EU on the second session of the Human Rights Council: Working methods developing, but substantive results disappointing

Concerning the second session of the Human Rights Council that took place in Geneva from 18 September to 6 October, the EU found the interactive dialogues with both the the High Commissioner and Special Rapporteurs very positive. These open and very substantive dialogues helped to identify topical human rights challenges both in thematic as well as country-specific terms, and provide a good basis for the Council to develop new kind of working methods in the future.

However, the EU was disappointed at the lack of substantive results at the second session. Only a brief text was adopted, noting at general level the reports and dialogues with special rapporteurs. All other texts presented were postponed to when the Council meets next time, in other words 27 November. This was due to the amount of texts presented, including also many traditionally controversial initiatives from the old Human Rights Commission.

The Council has a broad mandate that mentions prevention and cooperation, but also urgent human rights situations. On this basis, the EU was i.a. in the process of negotiating together with the African Group a text concerning the alarming human rights situation in Darfur, when the texts were all postponed. Also texts on cooperation with different countries, including Sri Lanka, had been prepared.

From the outset of the creation of the HRC, the EU has aimed that this new body is equipped with the status, mandate and tools as well as the spirit to give human rights the central role foreseen by the UN Charter - and also the UN Summit that took place just a year ago. To achieve these expectations, the HRC needs to get prepared to address human rights challenges in more substantive terms. However, the EU emphasizes the HRC is still an evolving body, its working methods not yet fully developed. The EU will play an active role, in cooperation with others, for the Council to achieve more tangible results in its future sessions.