Outcomes of the 18th Session of the Human Rights Council – GWI UN Reps Report

UN Photo/ Jean-Marc Ferré©

The 18th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) took place in Geneva from 12-30 September. Though all its decisions addressed human rights, several were more specifically related to women’s rights.

 

 

• The HRC has requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to convene an expert workshop to prepare concise technical guidance on the application of a human right based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.

• The HRC called upon States that have not yet ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, to consider doing so as a matter of priority. It also called upon States to strengthen measures to protect the human rights of migrant workers in times of humanitarian crisis in times of humanitarian crisis. In addition, the Special Rapporteur the Rights of Migrants was asked to promote and support the building of greater synergies between States in order to strengthen cooperation for the protection of human rights of all migrant workers and their families.

• Concerning human rights and climate change, the OHCHR was asked to convene a seminar on addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights and invite States and other relevant stakeholders, including experts, academic experts, civil society organizations and representatives of the most vulnerable to participate. This is to be held prior to HRC 19th session (27.02 – 23.03 2012).

• On the promotion and protection of freedom of expression on the Internet, the HRC decided to convene at its 19th session a panel discussion on the promotion and protection of freedom of expression on the Internet, with a particular focus on the ways and means to improve its protection in accordance with international human rights law.

The HRC will continue its work the coming week with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Hillevi Perraudi, Coordinator GWI UN Representatives in Geneva