Human Rights Council's 12th session

On Friday September 18 the first week of the Human Rights Council's 12th session was completed. Throughout the Council session human rights issues of great importance have been discussed from different view points and the EU has delivered several statements.

The session began on Tuesday September 15 with a General Debate on the update on developments in the human rights sphere and the activities of OHCHR, presented by High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. In the debate, the EU highlighted human rights situations of particular concern such as Iran, Burma/Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

In the interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, the EU stressed that the main challenge in achieving normative standards for the protection of children involved in armed conflicts is their implementation. Addressing impunity by bringing perpetrators to justice is key in this regard.

Following a presentation of reports from the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Gulnara Shahinian, the EU asked to hear more about the successful strategies some States employed to highlight this problem and to address its causes and consequences. In the discussion with the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat M'jid Maalla, the EU asked how the Special Rapporteur envisages the continuation of cooperation with other United Nations Special Procedures.

During the week the EU also engaged in the dialogue during a half-day Panel on Migrants in Detention Centers, as migration, asylum and refugee issues are among the priority areas of EU policies.

On Tuesday September 22 the work of the Council will continue with a General Debate on country situations.

Read delivered EU statements

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