The Solidarity Action for People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on the UN Human Rights held its 3rd Regional Consultation in Bangkok on 31 January. During this consultation, the working group discussed the events and developments at the UN Human Rights Council that have transpired in the last few months.

(Bangkok) On 31 January, the Solidarity Action for People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on the UN Human Rights held its 3rd Regional Consultation in Bangkok, Thailand. During this consultation, the working group discussed the events and developments at the UN Human Rights Council that have transpired during the last few months after the last regional consultation on 30 July 2007.

Members of the working group from the India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines and South Korea, reported on their activities in preparation for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). They also shared the stakeholders’ reports that they have submitted to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the UPR.

During the consultation, the working group also discussed strategies to be undertaken for the numerous events happening at the UN Human Rights Council this year. The group deliberated on actions to be taken for the elections of new members of the Human Rights Council, as well as lobbying strategies for the appointment of the members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (HRCAC). There were also discussions on how to engage with the Human Rights Council during the review of the mandates of Special Procedures.

At the end of the consultation, the group reviewed the 2007 Bangkok Action Points and identified the points thereon that were implemented, and those that still need to be further developed and acted on.

The outcome of the consultation was the 2008 Bangkok Action Points. The following are some of the key issues laid out in the 2008 Bangkok Action Points.

• With respect to the UPR, the working group resolved to monitor this process and work to ensure its effectiveness in promoting and protecting human rights at the national level. The group also resolved to urge the governments to hold broad and inclusive civil society consultations prior to their drafting of the country report. The OHCHR is also urged to give due consideration to those stakeholders’ reports, which are products of consultative processes by coalitions of NGOs.
• On the elections of new members of the UN Human Rights Council, the working group resolved to urge more Asian governments to participate in this process and to review the implementation of the pledges made by those countries which have declared their candidacy for this year’s elections. Furthermore, the group will also continue urging states, especially those running for elections this year, to ratify key human rights instruments, remove reservations thereon, and to submit timely reports to treaty bodies. The working group will also be developing indicators that will be used for future campaigns on the membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
• The working group welcomed the nominations made by FORUM-ASIA of the six human rights experts as Special Procedures mandate holders. The group will also seek to ensure that the future mandate holder on human rights defenders would have as a priority gender concerns and issues of women human rights defenders. Also, the group resolved to urge the Human Rights Council to retain and strengthen country-specific mandates on Burma, Cambodia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and likewise urge all Asian members of the Council to issue standing invitations to all thematic Special Procedures.
• As to the Durban Review Conference (DRC) 2009, the working group resolved to reaffirm the action plans it has made during the last regional consultation. This includes the development of a stock-taking tool regarding the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), as well as the development of an action-oriented agenda to enable civil society organisations to actively participate in the DRC process.

The consultation ended with the members of the working group promising to continue sharing their action plans in engaging with the UN Human Rights Council during its 7th and 8th sessions. The next regional consultation was set to be on the 27th of June 2008.