This is a summary of yesterday's events at the Sub-Commission, as posted on the Minnesota Advocates website (www.ProjectEleanor.com/2005). A panel on UN reform was held today during the lunch period (that's a photo of the panel to the right). NGOs and governments, including Minnesota Advocates, spoke under the Item 2 debate in the morning, and the Working Group on transnational corporations met in the afternoon.
A discussion panel was held during lunch, cosponsored by CONGO (the Congress of NGOs) and Minnesota Advocates, on UN reform. Speakers included Ms. O'Connor and Mr. Pinheiro from the Sub-Commission, Joseph Rajkumar from Pax Romana, Cecilia Jimenez (human rights consultant), and Penny Parker (Minnesota Advocates). The panel was moderated by Renate Bloem, Director of CONGO.
The so-called revised Draft Outcome Document of the General Assembly had just been released last Friday, in which the new Human Rights Council idea is mentioned, but the Sub-Commission is not mentioned. Many fear this may mean the end of the Sub-Commission. Minnesota Advocates mentioned the draft joint NGO statement that had been discussed last weekend at the NGO Strategy Workshop. Several expressed support for the ideas in the draft NGO statement.
The Sub-Commission itself will also be discussing NGO reform later in its session. Copies of both the Draft Outcome Document and the draft joint NGO statement referred to above are on the UN reform page of this website.
This morning also marked the point when interested NGOs and government observers were able to present their oral statements on country situations. Twenty four NGOs spoke, and three governments (Pakistan, Nigeria and Argentina). Minnesota Advocates presented its statement, as well as the joint NGO statement which had been prepared through consultation with others. A copy of both statements are on the speeches page of this website. Experts will have an opportunity to comment on the NGO statements in the session Thursday morning. In addition any governments so choosing will have a right of reply to the NGO statements.
The working group on transnational corporations met for its first session this afternoon, chaired by Mrs. Warzazi from Morocco (Mr. Guisse, the chair in prior years is not yet present at the Sub-Commission this year). The members continue to debate whether they should continue to exist. Mr. Alfredsson (expert from Iceland) recommended that the 2nd session of the working group scheduled for Friday afternoon not be held, and that the Sub-Commission meet in plenary instead. After some discussion and some nudging from Mrs. Warzazi, the group decided to meet on Friday.
Tomorrow a lunch time program has been scheduled by Minnesota Advocates and Geneva for Human Rights for all interested NGOs to discuss the outcome of the Item 2 debate, and ways to improve NGO participation next year. The meeting will be from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. in Room XXIII. Tomorrow afternoon the Sub-Commission will begin its discussion under item 3 of its agenda (the administration of justice, democracy and the rule of law).
Friday morning there will be another so-called NGO Study Group, this time to discuss the studies and working papers under item 4 of the Agenda. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in Room XXIII, and is cosponsored by CONGO, Minnesota Advocates and Pax Romana.