Inputs for enhancing participation at the UN Human Rights Council

01/02/2012

The Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) from Argentina, Conectas Human Rights from Brazil and Corporación Humanas from Chile, submitted a document to a Task Force composed of member States of the UN Human Rights Council. The proposal includes inputs and suggestions on the use of new technologies to enable remote participation in the main human rights political body of the United Nations. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP), International Service for Human Rights and Asian Legal Resource Centre also joined the initiative.

During the process of Institutional Review of the Human Rights Council which took place in 2011, CELS, Conectas and Humanas highlighted the importance of using tools such as webcast and videoconferencing to expand the participation of social and human rights organizations of the global south in the body located in Geneva. The entities, which have a joint representation in Geneva since 2010, understand that such an expansion would contribute to increase the legitimacy, transparency and representativeness of the Council.

The commitment of the member States to the incorporation of these technologies was reflected in the outcome document of the Review, and States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights are currently working on guidelines for its implementation. The proposal refers to the priorities for enabling remote participation, practical alternatives for its execution and possible criteria to sort the NGOs' requests for participation.