The Sub-Commission met in closed session this morning, to discuss its workplan and confer with the Expanded Bureau of its parent body, the Commission on Human Rights. The afternoon session was spent primarily on the two working papers under item 1, with experts and NGOs contributing to the interactive dialogue. Item 2 was begun, but only one NGO speaker took the floor before the close of the day. Tomorrow morning item 2 will continue, with 25 NGO speakers and three governments (Pakistan, Nigeria and Argentina) scheduled to speak.
That's a photo on the right of a portion of the workplan for the three week session which the Sub-Commission released this afternoon and is summarized below in these notes.
Mrs. Hampson had presented her paper on Monday, concerning ways to enhance the discussion of country violations under item 2 of the Sub-Commission's agenda. Minnesota Advocates contributed to the interactive dialogue on Mrs. Hampson's paper by presenting the views of the NGOs who attended the open workshop last weekend on NGO strategies. A copy of this statement is included in the speeches page of this website. A healthy debate ensued with comments from Mr. Chen (expert from China), Mr. Salama (expert from Egypt), Mr. Rivkin (expert from the US), Mrs. Chung (expert from South Korea), Mr. Decaux (expert from France), Mr. Sattar (expert from Pakistan), Mrs. Motoc (expert from Romania), and Mr. Tunon (expert from Panama). Most speakers favored some of Mrs. Hampson's ideas and supported preserving item 2 on the agenda particularly for the purpose of evaluating gaps and trends in human rights problems.
Mr. Decaux then presented his paper on the working methods of the Sub-Commission, in particular in the selection, preparation and evaluation of studies and working papers. Again NGOs participated in this debate, with Joseph Rajkumar of Pax Romana presenting the joint NGO views from this weekend's NGO strategy workshop. A copy of this NGO statement is also included on the speeches page of this website.
The debate over Mr. Decaux's paper also seemed to go well, with several members expressing support for the idea of a more strategic, long term view of study selection and preparation, including more interaction with treaty bodies and other UN bodies with whom Sub-Commission research may be helpful. A list has recently been completed by the Secretariat of most or all of the historical studies issued by the Sub-Commission. It is hoped that the studies list will soon be available publicly, and may be used to plan a roadmap of future studies of the Sub-Commission, including an update of important prior studies where deemed appropriate.
Discussion under item 2 of the agenda got underway just at the end the afternoon. This agenda item focusses on human rights violations in country situations anywhere in the world. The Sub-Commission is not able to adopt country specific resolutions anymore under this agenda item and has been struggling to set a new framework for its discussions under this item. Mrs. Hampson's paper discussed above under item 1, suggests some new ideas hopefully some of which will be implemented by the Sub-Commission this year and next.
Based on the current timetable, we expect that Minnesota Advocates and most of the other NGOs who have signed up to speak under this agenda item will do so either tomorrow morning, or at the next plenary session on Thursday morning.
[The photo to the left shows a portion of the quiet walk along Vie des Champs which one takes if walking from the Foyer John Knox to the UN complex.]
The Sub-Commission has decided to take up the agenda items in their actual numerical order this year, which means item 3 on administration of justice will begin Thursday, item 4 on economic, social & cultural rights on Tuesday, August 2nd, item 5 on discrimination by Thursday next week (August 4th), and item 6 (specific issues, including Barb Frey's study on small arms and light weapons) on Friday, August 5th.
There are also three working groups that will be meeting during the Sub-Commission session this year. The working group on administration of justice met yesterday, Monday. The working group on transnational corporations will meet Wednesday afternoon (July 27th). Then both of these groups will meet concurrently in different rooms on Friday afternoon (July 29th). The third working group, on counter-terrorism, is scheduled to meet Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons next week (August 2nd and 3rd).
Swiss Confederation day will be celebrated on Monday, August 1st. Since it is an official holiday, no Sub-Commission meetings will be held.