Report of the Human Rights Council

Transcription

1 United Nations Report of the Human Rights Council Nineteenth session (27 February 23 March 2012) Twentieth session (18 June 6 July 2012) Nineteenth special session (1 June 2012) General Assembly Official Records Sixty-seventh session Supplement No. 53 (A/67/53)

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3 General Assembly Official Records Sixty-seventh session Supplement No. 53 (A/67/53) Report of the Human Rights Council Nineteenth session (27 February 23 March 2012) Twentieth session (18 June 6 July 2012) Nineteenth special session (1 June 2012) United Nations New York, 2012

4 Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in the present publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * *

5 Contents Chapter Checklist of resolutions, decisions and President s statements... iv I. Introduction... 1 II. Resolutions brought to the attention of the General Assembly for its consideration and possible action... 2 III. Nineteenth session A. Resolutions B. Decisions C. President s statements IV. Twentieth session A. Resolutions B. President s statement V. Nineteenth special session Index of topics considered by the Human Rights Council in its resolutions, decisions and the President s statements Page GE (E) iii

6 Checklist of resolutions, decisions and President s statements A. Resolutions Resolution Title Date of adoption Page 19/1 The escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic 19/2 Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka 19/3 Composition of staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 19/4 Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living in the context of disaster settings 19/5 Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights 1 March March March March March /6 Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights 22 March /7 The right to food 22 March /8 Freedom of religion or belief 22 March /9 Birth registration and the right of everyone to recognition everywhere as a person before the law 22 March /10 Human rights and the environment 22 March /11 Rights of persons with disabilities: participation in political and public life 19/12 Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 19/13 The situation of human rights in the Democratic People s Republic of Korea 22 March March March /14 Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan 22 March /15 Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination 22 March /16 Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem 19/17 Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan 19/18 Follow-up to the report of the United Nations Fact- Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict 22 March March March iv GE

7 Resolution Title Date of adoption Page 19/19 Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism 19/20 The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights 23 March March /21 Situation of human rights in Myanmar 23 March /22 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic 23 March /23 Forum on Minority Issues 23 March /24 The Social Forum 23 March /25 Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief 19/26 Terms of reference for the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council 19/27 The human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the strengthening of technical cooperation and advisory services 23 March March March /28 Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights 23 March /29 Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights 19/30 Strengthening of technical cooperation and consultative services in Guinea 23 March March /31 Integrity of the judicial system 23 March /32 Human rights and unilateral coercive measures 23 March /33 Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights 23 March /34 The right to development 23 March /35 The promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests 23 March /36 Human rights, democracy and the rule of law 23 March /37 Rights of the child 23 March GE v

8 Resolution Title Date of adoption Page 19/38 The negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and the importance of improving international cooperation 23 March /39 Assistance for Libya in the field of human rights 23 March /1 Trafficking in persons, especially women and children: access to effective remedies for trafficked persons and their right to an effective remedy for human rights violations 5 July /2 Conscientious objection to military service 5 July /3 Human rights of migrants 5 July /4 The right to a nationality: women and children 5 July /5 Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality 5 July /6 Elimination of discrimination against women 5 July /7 The right to education: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 8/4 20/8 The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet 5 July July /9 Human rights of internally displaced persons 5 July /10 The effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights 20/11 Promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity 20/12 Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: remedies for women who have been subjected to violence 5 July July July /13 Situation of human rights in Belarus 5 July /14 National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights 5 July /15 Promotion of the right to peace 5 July /16 Arbitrary detention 6 July /17 Human rights situation in Mali 6 July /18 Nelson Mandela International Day panel 6 July vi GE

9 Resolution Title Date of adoption Page 20/19 Technical assistance to Côte d Ivoire in the field of human rights 6 July /20 Situation of human rights in Eritrea 6 July /21 Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights 6 July /22 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic 6 July S-19/1 The deteriorating situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the recent killings in El- Houleh 1 June GE vii

