UN committee adopts measures to reinforce human rights efforts

The Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council concluded late Friday its' 11th session which adopted three action points to reinforce human rights efforts globally. The three action points, which the Advisory Committee adopted by consensus, dealt respectively with human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations, the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, and on the negative impact of corruption on human rights. For each of these topics, the committee designated members of a drafting group, which were tasked with preparing a report that would be presented to the 26th session of the Human Rights Council. During the discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations, four members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights gave examples of actions undertaken by the office in different parts of the world. Human rights violations in social conflicts that could degenerate into armed conflicts and humanitarian crises were also examined. The Chairperson of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, Zdzislaw Kedzia said that he was in favor of a better approach to human rights within the framework of international trade. The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts serving as a think-tank to the Human Rights Council and mandated to provide studies and recommendations supported by research to the Council, upon the request of the Council. The Committee is not mandated to adopt resolutions or decisions.