Japan, introducing L.14 on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members on behalf of the Core Group, said the resolution aimed at closing the history of discrimination against and stigmatization of leprosy patients, ex-patients and their families, and focused on their social inclusion.  It requested the establishment of a Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons belonging to that group, and reaffirmed that they were entitled to the full enjoyment of their rights.  The aim was for the Special Rapporteur to fulfil the mandate within one three-year term ending in 2020, or two terms at the most.   

The Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus for one year by a vote of 18 in favour, eight against, with 21 abstentions. The Council adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Syria, by a vote of 27 in favour, eight against, with 12 abstentions, in which it demanded that all parties work urgently towards the comprehensive implementation of the Geneva communiqué, including through the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full executive powers.  It also urged the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council and the Commission of Inquiry by granting it immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the country.  In a resolution on cooperation with and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights, adopted by a vote of 22 in favour, six against, with 19 abstentions, the Council recognized the continuing need for ongoing reporting, including on the most serious human rights problems within Ukraine and their root causes.

Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America.

The United Kingdom regretted that amendments were rejected by many countries and was concerned that certain elements of the text suggested that the reference to the protection of the family could be used as a justification for human rights violations such as female genital mutilation. 

protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons, adopted by a recorded vote of 30 in favour to 12 against with 5

Against (13): Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America.  

the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights, adopted by a recorded vote of 30 in favour to 13 against with 3 abstentions, the Council calls upon all countries to realize people-centred development of the people, by the people and for the people, and also calls upon all States to spare no effort in promoting sustainable development, in particular while implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as it is conducive to the overall enjoyment of human rights. 

All types of loving families should be taken into account, be it a family composed of a single mother or a same sex couple.  The resolution failed to provide sufficient protection to all types of families.

Other distortions of consensus language had been included, making development a prerequisite to the completion of human rights.   

extended the mandates on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and on extreme poverty and human rights

he Chinese Government had asked for several amendments to the report. That request had not been taken into account. In his conclusions, the Special Rapporteur had criticized several detention cases of criminals which amounted to overcoming its mandate and breaking the principle of sovereignty. China would not tolerate that the human rights banner could be used to cover activities that would go against public order.

appreciation for China’s comment that parts of the report were fair, but rejected the concept of “judicial sovereignty” which would lead a Special Rapporteur not to reflect on human rights violations. He reiterated his concern for the treatment of Jiang Tianyong. Regarding Mauritania, he noted that his visits had covered most of the population of a vast country. The Government had suggested he had not met with a wide range of non-governmental organizations; in fact he had met with over 50 of them. The main challenge in Mauritania was to recognize the distinctions which took place on the basis of ethnicity. The Government would be better served if it disaggregated data based on ethnicity. He called for the Government to release the two “IRA” representatives who were still imprisoned.

was not necessary to have a clear definition of “femicide” in order to start collecting relevant data.  All gender-related killings should be grouped in two categories.  The first one should encompass those committed by intimate partners or family members, whereas the other group should include all other gender-related killings. 

Asian Legal Resource Centre noted that judges and lawyers in Asia were facing an unprecedented crackdown on their professional freedom and independence, most notably in Bangladesh, China and Thailand, where they faced severe threats.

China said it was undergoing a judicial reform to improve judicial independence.  China was committed to eliminating violence against women and had in place a system for the legal protection of women based on the Constitution and about 100 implementation laws. 

called for the establishment of a United Nations global database on numbers and types of shelters and recommended that States provide for a sufficient number of safe shelters that were adequately funded, including in rural areas.

illegal practices and numerous daily violations, such as extrajudicial killings and injury, home demolitions, forced displacement, arrest and detention, and the denial of basic human rights.  Palestinian women lived in a permanent state of insecurity, tension and fear due to the colonial occupation.  Palestinian women were also disproportionately affected by racist Israeli policies and laws which prevented Palestinians with different residencies from living together as a family.  Only an end to the occupation and the fulfilment of the long-overdue self-determination of the Palestinian people would bring true and lasting empowerment to the Palestinian people,

Russian Federation regretted that the Special Rapporteur had paid attention to issues tangential to his mandate.  The Russian position was well known; the possible use of the internet for purposes incompatible with security was known, and the Russian Federation had advocated for the prevention of conflict in cyberspace.

Turkey faced severe and multiple terrorist threats and was combatting a number of terrorist organizations.  The ongoing state of emergency was thus necessary.  The investigations conducted on certain journalists after the coup were not due to their journalistic work but to their support or link to the terrorist organizations. 

the Council to identify the norms and practices applicable to the expression of freedom of expression in the digital space, particularly on platforms, and policies and practices for protection from harassment, false information and propaganda

hat often counter-terrorism laws were vague in this regard and were also often used to suppress the opposition and dissent.

Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund was concerned about the continued use of discriminatory laws and practices to punish women fighting for their rights and maintain patriarchal attitudes.  Honduras continued its attempts to criminalize abortion despite the recommendations issued by the international human rights system and Guatemala’s discrimination and violence against indigenous women continued, including rape.

