Human Rights Council Working Methods

U.S. Statement Delivered by
Jan Levin
First Secretary, U.S. Mission

Geneva
November 30, 2006

Mr. President,

The United States would like to thank those delegations who have provided non-papers on Council process issues such as agenda and working methods.  We have found all submissions very useful in laying out the issues that need to be addressed in order to enable this Council to function as smoothly, and as credibly, as possible. 

Institutionally, this Council cannot rise to the challenge of promoting and protecting human rights worldwide if it does not follow clear, predictable guidelines in the conduct of its own work.  We are grateful for your efforts to guide the process in this transitional year, and for your willingness to test possible new methods of work.  To the extent possible, we believe that this body should function in a cooperative manner -- with dialogue, not confrontation, likely to get the best results. 

To enhance the work of the Council, it is necessary for Council members, observers and NGOs to have clarity and transparency in order to be able to prepare properly for Council sessions.  Basic working methods must be outlined in advance and adhered to throughout the session.  We will continue to look favorably upon proposals for new methods of work that will enable this Council to set aside the politicization and selectivity that have marked its work to date.

While UNGA Resolution 60/251 provides that the Council will work under the applicable rules of procedure of the GA, we will soon need to develop complementary working methods that will allow the Council to function as effectively as possible.  This must include the participation of NGOs, National Institutions and observer States. 

This means that in advance of each Council session, the Presidency and Bureau should be able to provide to all stakeholders a program of work that ideally would not change during the course of the session except in extraordinary circumstances.  All delegations must be given adequate time to study draft resolutions, decisions, or amendments to resolutions.  In the case of resolutions, at least one open informal should be held on each text.    

We agree with other delegations and groups that have suggested common elements for each substantive session of the Council.  These could include: 

• Statements or resolutions on issues of importance to delegations
  
  
• An update or report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights
  
  
• Reporting and a structured dialogue with the Special Procedures
  (which could be spread out in the course of a year);
  
  
• Procedural decisions, including mandate extensions; 
  
  
• Consideration of the reports of the universal periodic review, working groups and
  other consultative mechanisms;
  
  
• Consideration of reports by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and OHCHR; and
  
  
• Adoption of the report of the session

Mr. President, we again would like to emphasize the need for clarity and transparency in the work of the Council.  We believe that these two elements are essential to the cooperation and dialogue that so many participants have emphasized as critical to the work of this body.  To that end, we are grateful for your continued efforts to keep delegations informed through open-ended consultations on the status of all business before the Council, and encourage your efforts to ensure that all stakeholders, to include observers and NGOs, enjoy the same access to information.

Thank you, Mr. President.