Pax Romana meets Ms. Louise Harbour, the High Commissioner on Human Rights

This week the 1st Session of Human Rights Council has concluded its Inaugural Session which include the High Level Segment. The general issues mentioned by the speeches of the dignitaries of the HLS included:

• Endorsement of the adoption of the draft Declaration on the Indigenous Peoples
• Endorsement of the adoption of the draft Convention on the Enforced on Involuntary Disappearance
• Universal Period Review as a new and critical mechanism in the HR Council.
• The programme of work of the Council.
• The nature of the dialogue, capacity building, cooperation and technical assistance on human rights.

One of the notorious achievements of this session is the involvement of the representation of the NGO and Civil Society in the Inaugural Session, right after the High Level Segment. Pax Romana together with some key international NGOs responded the invitation from Ambassador De Alba, the President of the Human Rights Council, to select 5 NGOs and Civil Society representation. Finally, four speakers were selected with the wide consultation with NGOs. They were:

1. Mr. Arnold Tsunga, from Zimbabwe
2. Ms. Natasa Kandic, from Serbia
3. Ms. Sunila Abeysekera, from Sri Lanka
4. Ms. Marta Vasquez, from Argentina.

We were also expecting Ms. Shirin Ebadi, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner, whom finally could not come to Geneva for work reason. They addressed the Council on June 22nd, 2006. The Council very warmly welcomed their statements, and the President of the Council concluded with a minute of silence for the victims of the human rights violations. Please see in the attachment their speeches.

In the evening of June 22nd, 2006, the four NGOs/CS speakers together with the key NGOs were invited to have a private meeting with Ms. Louise Harbour, the High Commissioner on Human Rights in her office. We had the discussion on issues related to the Council. Pax Romana has specifically addressed on the negotiation on Universal Periodic Review, in which a wider involvement of NGOs and Civil Society should be assured, both in the negotiation of its modality as well as in the future implementation.

Today, June 23rd, 2006, the Council start its deliberation on its agenda. The Council is considering the report of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and exchanging views with the Special Procedures, the Sub-Commission on Human Rights and Human Rights Treaty Bodies.

Shall you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Budi Tjahjono
Programme Coordinator
Pax Romana ICMICA/MIIC
15 rue du Grand Bureau, CP 374
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 823 0707
Fax: +41 22 823 0708
budi@paxromana.int.ch