Seminar on the United Nations Human Rights Council, 26 - 28 July 2006
Organised by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Graduate Institute of International Studies (IUHEI).
Programme:
Wednesday 26 July
8:00 Registration
10:00 Welcome Statements
- Statement from the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations in Geneva
- Statement from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Statement from the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council
11:30 Briefing and Introduction to the Seminar
- Mrs. Bruna Molina Faidutti, Deputy Secretary-General of WFUNA
Lunch
15:00 The Human Rights Council: Its Creation and an Analysis of the First Session
- Mr. Eric Tistounet, Secretary of the Human Rights Council
16:30 The Mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and the UN System for the Protection of Human Rights
- Mrs. Francesca Marotta, Coordinator of the Methodology, Education and Trainging Unit, Research and Right to Development Branch
Thursday 27 July
10:00 Applicable Rules of Procedure for the Human Rights Council
- Mr. Guennadi Lebakine, Deputy Secretary of the Human Rights Council and Secretary of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
11:30 Special Procedures and their Relationship with the Treaty Bodies
- Sir Nigel Rodley, Member of the Human Rights Committee and former Special Rapporteur on the qestion of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Lunch
14:00 The Structure and Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Council
- Mr. Walter Kälin, Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
15:00 Towards a Unified Human Rights Treaty Body Corpus
- Mr. Markus Schmidt, Team Leader, Petitions Unit, Treaties and Council Branch, OHCHR
16:00 The Question of the Sub-Commission and the Complaints Procedure
- Ms. Maria Andrea Echazu, Secretary of the 1503 procedure, OHCHR
Friday 28 July
10:00 The Universal Periodic Review Mechanism
- Mr. Andrew Clapham, International Law Professor at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
11:00 The Contribution of Non-Governmental Organisations to the Human Rights Council (TBC)
- Mr. Wolfgang-Amadeus Bruelhart, Head of the Human Rights Policy Section at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Political Division IV, Human Security
- Mrs. Mariette Grange, Geneva Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch
- Mrs. Laura Dolci-Kanaan, NGO Liaison Officer, OHCHR
- Dr. Theodor Rathgeber, German Forum Human Rights
Lunch
15:00 Conclusion of the Seminar and Distribution of Certificates