Human rights: Switzerland elected a member of the new UN Human Rights Council
Berne, 09.05.2006 - Switzerland has today been elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision was taken by a margin of 140 votes. This election is another success for Swiss foreign policy and is a recognition of Switzerland's strong commitment to human rights in general and of its efforts to establish the new council, which will hold its inaugural meeting on 19 June in Geneva.
Switzerland was very active in efforts to establish a Human Rights Council to replace the Commission on Human Rights, which had been weakened and discredited in recent years. Our country's efforts were rewarded on 15 March 2006, when the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/60/251. This established the Human Rights Council, a body consisting of 47 members with its headquarters in Geneva.
Our country immediately submitted its candidacy in order to pursue its efforts to promote and to protect human rights. Switzerland campaigned actively in Bern, Geneva, New York and capital cities throughout the world for election to the Council. It was one of the first countries to publish its "Voluntary Pledges and Commitments" in accordance with the spirit and the letter of resolution A/RES/60/251 (See annex).
The first sessions of the new council will be very important for ensuring its effectiveness, fixing rules of procedure – including the participation of NGOs – and above all for deciding on the agenda items and the programme for its working sessions.
Switzerland will contribute actively to the establishment of these mechanisms. On 15 May 2006 our country has invited all interested countries and several human rights experts to Lausanne for another informal seminar in which there will be an intensive exchange of views on questions of central importance for the future of the new body.
As the host state of the Human Rights Council, Switzerland has undertaken to provide the best possible conditions for the Council, the delegates of the states participating in the sessions, representatives of NGOs and of course the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Offices will be made available free of charge to delegates attending the Council's sessions who come from countries that do not have a permanent mission in Geneva.
Annex : Voluntary Pledges and Commitments by Switzerland in accordance with Resolution A/RES/60/251
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