EU Speaking Points - Human Rights Council

European Union speaking points for the Informal Consultations of the United Nations Plenary on the Human Rights Council, New York

• The European Union welcomes the early resumption of consultations on the Human Rights Council.
  
  
• During the last rounds of consultations we managed to narrow down our differences. It is time now to find common ground on the outstanding issues that you have identified in order to come to an agreement soon. We need to have clarity well before the next session of the Commission on Human Rights in order to be clear on how best to prepare transitional arrangements. The EU is prepared to work hard in the coming days and weeks.
  
  
• We believe that the Co-chair's text of 19 December forms a useful basis for our consultations, but still requires some strengthening. We support the proposed way forward to continue consultations by focusing in the first round on the parts of the text in bold. We must now discuss in a spirit of constructive flexibility and show resolve to strengthen the human rights machinery, as mandated by our Heads of State and Government.
  
  
• Our aim is to establish a Human Rights Council which is an effective and efficient body, covering all human rights issues and making genuine contributions to promoting and protecting human rights.
  
  
• We wish to recall the EU position on the outstanding issues in bold, while reminding that the EU considers some elements indispensable that need to be contained the resolution establishing the Human Rights Council, which have been stated on previous occasions. On op6 the EU can accept a Council of equal or smaller size compared to the Commission. We believe that election to membership should require a two-thirds majority and be based on the solid contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights. Due regard should be given to equitable geographic distribution. We also believe that membership in the Council requires genuine and continued commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. On op 7 the EU supports voluntary pledges and commitments to advance human rights, no clean slates and remains open to consideration of having disqualifiers for membership.
  
  
• Worldwide human rights violations occur all year round. The Council therefore needs to be of a standing nature and be able to meet throughout the year in order to have the ability to deal adequately with human rights issues as they arise. To fulfil its mandate and functions in an effective and efficient manner the EU believes that it should meet in regular sessions no less than 12 weeks per year and not less than in 6 meetings per year in addition to which it should be able to meet in special sessions as need arises.
  
  
• We believe that the Council must give equal treatment to all human rights and to all states. The EU wants to move away from the atmosphere that has prevailed at the Commission. But, if we are to see the Council's discussions translated into improvements in the situation of human rights, it must be able to examine progress on implementation - both on a thematic level and on the level of us Member States. Without implementation of established standards on the ground, the Council will not be a relevant body - within or outside the UN system. This will affect the relevance of the UN as a whole.
  
  
• The EU believes that the Council should promote dialogue and cooperation as a basic tool to assist states in improving implementation of all human rights. But the Council cannot shirk its responsibilities to address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, wherever they occur and as they occur or in situations where there is no genuine willingness to engage in a dialogue. This need not be contrary to the spirit of cooperation. In this context the EU can not support op 13. This resolution should not set differing standards for the work of the Council in the consideration of any human rights issue.
  
  
• Let me also reiterate the importance the EU attaches to a strong participation by NGOs. The Council needs to maintain and build on the arrangements and practices established in the Commission on Human Rights, with scope for improved dialogue and interaction.
  
  
  • Ref: PRES06-002EN
  • EU source: EU Presidency
  • UN forum: General Assembly (including Special Sessions)
  • Date: 11/1/2006

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• EU Council Conclusions on the 2nd Session of the Human Rights Council (15/9/2006)
• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the final session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (27/3/2006)
• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the case of Mr Iskandarov in Tajikistan. (22/3/2006)
• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council (16/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council, Explanation of Vote (15/3/2006)
• EUHR Solana welcomes today's adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly establishing a Human Rights Council (15/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee: Budgetary Implications for the Human Rights Council - Programme and Budgetary Implications (PBI) (6/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council  (6/2/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council: Working Methods, Rules of Procedure, Transition (1/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council: Status, Size, Composition and Membership (24/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council: Mandate and Function (18/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Rights Council  (11/10/2005)