Statement by
HE. Mr. S. M.K. SAJJADPOUR
Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
before
the Firs Session of
Working Group on
the Agenda, Annual
Program of Work, Methods of Work and Rules of
Procedure of the Human Rights Council
Geneva, 15 January 2007
Mr. President,
My delegation welcomes the establishment of the working group on the agenda and rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council. In this respect, we associate ourselves with the statement made by Cuba on behalf of the NAM. We extend our support to the proposals contained in the non - papers submitted by the NAM on the agenda and method of work of the special sessions of the Human Rights Council.
Mr. President,
order to have a clear and predictable picture about the future work of the Human Rights Council, it is indispensable to have a structured and standard agenda which reflects the priorities identified by the Member States of the United Nations concerning the themes and conceptions.
The items on the agenda of the Council should be allocated to each of its annual sessions in an equitable and balanced manner and also allow for effective participation of the developing countries. Every session should have the same basic agenda to avoid the need to renegotiate it every time.
The predictability, transparency, accountability, objectivity and non-selectivity should be guiding principles for the drawing the agenda of the Council and its method of work. Moreover, the agenda of the Council should respect an adequate balance in treatment of all human rights, civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, in particular right to development.
While GA resolution 60/251 itself provides an input such as dialogue on human rights issues, technical cooperation, advisory services for capacity building, universal periodic review, the agenda of the Commission on Human Rights contains several items which are relevant to the mandates of the Human Rights Council and should, therefore, be preserved and included in the agenda of the Council. These include:
- Racism, racial intolerance and xenophobia, defamation of religion and incitement to religious and racial hatred,
- Right to development
- Question of violation of Human rights in the occupied territories
- Economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights
- Promotion and protection of the rights of people, groups and individuals such as migrants, indigenous people as well as women and children.
Furthermore, the Council should seize the opportunity and be released of the country specific items as main cause of politicization, double standards and selectivity which undermined the credibility of CHR.
Rules of Procedure and Method of Work
Mr. President,
We do not share the view that the Council should start its work from the beginning on its rules of procedure and method of work. As a subsidiary body of the GA the Council rules of procedure should be based on the GA rules of procedure.
Finally, appropriate methods of work should guarantee the continued constructive participation of observers including non member states in discussion and the same access to information. It is equally important that a method of work includes a logic time frame with respect to the submission of drafts.
Thank You
