SV: [hr-wsis] Re: HR and the UN

["Rikke Frank Joergensen" <rfj@humanrights.dk>]

thanks, Rik !

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: Rik Panganiban [mailto:rikp@earthlink.net]
Sendt: on 20-04-2005 16:51
Til: hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org
Emne: [hr-wsis] Re: HR and the UN
 
That is basically what the SG has been calling for: enhancing the 
capacity of the UN in relationship to its work on security, development 
and human rights by reforming the Security Council, the Economic and 
Social Council and the creation of the Human Rights Council.  This is 
all part of what has been called Kofi's "Grand Bargain," asking 
developed states to commit to more ODA while gaining seats on the 
Security Council for Japan and Germany.  However some powerful 
countries -- China and the US --have already rejected the idea of a 
Grand Bargain being approved at this September General Assembly.

Rik

On Apr 20, 2005, at 8:50 AM, Rikke Frank Joergensen wrote:

> Hi Bill, Rik and all..
>  
> Thanks, but the issue I was referring to is not the ongoing debate on 
> reforming HRC into a smaller standing body. What I heard from one of 
> my colleagues, who just returned from the UN corridors of Geneva, was 
> a new proposal to reform the basic structure of the UN 
> system/organisation giving security, development and HR equal weight. 
> But maybe it's a misunderstanding.. Ill ask around some more...
>  
> Rikke
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rik Panganiban [mailto:rikp@earthlink.net]
> Sent: 20. april 2005 14:36
> To: hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org
> Subject: [hr-wsis] Re: HR and the UN
>  
> Rikke,
>  
> The idea of the Human Rights Council is the following:
>  
>> "If the United Nations is to meet the expectations of men and women 
>> everywhere - and indeed, if the Organization is to take the cause of 
>> human rights as seriously as those of security and development - then 
>> Member States should agree to replace the Commission on Human Rights 
>> with a smaller standing Human Rights Council. Member States would 
>> need to decide if they want the Human Rights Council to be a 
>> principal organ of the United Nations or a subsidiary body of the 
>> General Assembly, but in either case its members would be elected 
>> directly by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of members 
>> present and voting. The creation of the Council would accord human 
>> rights a more authoritative position, corresponding to the primacy of 
>> human rights in the Charter of the United Nations. Member States 
>> should determine the composition of the Council and the term of 
>> office of its members. Those elected to the Council should undertake 
>> to abide by the highest human rights standards" (par. 183)
>  
> Basically the concept has been rejected by every country and regional 
> group, particularly the African group. The debate can be read at:
>  
> http://ngochr.org/view/index.php?basic_entity=DOCUMENT&list_ids=522
>  
> Much of the SG's reform package is up for grabs now that the US and 
> China have taken the Security Council expansion question off of the 
> table.
>  
> Rik Panganiban
> CONGO
>  
> On Apr 20, 2005, at 8:32 AM, Bill McIver wrote:
>>  
>>
>>  
>> Rikke,
>>  
>> This has been talked about for about for a few weeks.
>>  
>> It overlapped with the report on Oil for Food.
>>  
>> I rushed, otherwise I would send links, but you
>> can easily find it.
>>  
>> As I recall, the idea is to create an mechanism like
>> the Security Council for HR specifically.
>>  
>> I am sure some else here can fill in / correct me.
>>
>>  
>> WJM
>>  
>> Rikke Frank Joergensen wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>  
>>> I just heard from the HR Commission in Geneva, that Kofi A. has 
>>> proposed (in a speech) that the UN system be reformed into three 
>>> main pillars; fight against terrorism, development and HR.
>>>  
>>> This would mean a big upgrade of HR within the UN system, and I am 
>>> quite astonished that he even proposed it.. Does anyone know more ?
>>>  
>>> Rikke
>>>  
>>
>
===============================================
RIK PANGANIBAN       Communications Coordinator
Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations 
(CONGO)
web: http://www.ngocongo.org
email: rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org
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