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Human Rights Council

It is essential for the effective functioning of the UN human rights system to reflect the voices of grassroots minorities within the discussions. As an NGO with ECOSOC consultative status, IMADR has lobbied in various meetings such as the Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Human Rights and its working groups, creating reports and presenting joint/individual statements. IMADR has promoted concern and action at the international level on issues such as discrimination based on work and descent, human rights education, minority rights, elimination of human trafficking, protection of tsunami affected populations, and those affected by the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

The Human Rights Council was launched on March 15, 2006, according to the General Assembly resolution 60/251, succeeding the Commission on Human Rights as a new main body to address human rights issues within the UN system. It consists of 47 UN Member States elected by the General Assembly, and since its first session, which began on June 19, 2006, has been going through a drastic reform and institution building process, while at the same time addressing a wide range of substantive human rights issues. The council will reach an outcome on its institution-building process at its 6th session, which will be held in September 2007.

IMADR stresses the importance of voices from the minorities and NGOs being reflected in discussions within the new system. It calls for the continuation of important special procedures such as the working groups and independent experts on minorities and indigenous populations, as well as proposing that the creation of new systems such as the Universal Periodic Review and the Expert Advice Body be done in a way that will give minorities and NGOs proper voices in the UN system.