Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GENEVA1610
2006-06-29 05:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:
HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
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UNCLAS GENEVA 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
UNCLAS GENEVA 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
¶1. Summary: The Western Human Rights Group met June 27 to
review the state of play at the Human Rights Council. Swiss
Ambassador Blaise Godet, the Western Group's Bureau
representative, reported on the Bureau's June 26 meeting, at
which the priority was President de Alba's effort to avoid a
Palestinian resolution on Israel's human rights practices.
Godet also briefed on President de Alba's current thinking
regarding the Council's methods of work and the modalities
for the mechanisms being considered for universal periodic
review and mandate review. End Summary.
Council Methods of Work
--------------
¶2. De Alba and the bureau also discussed in the June 26
meeting possible new categories of Council instruments which
would supplement the use of resolutions. Godet reported that
such instruments might include a "Council statement" or
"President's statement," to minimize (or avoid) the tabling
of resolutions, and minimize confrontation. Mission is
seeking clarification on this proposal from Swiss and Mexican
counterparts, as we are concerned that effort to "minimize
confrontation" could be used as a excuse to eliminate the use
of country resolutions. We will report as soon as we have
further information.
UPR/Proposed Program of Work
--------------
¶3. Godet reported that Ambassador de Alba intends to
personally oversee the process of reviewing all mandates from
the Commission on Human Rights. According to Godet, De Alba
intends to end this session of the HRC with a short paper
outlining his views on how mandate review should be handled.
De Alba also wants to establish a facilitation process to
oversee the Universal Peer Review and review of mandates,
which might also be handled through two working groups.
Godet also reported that de Alba plans to create a "Friends
of the Chair" group to replace the multi-regional Fox Group,
which is being phased out. Further informals on the program
of work will be held June 29, and the bureau anticipates a
final decision on the issue by the end of the Council session
on June 30.
TICHENOR