafa’ Abdel Rahman, Founder and Director of the Filastiniyat Organization and Member of the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian Peace; Sari Bashi, Director of Gisha – Center for the Legal Protection of Freedom of Movement; Ivonne Mansbach, Member of Machsom Watch; and Ghada Zughayar, Assistant to the General Director for External Relations at the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees.

Plenary II (Conference Room PHS 03C050), “Civil society support for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, will hear reports from the workshops and discuss the role and strategies of the ICNP.  The plan of action will be discussed and adopted.  Speakers will include:  Mustafa Barghouti, President of the Palestinian National Initiative and PLC Member; Raji Sourani, PCHR Director; Jennifer Loewenstein, Board Member of the Israeli Committee against Home Demolitions and Associate Director of the Middle East Studies Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Michael Warschawski, Founder and Director of the Alternative Information Center in Jerusalem.

The closing session of the Conference will take place on Friday, 31 August 2007, at 5.30 p.m. in Conference Room PHS 03C050.  Statements are expected to be made by Na’eem Jeenah, ICNP Co Chair; Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations and Representative of Palestine, and Paul Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

The report of the Conference will be issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat.

Invitations to participate in the Conference have been sent to civil society organizations on the mailing list of the Division for Palestinian Rights.  Governments, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies, as well as media, have been invited to attend as observers.  To date, more than one hundred non-governmental organizations registered with the secretariat, as did 35 governments.  Members of the European Parliament are expected to participate in all sessions.

Registered participants are requested to obtain badges from the Secretariat at the registration desk set up at the main entrance to the European Parliament’s Paul Henri Spaak building, rue Wiertz/Wiertzstraat, 60.  The Secretariat can be reached at tel. (02) 283-1703 or 283-1732, fax (02) 283-1607, and email unconf@europarl.europa.eu or dpr-meeting@un.org.

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Excerpt from UN Human Rights Council President’s Text, 17 June 2007

Agenda and Framework for the Program of Work

I. Principles

o Universality
o Impartiality
o Objectivity
o Non-selectiveness
o Constructive dialogue and co-operation
o Predictability
o Flexibility
o Transparency
o Accountability
o Balance
o Inclusive/comprehensive
o Implementation and follow-up of decisions

II. Agenda

Item 1   Organizational and procedural matters.

Item 2   Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the OHCHR and the Secretary General.

Item 3   Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

Item 4   Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention.

Item 5   Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms.

Item 6   Universal Periodic Review.

Item 7   Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.

Item 8   Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

Item 9   Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Item 10   Technical assistance and capacity building.

III. Framework for the Program of Work

Item 1: Organizational and procedural matters:

o Election of the Bureau.
o Adoption of the annual programme of work.
o Adoption of the programme of work of the session.
o Selection and appointment of mandate-holders.
o Election of members of the HRC Advisory Committee.
o Adoption of the report of the session.
o Adoption of the Annual Report.

Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary General.

o Presentation of the annual report and updates.

Item 3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

o Economic, social and cultural rights.
o Civil and political rights.
o Rights of peoples, and specific groups and individuals.
o Right to development.
o Interrelation of human rights and human rights thematic issues.

Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention. Item 5: Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms:

o Report of the Advisory Committee.
o Report of the Complaint procedure.

Item 6: Universal Periodic Review.

Item 7: Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories:

o Human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.
o Right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Item 8: Follow-up and implementation of Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

Item 9: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Item 10: Technical assistance and capacity building.

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A/RES/60/251
15 March 2006

Sixtieth session
Agenda item 46 and 120

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly

60/251. Human Rights Council

The General Assembly,

     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,

     Reaffirming also 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,

     Reaffirming further 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,

     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,

     Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter, to respect huinan rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

     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,

     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,

     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,

     Recognizing also the importance of ensuring universality, objectivity, and nonselectivity in the consideration of human rights issues, and the elimination of double standards and politicization,

     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,

     Acknowledging that non-governmental organizations play an important role, at the national, regional and international level, in the promotion and protection of human rights,

     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.

     1.     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.

     2.     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.

     3.     Also 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.

     4.     Further 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.

     5.     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 481/141,

     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,

     6.     Decides also 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.

     7.     Decides further 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.

     8.     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.

     9.     Decides also that 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.

     10.     Decides further that 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.

     11.     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.

     12.     Decides also that the methods of work of the Council shall be transparent, fair and impartial and enable genuine dialogue, be result-oriented, and allow subsequent followup discussions to recommendations and their implementation, and allow for substantive interaction with special procedures and mechanisms.

     13.     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.

     14.     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.

     15.     Decides also 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.

     16.     Decides further that the Council shall review its work and functioning five years after its establishment and report to the General Assembly.

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