10 B. Decisions Decision Title Date of adoption Page 19/101 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Tajikistan 19/102 Outcome of the universal periodic review: United Republic of Tanzania 14 March March /103 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Libya 14 March /104 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Swaziland 19/105 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Trinidad and Tobago 19/106 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Thailand 15 March March March /107 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Ireland 15 March /108 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Togo 15 March /109 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Syrian Arab Republic 19/110 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 15 March March /111 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Iceland 15 March /112 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Zimbabwe 19/113 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Lithuania 19/114 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Uganda 19/115 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Timor- Leste 19/116 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Republic of Moldova 15 March March March March March /117 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Haiti 16 March /118 Outcome of the universal periodic review: Antigua and Barbuda 16 March /119 Task force on secretariat services, accessibility for persons with disabilities and use of information technology 22 March viii GE

11 C. President s statements President s statement Title Date of adoption Page PRST/19/1 22 March PRST/19/2 Situation of human rights in Haiti 23 March PRST/20/1 Reports of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review 6 July GE ix

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13 Resolutions, decisions and President s statements adopted by the Human Rights Council at its nineteenth and twentieth sessions and at its nineteenth special session I. Introduction 1. The Human Rights Council held its nineteenth session from 27 February to 23 March 2012 and its twentieth session from 18 June to 6 July The Council held its nineteenth special session on 1 June The reports of the Human Rights Council on each of the above-mentioned sessions have been issued in documents A/HRC/19/2, 1 A/HRC/20/21 and A/HRC/S-19/ To be finalized. GE

14 II. Resolutions brought to the attention of the General Assembly for its consideration and possible action 19/3 Composition of staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights The Human Rights Council, Recalling paragraph 5 (g) of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which the Assembly decided that the Human Rights Council should assume the role and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights relating to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as decided by the Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, Taking note of all relevant resolutions on this issue adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Taking note also of the report of the High Commissioner on the composition of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner, 2 Recalling the reports of the Joint Inspection Unit on the follow-up to the management review of the Office of the High Commissioner 3 and on the funding and staffing of the Office, 4 Bearing in mind that an imbalance in the composition of the staff could diminish the effectiveness of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner if it is perceived to be culturally biased and unrepresentative of the United Nations as a whole, Reiterating its concern that, despite the repeated requests to correct the unbalanced geographical distribution of the staff, the situation remains that one region accounts for almost half of the posts of the Office of the High Commissioner, Reaffirming the importance of continuing ongoing efforts to address the imbalance regarding the regional representation of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner, including in the senior management positions, Underlining that the paramount consideration for employing staff at every level is the need for the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and taking into account Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, expressing its conviction that this objective is compatible with the principle of equitable geographical distribution, Reaffirming that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters, 1. Expresses its serious concern at the fact that, despite the measures taken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the imbalance in the geographical representation of its composition continues to be prominent, and that a single region occupies almost half of the posts of the Office of the High Commissioner; 2 A/HRC/19/24. 3 A/59/65-E/2004/48 and Add.1. 4 JIU/REP/2007/8. 2 GE

15 2. Welcomes the statement made by the High Commissioner in her report that achieving geographical balance in the staff of her Office will remain one of her priorities, and requests the High Commissioner to continue to take all measures needed to redress the current imbalance in geographical distribution of the staff of the Office; 3. Notes the increase in the past four years in the percentage of staff from regions identified as requiring better representation and the various measures proposed and already taken to address the imbalance in geographical distribution of the staff, while noting with concern the small increase in 2011 and no change in the status of the prominent region, and stresses the need to implement additional measures to redress the prominent imbalance in a more expeditious way; 4. Takes note of the progress achieved in improving the geographic diversity of the staff of the Office, and takes note also of the commitment of the High Commissioner to remain attentive to the need to maintain the emphasis on the broadest possible geographic diversity of her Office, as stated in the conclusion of her report; 5. Requests the High Commissioner to work on the broadest geographical diversity of her staff by enhancing the implementation of measures to achieve a better representation of countries and regions that are unrepresented or underrepresented, particularly from the developing world, while considering applying a zero-growth cap on the representation of countries and regions already overrepresented in the Office of the High Commissioner; 6. Welcomes the efforts made towards the achievement of a gender balance in the composition of the staff and the decision to continue to pay special attention to this issue; 7. Requests future High Commissioners to continue to enhance the ongoing efforts made in the fulfilment of the goal of a geographical balance in the composition of the staff of the Office; 8. Underlines the importance of continuing to promote geographical diversity in recruitment and promotion to high-level and Professional posts, including senior managers, as a principle of the staffing policies of the Office of the High Commissioner; 9. Affirms the vital importance of geographical balance in the composition of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner, taking into account the significance of national and regional specificities and various historic, cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as of different political, economic and legal systems, to the promotion and protection of the universality of human rights; 10. Recalls the provisions contained in section X, paragraph 3, of General Assembly resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001, on human resources management, in which the Assembly reiterated its request to the Secretary-General to increase further his efforts to improve the composition of the Secretariat by ensuring a wide and equitable geographical distribution of staff in all departments, and also recalls the request that he submit to the General Assembly proposals for a comprehensive review of the system of desirable ranges, with a view to establishing a more effective tool to ensure equitable geographical distribution in relation to the total number of staff of the Secretariat; 11. Encourages the General Assembly to consider further measures to promote desirable ranges of geographical balance in the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner representing national and regional specificities and various historic, cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as the diversity of political, economic and legal systems; GE

