United Nations

CHRI has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. This enables us to intervene at the UN, including sending submissions and participating in certain human rights related meetings.

Our recent advocacy includes:

UN Reform and the UN Commission on Human Rights
UN Human Rights Council

1. UN Reform and the UN Commission on Human Rights

• An analysis of the Secretary General's report 'In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all'.
• a submission to the aborted 2006 session of the Human Rights Commission.
• signing on to the joint NGO statement made to the final session of the Human Rights Commission.

2. UN Human Rights Council

CHRI Press releases on the UNHRC
CHRI Interventions on the UN Human Rights Council
CHRI reports on the UN Human Rights Council
Universal Periodical review

In May 2006, despite owing its birth to dubious political negotiations, the United Nations Human Rights Council began its journey as a ray of hope. In its first year the new world body was tasked with deciding on its final shape. During this vulnerable period the Council underwent a tricky phase of institution building, a phase that was riddled with dangers that brought about the demise of its predecessor, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The phase came to an end on 18 and 19 June 2007 when the Council met and made several final decisions. During this period CHRI has actively monitored the performances of 13 Commonwealth members of the Council.

2.1 CHRI Press releases on the UN Human Rights Council:

• 01/05/06 ‘Fresh paint over the same old cracks’
• 17/05/07 ‘The last nail in the coffin?‘
• 12/06/07 ‘Another Missed Opportunity?’

2.2 CHRI Interventions on the UN Human Rights Council:

• CHRI letters to Governments of Commonwealth UN Human Rights Council members prior to the Second Session of the Council Letters by CHRI to the 13 Commonwealth countries urging them to respect their pre-election pledges.
• CHRI Joint Statement on the Fifth Session of the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement by CHRI, Democracy Coalition Project, Helsinki International Federation for Human Rights, Open Society Institute, Democracy Coalition Project, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and Conectas on 01/05/07.
• CHRI Submissions to the Fifth Session of the UN Human Rights Council After monitoring the trends in the Council’s first year, CHRI, an organisation with Special Consultative Status to the ECOSOC, put forth its concerns to the Fifth Session of the Council.

2.3 CHRI reports on the UN Human Rights Council:

• Easier Said than Done: A report on the commitments and performances of the Commonwealth members of the UN Human Rights Council

This report launched on the completion of the Council’s first year, analyses the performances of Commonwealth members of the Council against their promises prior to their election. The report further recommends extensive policy level initiatives to strengthen the role of the Commonwealth in international for a such as the Council.

'Easier Said than Done' is an important advocacy tool and a reference source.

The template of 'Easier Said than Done' enables versatile utilisation

• It provides you with basic information, which you may find useful in your efforts to monitor the performance of Commonwealth members of the Council.
• You may use the content of the report to write letters to your respective Governments on their performance in the Council.
• You could further use the report to raise awareness on the role of the Commonwealth members of the Council.

2.4. Universal Periodical review

Every four years, the compliance with human rights obligations and commitments of each Un member state is reviewed by the Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The standards for the review are the rights embodied in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights Instruments to which the state is party, and the voluntary pledges made by a government.

Calendar of the review

CHRI's submissions:
CHRI's submission on India, South Africa and the United Kingdom
People's Forum for UPR in India's submission

Articles:
Litmus Test for Commonwealth Promises to Promote Civil Society
The Universal Periodical Review: Time to Occupy the space allocated to Civil Society

For further information on CHRI activities around the UNHRC please contact R. Iniyan Ilango at CHRI (+91-9911479879 or iniyan@humanrightsinitiative.org).