Human Rights

CONGO activities in the human rights field is focused on the transition fromthe Commission to the Human Rights Council and on the institution building of the Human Rights Council. CONGO contributes to information exchange on the on going developments and assist NGOs in the participation to the Council.

Background

As main counterpart of NGOs interacting with the UN, CONGO is strongly committed to defending human rights worldwide. The input of NGOs is more needed than ever now since over the years, and thanks to their extensive lobby and advocacy, the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies and Special Procedures have become the ECOSOC functional commission where NGOs have the greatest possibilities to participate and have their voices heard.

Commission on Human Rights

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights is the UN main intergovernmental body at the universal level dealing with human rights. Created in 1946 to weave the international legal fabric that protects our fundamental rights and freedoms, its brief has expanded over time to allow it to tackle the whole range of human rights problems. The Commission continues to set standards to govern the conduct of States, but it also acts as a forum where countries large and small, non-governmental groups and human rights defenders from around the world can voice their concerns.

The Commission meets annually in Geneva in March and April for a six week session, and various intersession Working Groups also meet at other times during the year. The Commission is composed of 53 States members elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of three years. Over 3,000 delegates from member and observer States and from non-governmental organizations participate.

Related pages and documents

• CHR - NGO Information and Coordination Commission on Human Rights / Human Rights Council 2006
• 62nd Commission on Human Rights, 13 March - 21 April 2006, Geneva Human Rights Council to replace the 53-nation Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Commission
• Towards 19 June 2006: First session of the Human Rights Council Consultations for the first session of the Council