At the request addressed by the Permanent representative of Tunisia supported by one third of the members of the Human Rights Council, a special session of the Human Rights Council was held on Friday 11 August from 10 am onwards in room XX (Palais des Nations).
Resolution A/HRC/S-2/L.1 as adopted by the Human Rights Council (grave situation of human rights in Lebanon caused by Israeli military operations)
Submission of written statements by NGOs
NGO written statements must be submitted to the OHCHR Secretariat by Thursday 10 August 2006 noon to hrcngo@ohchr.org by indicating in the subject line "Name of NGO- written statement- Second special session HRC".
Interim modalities for the Special Session
The interim modalities for the 1st special session might also be applied. See below:
Suggestion for the first special session of the Human Rights Council, in an interim basis
• These suggestions should be applied in an interim basis, as the Council will address in the
future the question of its methods of work.
• The special session shall only deal with the specific question for which it was convened.
Therefore, the only agenda item shall be the specific question.
Proposals
Provisions of rule 120 of the GA Rules of Procedure, apply ("as a general rule, no
proposal shall be discussed or put to the vote at any meeting unless copies of it have been
circulated to all delegations not later than the day preceding the meeting. The President
may, however, permit the discussion and consideration of amendments or of motions as to
procedure, even though such amendments and motions have not been circulated or have
only been circulated the same day").
Modalities for the voting procedure will be the same used at the first session of the
Council, adjusting concerned countries which will be given 3 minutes.
List of speakers and speaking-time limits:
• The list of speakers will be prepared by the Secretariat. The list will be drawn up in
chronological order of registration. HRC Members and concerned countries will be given
the floor first, followed by non-HRC members and other observers.
• Given the short duration of the special session and the number of expected interventions,
time should be allotted as follow: 5 minutes Member States and concerned countries; 3
minutes Non-Member States; 3 minutes intergovernmental organizations, specialized
agencies, national institutions and NGOs.
• However, if the list of speakers exceeds 3 hours, it will be necessary to distribute the time
proportionally.
Rights of reply and points of order:
• Rights of reply will be limited to two replies of three minutes for the first and two minutes
for the second and all rights of reply will be exercised at the end of the discussion of the
question.
• In accordance with rule 113 of the rules of procedure of the GA, a speaker may not, in
raising a point of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.
Consequently, the President will not allow the use of points of order to express
disagreement with or provide any argument in favour of or against questions of substance
raised.
President of HRC, 4 July 2006.
