ICC meeting at Geneva
A NHRC delegation led by Member Shri P.C. Sharma, Secretary General Shri A.K. Jain and Director Research Shri Y.S.R. Murthy visited Geneva from April 14 to 18, 2008 to participate in the 20th Session of the International Co-ordination Committee of National Institutions (ICC) Meeting.
On the first day of the meeting, 16 voting members of ICC met to discuss the agenda for the session. The Meeting was presided over by Ms. Jennifer Lynch and ICC Deputy Chairperson, Prof Kyong Whan Ahn. The offer of NHRC India, to maintain the website of NHRIs website was gratefully accepted. NHRCs India inputs on accreditation process were also acknowledged. On the same day the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adopted a draft report relating to India. The Human Rights Council appointed a group of Rapporteurs from Ghana, Indonesia and the Netherlands to facilitate the review of India. The Ambassador for Indonesia introduced the report of the Working Group. He congratulated the Indian delegation for high quality of India Country Paper and the equal importance accorded by the country to economic, social, cultural as well as civil and political rights.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Swash Pawan Singh, Indian Ambassador said that the Indian Government would examine the recommendations of the Working Group with an open mind. He expressed full commitment to the UPR mechanism. At the APF Regional Group Meeting, the draft agenda for 13th meeting of APF scheduled for July 28 to 31, 2008 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was reviewed. Mr. Kieren Fitzpatrick from APF presented the amendments relating to the Advisory Council of Jurists to make ACJ more effective, based on the deliberations of the Workshop held at New Delhi in February, 2008. The NHRC, India delegation also expressed concern over lack of speaking rights for NHRIs in Working Group meetings to consider country reports under Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
On the 2nd day, the ICC General Meeting began with the address of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour and Ms. Jennifer Lynch, ICC Chair. The agenda for the 20th Session of ICC and the report of the 19th Session of the ICC were adopted. The ICC Interim Representative presented a report on the engagement in the Human Rights Council.
The next day a meeting chaired by, Ms Jennifer Lynch discussed ICC Governance and related matters in the Plenary. Later the discussions were held under different regional groups. The APF group met under the Chairmanship of Mr. John Von Dussa and agreed to incorporate ICC as a legal entity. The Indian delegation made a strong plea that incorporation of ICC as a legal entity should not in any way dilute the role of NHRIs and work of protection and promotion of human rights ought to be carried out through NHRIs only.
The delegates at the meeting were informed that the International Conference of National Institutions would be held at Nairobi, Kenya in October this year with the theme-Administration of Justice. With this the 20th Session of the ICC came to a close.
On the first day of the meeting, 16 voting members of ICC met to discuss the agenda for the session. The Meeting was presided over by Ms. Jennifer Lynch and ICC Deputy Chairperson, Prof Kyong Whan Ahn. The offer of NHRC India, to maintain the website of NHRIs website was gratefully accepted. NHRCs India inputs on accreditation process were also acknowledged. On the same day the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adopted a draft report relating to India. The Human Rights Council appointed a group of Rapporteurs from Ghana, Indonesia and the Netherlands to facilitate the review of India. The Ambassador for Indonesia introduced the report of the Working Group. He congratulated the Indian delegation for high quality of India Country Paper and the equal importance accorded by the country to economic, social, cultural as well as civil and political rights.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Swash Pawan Singh, Indian Ambassador said that the Indian Government would examine the recommendations of the Working Group with an open mind. He expressed full commitment to the UPR mechanism. At the APF Regional Group Meeting, the draft agenda for 13th meeting of APF scheduled for July 28 to 31, 2008 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was reviewed. Mr. Kieren Fitzpatrick from APF presented the amendments relating to the Advisory Council of Jurists to make ACJ more effective, based on the deliberations of the Workshop held at New Delhi in February, 2008. The NHRC, India delegation also expressed concern over lack of speaking rights for NHRIs in Working Group meetings to consider country reports under Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
On the 2nd day, the ICC General Meeting began with the address of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour and Ms. Jennifer Lynch, ICC Chair. The agenda for the 20th Session of ICC and the report of the 19th Session of the ICC were adopted. The ICC Interim Representative presented a report on the engagement in the Human Rights Council.
The next day a meeting chaired by, Ms Jennifer Lynch discussed ICC Governance and related matters in the Plenary. Later the discussions were held under different regional groups. The APF group met under the Chairmanship of Mr. John Von Dussa and agreed to incorporate ICC as a legal entity. The Indian delegation made a strong plea that incorporation of ICC as a legal entity should not in any way dilute the role of NHRIs and work of protection and promotion of human rights ought to be carried out through NHRIs only.
The delegates at the meeting were informed that the International Conference of National Institutions would be held at Nairobi, Kenya in October this year with the theme-Administration of Justice. With this the 20th Session of the ICC came to a close.