On 3 November 2010, Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the President of the Human Rights Council (HRC), presented the annual report of the Council to the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The report covers the activities of the Council from the September 2009 session to the June 2010 session, under the presidency of the Ambassador Alex Van Meeuwen, Permanent Representative of Belgium, as well as the activities during the last session of the HRC in September 2010 under Ambassador Sihasak’s presidency. Key points of the report include:
(1) The progress of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the new mechanism of the HRC under which the human rights situations in 127 countries have already been reviewed (two-thirds of the UN Member States). The first cycle of the review will be completed by early 2012.
(2) The setting of norms and standards on human rights protection. This included the establishment of a Working Group of five experts from different social, cultural and religious backgrounds to work on the issue of elimination of discrimination against women in law and practices and the Working Group to draft an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to provide a complaint procedure, of which Thailand is a member.
(3) The review of the Council’s work and functioning after 5 years of its establishment. Ambassador Sihasak has made known his determination to carry out the review process with a view to achieving three main goals. First, to enhance the Council’s credibility in making a real impact to human rights on the ground. Second, to improve the Council’s ability to react more swiftly and effectively to urgent situations involving serious violations of human rights elsewhere. And third, to streamline the Council’s work to ensure the optimum use of limited resources in fulfilling all its mandates.
As the President of the Council, Ambassador Sihasak said that he will be guided by a number of key principles. First, the importance of taking constructive and cooperative approach to all human rights issues and situations. Second, maintaining and strengthening the capacity of the Council in terms of making a real difference on the ground and enhancing the capacity of the Council to react to urgent human rights situations in an even handed way. And finally, ensuring that the work of the Council provides for inclusiveness of all stakeholders whose role is recognized as instrumental to advancing the course of human rights.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th