GENEVA-BASED UN HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY BODY WINDS UP FIRST SESSION

GENEVA-BASED UN HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY BODY WINDS UP FIRST SESSION New York, Aug 15 2008 3:10PM After making recommendations on the rights of refugees and on the right to food, the United Nations Human Rights Council's Advisory Committee concluded its first session in Geneva today.

Among the 13 recommendations adopted by consensus, the Advisory Committee suggested that the <"http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/">Human Rights Council and the Secretary-General use their good offices to extend the right of non-refoulement to hunger refugees – which would protect them from being sent back to their home countries against their will.

It also recommended that the Council launch an urgent appeal to Member States to increase their voluntary contributions substantially and as soon as possible to support the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN agencies.

In addition, the Committee set up a working group charged with making recommendations on the right to the food and the current global food crisis, and another group to prepare a declaration on human rights education and training.

"The first session marked a significant step forward in realizing and completing the Council's institution-building process," the Acting UN High-Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-Wha Kang told members of the Committee.

"It is also an important moment for the international community as this new human rights mechanism charts its future course within the United Nations' comprehensive human rights system," she added.

The 18-member Advisory Committee will hold its second session from 26 to 30 January 2009.
2008-08-15 00:00:00.000

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