16 12. Welcomes the increase in the human and financial resources allocated to the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner and the impact it should have on the geographic composition of the Office; 13. Recognizes the importance of the follow-up to and implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/159 of 19 December 2006, and underlines the priority importance that the Assembly continue to provide support and guidance to the High Commissioner in the ongoing process of improvement of the geographical balance in the composition of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner; 14. Requests the High Commissioner to submit a comprehensive and updated report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session, in accordance with its annual programme of work, following the structure and scope of her report and with a special focus on further measures taken to correct the imbalance in the geographical composition of the staff of the Office. 52nd meeting 22 March 2012 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 33 to 12, with 2 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay Against: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United States of America Abstaining: Chile, Congo] 19/18 Follow-up to the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict The Human Rights Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution S-9/1, adopted on 12 January 2009, and resolution S-12/1, adopted on 16 October 2010, in follow-up to the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, 5 Recalling also relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolutions 64/10, adopted on 5 November 2009, and 64/254, adopted on 26 February 2010, in follow-up to the report of the Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, Recalling further the relevant rules and principles of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in particular the Geneva 5 A/HRC/12/48. 4 GE

17 Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, which is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the other international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Reaffirming the obligation of all parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, Reiterating the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians, and reaffirming the obligation to ensure the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Stressing the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to prevent impunity, ensure justice, deter further violations and promote peace, Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive, just and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, 1. Reiterates its call upon all concerned parties, including United Nations bodies, to ensure their full and immediate implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, in accordance with their respective mandates; 2. Welcomes the efforts made by the Government of Switzerland, in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to reconvene, as soon as possible, a conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure its respect in accordance with common article 1, bearing in mind the statement adopted on 15 July 1999, as well as the reconvening of the conference and the declaration adopted on 5 December 2001, and recommends that the Government of Switzerland continue to pursue its efforts with the aim of resuming the above-mentioned conference as soon as possible; 3. Recommends that the General Assembly consider launching an urgent discussion on the legality of the use of certain munitions, with the assistance of the relevant international organizations and specialized agencies and interested parties and stakeholders, as recommended by the Fact-Finding Mission in its report; 4. Also recommends that the General Assembly remain apprised of the matter until it is satisfied that appropriate action with regard to implementing the recommendations made by the Fact-Finding Mission in its report has been taken at the domestic or international level to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, and also remain ready to consider whether additional action within its powers is required in the interests of justice; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to present to the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-first session, a comprehensive report on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Fact-Finding Mission, particularly by providing detailed information on non-implementation and the measures required to ensure the most adequate and effective implementation of the recommendations by all parties concerned, including United Nations bodies, in accordance with section B, paragraph 3, of Council resolution S- 12/1; GE

