The UN Human Rights Council has recently concluded its 24th regular session, the last to be held in 2013.
As is usual, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, opened the session with a comprehensive update on global human rights issues. Her statement, which focussed heavily on the deteriorating situation in Syria, can be read here.
In total, 40 resolutions were adopted covering a range of issues, from the rights of older persons to the impact of arms transfers on human rights in armed conflict. Please see below for a summary of the outcomes.
Accountability in Sri Lanka
The High Commissioner presented to the Council a report on her recent week-long visit to Sri Lanka. During her visit, Ms Pillay met with the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and other government representatives, as well as members of civil society, including those based in former war zones in the north of the country.
Despite some notable achievements, Ms Pillay lamented the lack of progress in implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. In addition, a number of human rights concerns, such as the impact of the considerable continuing military presence in the north, which, if not addressed, "may sow the seeds of future discord".
Two new independent experts established
Members of the Council unanimously adopted resolutions establishing two new independent experts: a thematic mandate for an independent expert on the rights of older persons, and a country-specific mandate establishing an independent expert on the Central African Republic.
Speaking at the Council, the Central African Republic was supportive of the new mandate given the ongoing instability and huge human rights challenges currently facing the country. The independent expert on the rights of older persons will be asked to assess the extent to which current international instruments protecting the rights of older persons are implemented.
Protection of civil society and human rights defenders
In response to a worrying crackdown on civil society groups and non-governmental organisations in a number of countries in recent months, the Council adopted a resolution on the protection of civil society. The resolution stated that members were "[d]eeply concerned that, in some instances, domestic legal and administrative provisions... have been misused to hinder the work and endanger the safety of civil society in a manner contrary to international law".
The Council also passed a resolution on the issue of intimidation or reprisals against individuals and groups who cooperate with the UN and its human rights mechanisms. This robust resolution calls on the UN Secretary-General to create a senior-level UN focal point whose mandate will be to coordinate the tackling of this issue.
Commission of Inquiry on North Korea
An interactive dialogue was held with the Commission of Inquiry on North Korea. The Commission was established by the Council in its March session earlier this year to investigate the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights taking place in North Korea. Hearings have so far been held in South Korea and Japan, as the North Korean government has yet to respond to the Commission's formal request for a visit.
Council members were informed of testimony that included reports of torture, imprisonment, forcible repatriation, sexual violence, inhumane treatment, arbitrary detention, abductions, starvation, and guilt by association. The Commission stated that these reports represented large-scale patterns in the country. The North Korean delegation to the Council denied the reports calling them a fabrication.
Technical assistance
Under Agenda Item 10 on technical assistance and capacity-building, a number of countries of concern were discussed:
- DR Congo, which receives technical assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner, was urged to address the ongoing issue of impunity in its justice sector
- Yemen, which also receives technical assistance, was urged to address a number of human rights concerns, including abitrary detention, the recruitment of child soldiers and the use of the death penalty for minors
- independent expert mandates were extended for Cambodia, Somalia, Sudan
