Plenary Session, Thursday Morning, August 14, 2003

The Sub-Commission adopted a resolution on the right to development and asked Mrs O'Connor to prepare and submit a working paper on the Commission on Human Rights to the Sub-Commission at its next session. This request established options for the implementation of the right to development and their feasibility, an international legal standard of a binding nature, guidelines on the implementation of the right to development and principles for development partnership.

In a resolution on the Working Group on indigenous populations the Sub-Commission decided, without a vote, to invite the Office of the High Commissioner to organize a second workshop on indigenous peoples, mining and human rights issues. This workshop would help prepare guidelines on how to respect the cultures and traditions of these communities. Furthermore, the workshop would review the principle of free, prior and informed consent.

The Sub-Commission also adopted, without a vote, a resolution on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. This resolution strongly recommended that the United Nations declaration draft on the rights of indigenous peoples be adopted as early as possible.

Several participants expressed regret about the limitation of the Sub-Commission to act on Item 2 of the agenda. Some believed the Sub-Commission lost its political role. Mr Pinheiro answered that Item 2 could gain quality if the Member States could invite Experts from their countries to participate to the Sub-Commission.

The NGOs asked to be allowed to participate in the dialogue with the Experts about their studies. Mr Decaux answered that the developing trend is to set up lunchtime panels for this purpose and that this practice should be systematised.

Another request by the NGOs is to have the reports of the Experts available on a Web site in advance so as to be able to use them for their statements.

A question was raised was about the position of children and youths in the Sub-Commission and how they could participate in the process. Suggestions were made to set up a kind of an educational web site for their purpose and that the Member States should get their youths interested in relevant issues. Mrs Hampson explained that no specific topics about children existed due to the broad ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mr Pinheiro stated that a report is being prepared about violence against children.

All the Experts agreed on the fact that that information the NGOs provide is very important and that the Sub-Commission should deliberate on how to improve their relationship with NGOs. Mrs Motoc said that the participation of the NGOs to the work enhances the richness of the debates.

Mrs Warzazi closed the session and explained that in the last session they will make the draft provisional agenda for the 56th session of the Sub-Commission and adopt the report of the 55th session.

By: Alicia PARY and Melvina ARAMAN

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