On 25 March 2011, the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted the Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the HRC without a vote, following which Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow of Thailand in his capacity as President of the Council submitted the Outcome to the United Nations General Assembly for final endorsement.
The review of the work and functioning of the HRC is in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/251, which was adopted on 15 March 2006. The resolution states that the Council shall review its work and functioning five years after its establishment and shall report to the General Assembly. One of the main objectives of the review is to enhance the impact of the Council on the ground in terms of advancing the promotion and protection of human rights. In order to carry out this task, the Council set up a Working Group on the review of the work and functioning of the Council, which held two formal sessions chaired by Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Thailand, as President of the HRC, also hosted an informal session in Bangkok to facilitate the conclusion of the review process. During the negotiations, a variety of positions, views and comments were expressed by countries and groups of countries. Nevertheless, countries engaged in the process were able to reach a compromise, which resulted in the successful adoption of the Outcome.
The Outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Council covers a wide range of issues, from the HRC’s mechanisms to its agenda, methods of work and rules of procedure. Some important improvements include: ensuring that the second and subsequent cycles of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) focus on the implementation of the accepted recommendations received by the State under review during the first cycle; increasing the role of National Human Rights Institutions both in the UPR process and in the nomination of candidates as special procedures mandate-holders; the establishment of an office of the President of the HRC to support the President in the fulfillment of his/her tasks; the establishment of a task force to study ways to improve the HRC secretariat service; accessibility for persons with disabilities to the Council and its mechanisms; and the use of information technology in order to enhance access and participation by all stakeholders based outside Geneva in the work of the Council.
The HRC review and its meaningful conclusion is one of the important missions of Thailand during its presidency of the Council. With this in mind, Thailand had been spearheading the negotiation process of the review which culminated in a consensus being reached earlier than the envisaged schedule in June 2011. On 30 March 2011, Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow reported the Outcome of the HRC review to the informal Plenary of the General Assembly in New York, which marked the completion of his task on the review of the work and functioning of the Council. The next step is for the General Assembly to take up the Outcome alongside its consideration on the status of the Council. The Council review process in New York is expected to be completed by June this year.
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