11th Human Rights Council regular session, fact-finding mission to Gaza – UNOG press briefing (1 May 2009) – Press release (excerpts)

REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

29 May 2009

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Rolando Gomez of the Human Rights Council said the eleventh regular session of the Human Rights Council will be held in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, Room XX, from 2 to 18 June. It has a very busy schedule, which was outlined in the background press release and the draft programme of work which had been sent to journalists, including the review of more than 13 reports from its Special Procedures. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will present a progress report to the Council on Wednesday, 3 June in the afternoon.

Mr. Gomez said there will be three panel discussions, on women’s human rights, on the arrangements and modalities of panels organized by the Human Rights Council, and on human rights and climate change. The Council will also consider the final outcome of the Universal Periodic Review for Germany, Djibouti, Canada, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federation, Senegal, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Mauritius, Jordan and Malaysia.

Other issues to be discussed included follow-up to the Special Session held on the Gaza Strip in January and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan.

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Asked about the fact-finding mission to be going to Gaza, Mr. Gomez recalled that Justice Goldstone had chosen to handle his own communications on this point. The mission was leaving over the weekend and would be in the region next week. In response to another question, he said Justice Goldstone had said he had written repeatedly to the Israeli Government and he hoped to receive a positive response.

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