During what was a typically busy March session at the Human Rights Council (HRC), the UN’s principal human rights body adopted two decisions, two Presidential statements and 35 resolutions.
Each year the Council holds three regular sessions, in March, June and September. Additional or ‘special’ sessions are convened to deal with urgent matters, such as the situation in Syria, which was the focus of four special sessions between 2011-12.
This session dealt with a wide range of country situations and thematic issues, reflecting the breadth of the Council’s current work. Below is a brief overview of some the outcomes:
Country situations
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka dominated proceedings as the HRC debated a US-led resolution which called on the Sri Lankan government to “initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity and accountability, and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans”, in relation to the civil war which ended in 2009. This was adopted by 25 votes in favour, 13 votes against and 8 abstentions.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
In a landmark decision, the HRC adopted without a vote a resolution which established a Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It also extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur by one year. The resolution noted in particular the ongoing use of “torture and labour camps against political prisoners”.
Syria
The HRC extended the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria by another year. The Chair of the Commission provided the HRC with an update on the situation in Syria, which he described as “a destructive stalemate”.
Iran
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran was extended by a year and the HRC requested that the government of Iran cooperate fully with the investigations. The Special Rapporteur raised reports that five Kurdish prisoners have been charged with “contacting the office of the Special Rapporteur”.
Mali
Under agenda item 10, which reviews items concerning technical assistance and capacity-building, the HRC established a mandate for an independent expert on the situation in Mali, with a view to assisting the Mali government in its own human rights efforts.
Thematic issues
Death penalty
The HRC considered the death penalty for the first time in its history, passing a resolution on the human rights of children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed, and agreeing to hold a high-level panel discussion on “the question of the death penalty” at its 25th session.
Human rights defenders
The issue of protecting human rights defenders was also debated. The resolution, put forward by Norway, was adopted by consensus, and calls on states to remove any legislation aimed at interfering with or criminalising the vital work of human rights defenders on the ground.
Prevention of genocide
In a resolution on the prevention of genocide, the HRC decided to arrange a high-level panel on the issue at its 25th session. Adama Dieng, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, will also be invited to take part in an interactive dialogue at the session.
Universal Periodic Review
The UK co-sponsored a resolution on the engagement of Parliaments with the Universal Periodic Review process (the mechanism of the HRC which reviews the human rights record of each UN member state every four years). The HRC agreed to hold a panel on the issue at its next session. UNA-UK called for greater oversight of this process by the UK Parliament in 2012.
