Brussels, 27/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of the 19th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on 27 February-23 March, the EU states: “In light of the continued brutal crackdown on its citizens by the Syrian government, the human rights situation in Syria must stay high on the HRC agenda and the HRC should preserve a strong, effective capacity to monitor the situation.” In the conclusions adopted on Monday 27 February by the EU's Foreign Affairs Council, the EU states that it “expects the HRC to extend the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on Iran in order to maintain international attention on the worrying human rights situation in the country. Elsewhere in the region, of special concern are also the situations of Yemen and Bahrain. The situation in Libya should also remain on the agenda of the HRC.”
The EU explains that it will work closely with Japan in order to secure the extension of the mandate of the special rapporteur on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to address the continued critical human rights situation in the country. The EU will present a resolution on the situation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar, “which will fully reflect the important recent developments in the country and also recognise that serious human rights concerns, particularly in ethnic areas, remain”, according to the conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers. The EU will support efforts aimed at keeping the issue of accountability in Sri Lanka on the agenda of the HRC.
Thematic issues. In the light of recent attacks on members of religious minorities, the EU will present a resolution on freedom of religion or belief. Together with Latin American and Caribbean countries, the EU will promote an omnibus resolution on the rights of the child with a specific focus on children and administration of justice. The EU will also work with others, in particular South Africa, to ensure an appropriate follow-up to the landmark resolution adopted last year on discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, and to deliver an adequate response to the high commissioner's study on the matter.
The EU will also support efforts for the promotion and protection of the right of persons with disabilities. The EU underlines the need for the Human Rights Council to maintain its focus on freedom of association and assembly, as well as freedom of expression, including on the internet, and to provide concrete support to human rights activists and civil society organisations whose role is essential for the strengthening of democracy. (LC/transl.fl)