China, speaking in a right of reply, said some non-governmental organizations had made accusations against China which were rejected strenuously.  China had made efforts to improve welfare in Xinjiang, and the GDP of the province had increased to over $ 900 billion.  China’s constitution provided that Chinese citizens had the freedom of religious belief, and normal activities were protected.  The Government sent students and teachers of religious institutions to Egypt and other countries, and in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, the Government understood the religious sentiments of the people and their needs for non-interference during periods such as Ramadan.

delegations stressed that technical cooperation and capacity building should always be guided by the principles of cooperation, genuine dialogue, impartiality and objectivity, and in line with countries’ needs.  The Council’s mandate on technical assistance was a powerful tool in the promotion of human rights: in 2016 alone, about 63 national human rights institutions had been established or strengthened because of the cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the States concerned; 96 country visits by Special Procedures had been undertaken; and around 47,000 victims of torture in 80 countries had received rehabilitation support. 

United Nations agencies played a crucial role in transforming the Universal Periodic Review’s recommendations into tangible realities.

had also provided extensive assistance to enable States to establish national human rights action plans, and to further coordinate implementation through the work of national mechanisms for reporting and follow-up.   That kind of systemic approach involved reaching out to national human rights institutions and civil society – including people from vulnerable and traditionally marginalized groups – as well as to regional, national and local officials.  In struggling to establish comprehensive and profound engagement with the national and local landscape, the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had to be able to count on a long-term mandate for the Office’s field presence, as well as to secure funding.

the final analysis was based on 64 reports issued between 2009 and 2016, containing 929 recommendations by the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Human Rights Council mechanisms.  The final analysis included recommendations to all parties, which had been grouped into seven thematic areas: accountability and access to justice, international engagement, right to liberty and treatment in detention, settlements, freedom of movement, other civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. 

addressing the issues of social media and the internet and how they could affect his mandate’s themes, said they had to begin by looking at the technologies as facilitators for the rights of individuals.

China noted that discussions under item 4 should be held in line with the principles of objectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation.  Unfortunately, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany attacked other countries, staining the Council’s work.  Their own human rights records did not look good, with xenophobia and violence against refugees and migrants increasing.  They turned a blind eye to their own problems while criticizing others. 

hina would not allow for any possibility to challenge the basic political system of the State.  China reiterated its call to stop the politicization of human rights issues by some Member States of the Council.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, speaking in a right of reply, categorically rejected the provocative remarks made by Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States.  They were politically motivated and had nothing to do with human rights.  It rejected resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which were full of fabrications and lies.  A political and military confrontation was being directed against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the guise of human rights.  Armament was a necessary self-defence measure for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  The Republic of Korea should release abductees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, while Japan should stop misusing the abduction issue and should instead sincerely apologize for its past crimes. Republic of Korea, speaking in a right of reply in response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said it would not repeat what had been said about defectors from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who had escaped of their own free will.  It called on that country to improve its policies and the human rights situation of its people.  The new Government of the Republic of Korea would put forward diverse efforts to help improve the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, speaking in a second right of reply, rejected the misleading allegations and evasive attitude of Japan.  It rejected resolutions that were full of lies and fabrications.  It reminded of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions that called for full respect and implementation of the Inter-Korean Declaration.  It called on the Republic of Korea to change its confrontational policy towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and to faithfully implement the Declaration.  Japan’s evasiveness vis-à-vis its past crimes was deplorable. 

HRC35 saw the creation of a new Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members 

called for ‘the Council’s agenda item 7 [to] be removed.’ ‘

she said, the UN will need to improve the election process for Council membership, to prevent ‘the worst human rights abusers from obtaining seats on the Council.’ That would mean, in turn: an end to the practice whereby regional groups pre-cook ‘clean slate’ (i.e. non-competitive) elections so that, for example, 3 States ‘compete’ for 3 seats, (perhaps unsurprisingly, Ambassador Haley failed to mention that the US too has benefited from ‘clean slate’ polls); and the replacement of ‘secret ballots…with open voting.’

she would need to see (and, more importantly, she would presumably need to ‘sell’ to the White House) ‘a couple of critically important’ reforms.

his expert group sends to companies are 'taken very seriously' by both States and businesses. As such they can be key channels for human rights defenders to leverage the UN experts to contribute to their protection, and help respond to situations where human rights defenders are stigmatised, criminalised, attacked or killed. 

Please, do answer my Communications. Do answer my letters. Do engage with the mandate… and of course, respect and implement the standards that are already there’. 

sent by UN independent experts to countries regarding allegations of human rights violations, and it exposes the fact that 42 countries have failed to reply to at least once such letter sent since the last session of the Human Rights Council.

Of the many countries that have failed to react to a communication from a UN Special Procedure mandate holder, 17 are Human Rights Council Members. That’s more than a third of all Members.’ The statement listed these 17 countries – Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burundi, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and the US

we welcome your emphasis on the importance of inclusion and civil society participation in efforts to inform your work and implement your recommendations on the ground.

(ICTs) in facilitating the fulfilment of other human rights such as the right to health, education, and participation in public debate, particularly for marginalised groups. There are no internet-specific resolutions expected at HRC35;

view a report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on ways to bridge the digital gender divide and reports of the Special Rapporteur on the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association that discuss a range of online privacy issues including censorship and government surveillance.

tresses that hate speech online has “exponential reach, spinning the web of violations in real time and into the future.”