18 6. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit to the Human Rights Council, at its twentieth session, a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to follow up on the implementation of the present resolution at its twentieth session. 53rd meeting 22 March 2012 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 29 to 1, with 17 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda Against: United States of America Abstaining: Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay] 20/14 National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights The Human Rights Council, Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 17/9 of 16 June 2011, as well as relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the most recent of which is resolution 66/169 of 19 December 2011, and those of the Commission on Human Rights concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Welcoming the international recognition of the importance of establishing and strengthening independent, pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights ( the Paris Principles ), Reaffirming the important role that such national institutions play and will continue to play in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, in strengthening participation and the rule of law, and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June l993, which reaffirmed the important and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in preventing and remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights and in education in human rights, Recognizing the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the development of independent and effective national human rights institutions, in accordance with the Paris Principles, and recognizing also in this regard the potential for strengthened and complementary cooperation among the Office of the High Commissioner, the International Coordinating Committee of National 6 GE

19 Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, regional coordinating committees of national institutions and those national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, Noting with interest the twenty-fifth annual meeting of the International Coordinating Committee, held from 20 to 22 March 2012, Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional and cross-regional cooperation among national human rights institutions, and between national human rights institutions and other regional human rights forums, 1. Welcomes the most recent reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the Human Rights Council on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights 6 and on the activities of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles; 7 2. Reaffirms the importance of the establishment and strengthening of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Paris Principles; 3. Recognizes the role of independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in working together with Governments to ensure full respect for human rights at the national level, including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, to the recommendations resulting from the international human rights mechanisms; 4. Welcomes the increasingly important role of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in supporting cooperation between their Governments and the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights; 5. Encourages Member States to establish effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions or, where they already exist, to strengthen them for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and to do so in accordance with the Paris Principles; 6. Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, it is the right of each State to choose the framework for national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 7. Welcomes the growing number of Member States establishing or considering the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Paris Principles, and welcomes in particular the growing number of States that have accepted recommendations to establish national human rights institutions through the universal periodic review and, where relevant, by treaty bodies and special procedures; 8. Also welcomes the growing number of national institutions seeking accreditation status through the International Coordinating Committee, and encourages national institutions, including ombudsman institutions, to seek accreditation status; 9. Further welcomes the important role of the International Coordinating Committee, in close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner 6 A/HRC/20/9. 7 A/HRC/20/10. GE

20 for Human Rights, in assessing conformity with the Paris Principles and in assisting Governments and national institutions, when requested, to strengthen national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles; 10. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles; 11. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international instruments; 12. Recognizes the important role played by national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Human Rights Council, including its universal periodic review mechanism, in both preparation and follow-up, and the special procedures, as well as in the human rights treaty bodies, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/74 of 20 April 2005; 13. Welcomes the strengthening of opportunities to contribute to the work of the Human Rights Council for national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles, as stipulated by the Council review outcome document adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 65/281 of 17 June 2011 and Council decision 19/119 of 22 March 2012, and encourages national human rights institutions to make use of these participatory opportunities; 14. Also welcomes the contribution of national human rights institutions to the ongoing treaty body strengthening process, and encourages national human rights institutions to continue to contribute to the process; 15. Further welcomes the recognition by the Secretary-General of the contributions that national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles have made to the work of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Openended Working Group on Ageing, and supports and welcomes the efforts of the Secretary- General to encourage national human rights institutions to continue to interact with and advocate for independent participation in all relevant United Nations mechanisms in accordance with their respective mandates; 16. Welcomes the endorsement by the General Assembly of the strengthening of opportunities for national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles to contribute to the work of the Human Rights Council in its resolutions 65/281 and 66/169, and recommends that the Assembly explore the feasibility of enabling national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles to participate in the Assembly based on practices and arrangements agreed upon in Assembly resolutions 60/251, Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2, and 16/21 of 25 March 2011, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/74, while ensuring their most effective contribution; 17. Stresses the importance of financial and administrative independence and the stability of national human rights institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, and notes with satisfaction the efforts of those Member States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 18. Commends the high priority given by the Office of the High Commissioner to work with national institutions, including through technical cooperation, and encourages 8 GE

