Opening Session of the 55th Sub-Commission
on the Promotion and protection of Human Rights

The Sub-Commission - often considered as a 'think tank' for the Commission on Human Rights - opened this morning its yearly meeting that will take place at the United Nations Office of Geneva until the15th of August.

Congratulating the Sub-Commission for the impressive outcome that was achieved last year, its former president -Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro - started the debate, focusing on the role of this assembly and its threefold purpose: an organ of reflection, deliberation and of normative importance. He recalled the new approaches established through the Social Forum such as the Working Group on slavery, minority rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. Making an historical parallel with the Crimean War of 1854, the orator restated that wars in general have always been labelled as "Just" by their perpetrators and that building a new "ethic globalization" will necessitate their ban as a mean of action. In order to achieve these goals, the "Millennium Declaration" must remain the rule of game. Mr. Pinheiro asked the Nations to abide by the Roma Status on the International Penal Court (IPC): "We have to find ways to solve dilemma of the present time."

Echoing the realistic and nonetheless optimistic statement made by Mr. Pinheiro, Mr. Ramcharan, deputy High Commissionnar, then focused on the strategic role of the sub-Commission (since the Teheran Conference in 1968) and the new challenges that have to be faced right now. In other words, one must think about the problems and challenges that will occur in the near future. Among the eleven essential points to be discussed during the following days (from administration of justice, rule of law and democracy to slavery and terrorism) he asked about possible strategies. In particular, he mentioned the use of education as a way to decrease poverty and enhance the protection and promotion of Human Rights. "It's esoterical to speak about Rights if they don't deal with poverty". That's why he submitted the idea (which has been articulated by President J.F. Kennedy) about creating food programs through education. In the overall, Mr. Ramacharan insisted on the need to guaranty the application of international law through national codes, special procedures and through reinforcing the role of special rapporteurs.

Ms. Awarzazi, elected for the second time at the head of the Sub-Commission, received a warm welcome from the members of the continental delegations. In her speech, she criticized the "imperialist" power bombing of innnocents and stated that this power was responsible for the "Apocalypse de tout un peuple". Without identifying the nation to which she referred during her speech, she insisted that the "New Threat" should not be exploited to abuse Human Rights. The fight against terrorism, she argued, must abide by human rights regulations.

By: John Auran-Clapot and Jérôme Gygax

BACK