High Commissioner for Human Rights Hopes Crucial Role of the Commission in the Field of Human Rights Will Be Embodied in the Human Rights Council

Press Release

The Commission on
Human Rights today held a meeting in which it elected its bureau for its
2006 session.

Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros of
Peru was elected as Chairperson by acclamation. The Vice-Chairpersons
elected were Roger Julien Menga of the Congo; Zohrab Mnatsakanian of
Armenia; and Paul Meyer of Canada. The Rapporteur elected was Sunu Mahadi
Soemarno of Indonesia.

Louise Arbour, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the discussion on
the reform of the United Nations human rights system had evolved in a most
significant manner, culminating with the World Summit and its outcome
document. Everyone eagerly awaited the outcome of the negotiations on the
establishment of a Human Rights Council, which were currently taking place
in New York. She strongly valued the Commission’s heritage and believed
that it should be honoured and carried forward in the most appropriate
manner. She also very much hoped that the crucial and defining role that
the Commission had had in the field of human rights for six decades would
continue to be embodied in the newly-created Council.

Mrs. Arbour said she wished to highlight the crucial role
played by the special mechanisms in past decades, a system which was
developed by the Commission over the years and which should be transferred
to the Human Rights Council when established. The new Council should
rightly build on the achievements of the Commission, particularly in
preserving and nurturing a particularly close relationship with civil
society through national institutions and non-governmental organizations.
It should also be able to address human rights violations wherever there
may occur and, in this connection, the setting up of a universal review
system might prove to be a valuable tool in reducing the potential for
polarization and politicization. Another asset would be for the Council to
be able to meet more frequently and in an easier manner than in the
current setting.

The incoming Chairperson
of the Commission, Ambassador Rodriguez Cuadros, said it was a great
honour for Peru and for himself to be elected as the Chairperson of the
sixty-second session of the Commission. The Commission on Human Rights was
today perhaps facing the most decisive moment of its existence since it
was created in 1948. The contributions of the Commission were many. He
hoped that the process leading to the end of this historical cycle of the
Commission and to the creation of the Human Rights Council would enhance
the human rights protection system, make it more effective and close to
the victims, and distance it from any kind of political manipulation.


The outgoing
Chairperson of the Commission, Makarim Wibisono of Indonesia, said it had
been a great honour to serve as the Chairman of the Commission for the
past year, not only due to the vital function of the Commission for the
promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, but also because of
the historic changes which were affecting this institution.

The 2006 session of the Commission is
scheduled to be held from 13 March to 21
April.