21 the High Commissioner, in view of the expanded activities relating to national institutions, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national human rights institutions, including supporting the work of the International Coordinating Committee and its regional coordinating committees, and invites Governments to contribute additional voluntary funds to that end; 19. Welcomes the efforts made by the High Commissioner to strengthen United Nations system-wide coordination on national human rights institutions, and encourages all United Nations human rights mechanisms, as well as its agencies, funds and programmes, to work within their respective mandates with national human rights institutions; 20. Also welcomes the strengthening of international cooperation among national institutions, including through the International Coordinating Committee, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to provide the assistance necessary for holding international, regional and cross-regional meetings and conferences of national institutions, including meetings of the International Coordinating Committee, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner; 21. Takes note with interest of the Edinburgh Declaration on Business and Human Rights 8 resulting from the tenth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions from 8 to 10 November 2010, and recalls Human Rights Council resolution 17/9, in which the Council welcomed the important role of national human rights institutions established in accordance with the Paris Principles in relation to business and human rights; 22. Welcomes the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions, and notes with appreciation the continuing work of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Americas, the Asia- Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions; 23. Encourages all States and national human rights institutions to continue to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and effective operation of national institutions; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-third session on the activities of the International Coordinating Committee in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. 32nd meeting 5 July 2012 [Adopted without a vote.] 8 A/HRC/17/NI/1, annex. GE

22 III. Nineteenth session A. Resolutions 19/1 The escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic The Human Rights Council, Having held an urgent debate to discuss the escalating grave human rights violations and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular the ongoing human rights violations and use of violence by the Syrian authorities against its population, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 66/176 of 19 December 2011 and 66/253 of 23 February 2012, Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1 of 29 April 2011, S-17/1 of 23 August 2011 and S-18/1 of 2 December 2011, the decisions, initiatives, efforts and measures of the League of Arab States to address all aspects of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, including its resolutions 7444 of 22 January 2012 and 7446 of 12 February 2012, and the final communiqué of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation after its meeting on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, held on 30 November 2011, Welcoming the conclusions of the Chairman of the International Conference of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People of 24 February 2012, 1. Strongly condemns the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, the killing and persecution of protestors, human rights defenders and journalists, including recent deaths of Syrian and foreign journalists, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence and ill-treatment, including against children; 2. Deplores the brutal actions of the Syrian regime over the past 11 months, such as its use of heavy artillery and tanks to attack residential areas of cities and towns, which have led to the death of thousands of innocents civilians, caused widespread destruction, forced tens of thousands of Syrians to flee their homes and created widespread suffering among the Syrian people, resulting in a humanitarian crisis; 3. Expresses strong concern at the humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, including the lack of access to basic food, medicine and fuel, as well as threats to and acts of violence against medical staff, patients and facilities; 4. Reiterates the need to urgently address humanitarian needs, to facilitate the effective delivery of assistance and to ensure safe access to medical treatment; 5. Calls upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against civilians, to cease all violence, to 10 GE

23 allow free and unimpeded access by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to carry out a full assessment of needs in Homs and other areas, and to permit humanitarian agencies to deliver vital relief goods and services to all civilians affected by the violence, especially in Homs, Dar a, Zabadani and other areas under siege by the Syrian security forces; 6. Stresses the importance of ensuring accountability and the need to end impunity and hold to account those responsible for human rights violations, including those violations that may amount to crimes against humanity; 7. Acknowledges the serious and growing burden carried by the neighbours of the Syrian Arab Republic in hosting refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic and committed to provide appropriate support and assistance in this regard; 8. Decides to remain seized of the matter and to take further action on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, including after the forthcoming interactive dialogue with the commission of inquiry. 10th meeting 1 March 2012 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 37 to 3, with 3 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United States of America, Uruguay Against: China, Cuba, Russian Federation Abstaining: Ecuador, India, Philippines] 19/2 Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka The Human Rights Council, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments, Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Council, and 5/2, on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders, of18 June 2007, Reaffirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, as applicable, Taking note of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and its findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Welcoming the constructive recommendations contained in the Commission s report, including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings GE

