draft agenda and timetable of the 2nd session out
(7 September 2006) Today, the revised timetable for the second session of the Council was set out by the Secretariat. The agenda is still in the process of being finalised, but this draft version should be able to provide more information for NGOs planning to intervene or monitor the session.
The first week and a half will be devoted to the presentation of the Special Procedures’ reports from the final session of the Commission on Human Rights (ie. all reports submitted in March 2006, please see below).
These reports will be presented in an “interactive dialogue” format, which means that governments and observers will be able to make oral interventions after the presentation of the report. However, based on the lastest news on 10 September, the African Group and several Asian governments are taking up the initiative to prevent NGOs from participating in the interactive dialogue. In order to ensure that this initiative does not receive any support, FORUM-ASIA will be lobbying NGO-friendly Asian governments in the coming few days.
The presentation of Special Procedures’ reports will be followed by reports, studies and other documents prepared by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office (OHCHR). There will also be reports by the working groups on the Universal Periodic Review and the review of Special Procedures, as well as reports and studies of the UN Secretary-General.
Relevant documents:
Click here to download the tentative agenda (as of 7 September)
Click here to download the Special Procedures’ reports that will be presented at this session, as well as “countries of concern” identified by them (as of 6 September- currently under review)
Click here for the draft modalities and time management for the second session
Click here for the names and list of country Special Rapporteurs
Click here for the names and list of thematic Special Rapporteurs