Human rights situation in the OT – CHR – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Fifty-seventh session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 1st MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Monday, 19 March 2001, at 10.30 a.m.

Temporary Chairperson : Mr. SIMKHADA (Nepal)

Chairperson : Mr. DESPOUY (Argentina)

CONTENTS

OPENING OF THE SESSION

STATEMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR

HUMAN RIGHTS

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The meeting was called to order at 10.35 a.m.

OPENING OF THE SESSION

1.   The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON declared the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Human Rights open.

2.   He reviewed the highlights of the Commission’s previous session. Two new optional protocols, one on children in armed conflict and the other on the sale of children, had been adopted by the Commission and had entered into force after having been ratified by a large number of States. Three new special representatives and rapporteurs, on human rights defenders, the right to food and the right to housing, had begun working in their respective areas. The past year had also been significant for the adoption of the report of the Working Group on Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Mechanisms of the Commission, and for meetings of the Preparatory Committee for the forthcoming World Conference against Racism and of the four regional preparatory committees. The serious developments in the Middle East, which had prompted the convening of the fifth special session of the Commission to consider the tragic situation in the Palestinian territories, had added to the complexity of the Commission’s work. The three-member human rights Inquiry Mission appointed by him, as Chairperson of the Commission, had visited the region and submitted its report.

3.   He paid a warm tribute to Mrs. Mary Robinson, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for her extraordinary energy and personal commitment, and thanked all colleagues for their support and cooperation. Increased financial and human resources were essential if the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was to be able to cope with its ever-growing workload. His thanks also went to the special rapporteurs, representatives, independent experts and members of the Inquiry Commission for their dedication to the cause of human rights. Lastly, he would point out that the Government of Nepal remained fully committed to the principle of the rule of law.

4.   The situation in the world at the beginning of the third millennium, with so many human beings suffering from extreme poverty, conflict and discrimination, inspired little confidence in human wisdom. In the Middle East, the suffering seemed to be unending. Even Nepal, from where the Buddha had carried his message of universal peace and tolerance, was experiencing a growing cycle of conflict and violence, with many innocent victims.

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STATEMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

9.   Mrs. ROBINSON (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) …

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22.   Three regions to which she had paid particular attention in the course of the past year were the Middle East, and particularly the occupied Palestinian territories, which she had visited in November 2000 and where the efforts of the international community, including those of the Commission, had unfortunately failed to put an end to the hostilities and human rights violations; …

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The meeting rose at 12.40 p.m.