News- 787
International Network
Geneva,Meeting with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 18 June 2008
Bice participated to the last meeting with NGOs of Ms. Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose mandate will expire at the end of this month
On 18 June 2008, Bice was invited to meet with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ms. Arbour, who will leave her post at the end of this month, highlighted that the Human Rights Council and its new mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review are better equipped to implement Human Rights than the previous Commission. She also pointed out ongoing crucial challenges in the field of human rights that the OHCHR will have to deal with in the coming years, namely:
- The Durban Review Conference on racism to take place in Geneva in 2009;
- Freedom of expression and freedom of religion. At this respect, the OHCHR will organize an expert seminar next Fall to look at the limits posed to these two rights in relation to international human rights law, including the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
- Migration issues, especially protective measures for migrants and situations of irregular migration;
- Expanding the doctrine of equality beyond non-discrimination.
- Maternal mortality as a key human rights issue and a global heath challenge. In particular, early marriage and female genital mutilation are ongoing human rights violations causing millions of deaths and disabilities resulting from pregnancy and childbirth annually. The High Commissioner urged that the Human Rights Council consider maternal mortality from a human rights based approach and articulates the indivisibility and interrelatedness of rights in this respect.
- The Durban Review Conference on racism to take place in Geneva in 2009;
- Freedom of expression and freedom of religion. At this respect, the OHCHR will organize an expert seminar next Fall to look at the limits posed to these two rights in relation to international human rights law, including the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
- Migration issues, especially protective measures for migrants and situations of irregular migration;
- Expanding the doctrine of equality beyond non-discrimination.
- Maternal mortality as a key human rights issue and a global heath challenge. In particular, early marriage and female genital mutilation are ongoing human rights violations causing millions of deaths and disabilities resulting from pregnancy and childbirth annually. The High Commissioner urged that the Human Rights Council consider maternal mortality from a human rights based approach and articulates the indivisibility and interrelatedness of rights in this respect.
