II Un Human Rights Council
| Author | Bret Thiele,Mayra Gómez |
| Published date | 01 June 2009 |
| Date | 01 June 2009 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/016934410902700206 |
| Subject Matter | Part B: Human Rights News |
250 Intersentia
II UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
B T and M G*
1. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TENTH REGULAR SESSION AND
THE SPECIAL SESSION ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN INTRODUCTION
is contribution summarises highlights of the tenth regular session of the United
Nations Human Rights Council (Council), held in Geneva during March 2009. At
this session, the Council adopted 33 resolutions, 17 decisions – 16 of which dealt
with outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review process, and one statement by the
President.1 is contribution also covers the tenth speci al session of the Council which
addressed the global economic and nancial crises. For those readers interested in
greater detail of certain or all aspects of these sessions, please refer to the footnotes
which provide citations to relevant Cou ncil documents.2
e Counci l is an organ of the General A ssembly and based in Geneva , Switzerland.
Its mandate includes ‘promoting universal respect for the protection of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a
fair and equal manner’ and ‘address[ing] situations of violations of human rights,
including gross and systemat ic violations, and make[ing] recommendations thereon’
as well as promoting ‘the e ective coordination and the mainstreaming of human
rights within the United Nations system’.3 e Council also serves as a venue for
dialogue on human rights and for promoting human rights obligations taken on by
States. e work of the Counci l is ‘guided by the principles of universa lity, impartialit y,
objectivity and non-select ivity, constructive international dialogue a nd cooperation,
with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
* Bret iele is Senior Legal O cer and Coordinator of the Econom ic, Social and Cultura l Rights
Litigation Prog ramme wit h the Centre on Housing Rights and Ev ictions (COHRE), Geneva,
Zwitserland and M ayra Gómez is the Coordi nator of the Women and Housing Rights Pro gramme
at COHRE.
1 See UN Doc. A/HRC/10/L.11, 31 March 2009, for fu ll texts of all resolution s, decisions and chair
statements.
2 Please see the United Nations O ce of the High Comm issioner for Human Ri ghts website, avail able
at: www.ohchr.org/engl ish/bodies/hrcou ncil.
3 Idem.
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