24 and enforced disappearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re-evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all and enact rule of law reforms, Noting with concern that the report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law, 1. Calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfil its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans; 2. Requests the Government of Sri Lanka to present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps that the Government has taken and will take to implement the recommendations made in the Commission s report, and also to address alleged violations of international law; 3. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical assistance on implementing the above-mentioned steps; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present a report on the provision of such assistance to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session. 52nd meeting 22 March 2012 [Adopted by a recorded vote of 24 to 15, with 8 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour: Austria, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Libya, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Bangladesh, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uganda Abstaining: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Senegal] 19/3 Composition of staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights See chapter I. 12 GE

25 19/4 Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living in the context of disaster settings The Human Rights Council, Reaffirming all previous resolutions of the Human Rights Council, as well as those adopted by the Commission on Human Rights on the issue of adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, including Council resolution 15/8 of 30 September 2010, Recalling all previous resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights on the issue of women s equal rights to ownership of, access to and control over land and the equal rights to own property and to adequate housing, including resolution 2005/25 of 15 April 2005, Reaffirming that international human rights law instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, entail obligations and commitments of States parties in relation to access to adequate housing, Reaffirming also the principles and commitments with regard to adequate housing enshrined in the relevant provisions of declarations and programmes adopted by major United Nations conferences and summits and at special sessions of the General Assembly and at their follow-up meetings, inter alia, the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, 9 and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, adopted at the twenty-fifth special session of the Assembly and annexed to its resolution S-25/2 of 9 June 2001, Reaffirming further the importance of implementing the Hyogo Declaration 10 and the Hyogo Framework for Action : Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, 11 adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Concerned that any deterioration in the general housing situation disproportionately affects persons living in conditions of poverty, low-income earners, women, children, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, migrants, internally displaced persons, tenants, the elderly and persons with disabilities, and increases the need for them to be supported against extreme natural disasters, Noting the work of the United Nations treaty bodies, in particular the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in the promotion of the rights relating to adequate housing, including its general comments Nos. 4, 7, 9, 16 and 20, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and extreme climate and weather events and their increasing impact in the context of climate change and urbanization, as well as other factors that might affect the exposure, vulnerability and capacity to respond to such disasters, which have resulted in massive loss of life, homes and livelihoods, together with forced displacement and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for all societies throughout the world, 9 A/CONF.165/ A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution Ibid., resolution 2. GE

26 Recognizing that vulnerable persons are disproportionately susceptible to recurring displacement, evictions without adequate remedies and exclusion from meaningful consultation and participation during disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness, as well as in all phases of disaster response and recovery, to the detriment of their enjoyment of the right to adequate housing, Recognizing also that the integration of a human rights-based approach into the framework of disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness, as well as in all phases of disaster response and recovery, represents an important factor into the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing, and underlining in this regard the principles of participation and empowerment, 1. Acknowledges the work of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to nondiscrimination in this context, including the undertaking of country missions; 2. Welcomes the reports presented by the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly 12 and to the Human Rights Council, 13 and takes note with appreciation of the framework presented to comprehensively respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing in the context of post-disaster settings; 3. Encourages States and relevant actors to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living in their broader disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness initiatives, as well as in all phases of disaster response and recovery; 4. Urges States, in the context of post-disaster settings, and recognizing that short-term humanitarian response and early recovery phases are based on needs, to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and, in this regard: (a) To ensure that all affected persons, irrespective of their pre-disaster tenure status and without discrimination of any kind, have equal access to housing that fulfils the requirements of adequacy, namely the criteria of accessibility, affordability, habitability, security of tenure, cultural adequacy, suitability of location, access to essential services and respect for safety standards aimed at reducing damage in cases of future disasters; (b) To integrate, in post-disaster settings, including where temporary shelter is required as an interim response, the right to adequate housing as a key component of planning and implementation of humanitarian, reconstruction and development responses; (c) To give due priority to the realization of the right to adequate housing for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable persons through housing reconstruction and the provision of alternative housing, especially by respecting the principles of nondiscrimination and gender equality, and by integrating a gender perspective into policies, strategies and programmes for disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness, as well as into all phases of disaster response and recovery; (d) To ensure that accessibility for persons with disabilities is taken into account during all phases of reconstruction, in accordance with international law and standards; 12 A/66/ A/HRC/16/ GE