U.N.COMM. ON HUMAN RIGHTS GEARING-U

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Subject: U.N.COMM. ON HUMAN RIGHTS GEARING-UP TO SCRUTINIZE BURMA(4/3/97)

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[06 Mar 1997] HR/CN/756 :
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO HOLD ANNUAL SESSION AT GENEVA 10 MARCH - 18 APRIL

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GENEVA, 4 March (Un Information Service) -- Fifty years after its           
inaugural session, the Commission on Human Rights is set once again to review
the state of human rights in the world as it meets in Geneva from 10 March to
18 April. <P>              

As the main United Nations human rights organ, the Commission has an           
extensive mandate that allows it to examine the whole spectrum of human rights
-- from summary or arbitrary executions to the effects of toxic waste dumping
on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms.  That pioneering tradition built
over half a century continues this year with the consideration of such issues
as human rights and HIV/AIDS, conscientious objection to military service,
human rights and technological developments, the treatment of detainees and
the right to development, among others. <P>              

The 53 States members of the Commission also consider specific country
situations.  This year, over 15 States and territories will be scrutinized,
including Equatorial Guinea, southern Lebanon and West Bekaa, Cuba, the former
Yugoslavia, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Iran and East Timor.
In addition, Commission members will review developments concerning human
rights in Colombia; Chechnya, Russian Federation; and Liberia. <P>
              
One issue expected to draw much of the Commission's attention at this
session is the situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa.  The Commission
will have before it reports from its special rapporteurs on human rights in 
Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire. <P>              

The Commission will also continue to examine several longstanding items 
in its agenda, such as the question of human rights violations in the occupied
Arab territories and the situation in Cyprus. <P>              

In addition to studying the protection of vulnerable groups such as           
migrant workers and minorities, the Commission will look at the realization in
all countries of economic, social and cultural rights.  It will also focus on
issues such as enforced disappearances; arbitrary detention; freedom of
opinion and expression; racial discrimination and xenophobia; mercenaries; 
religious intolerance; human rights and mass exoduses, and the independence
and impartiality of the judiciary. 

This fifty-third session will, furthermore, see the Commission continue
its work in the area of standard-setting, one of its many considerable
achievements over the last half century.  The Commission will further 
elaborate a draft text on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups
and organs of society to promote and protect human rights and fundamental
freedoms. <P>              

Standard-setting will also be the focus as children's rights are           
discussed, with the Commission scheduled to review efforts to draft           
international legal instruments against the use of children in armed conflicts
and to fight child prostitution and pornography.  The forum will also consider
the final report of a study on protection of children affected by armed
conflicts carried out by the Expert appointed by the Secretary-General, Gra
Machel; and evaluate the implementation of a programme of action against child
labour. <P>              

Another area of priority for the Commission at this session is           
indigenous issues, including progress on the draft United Nations declaration
on the rights of indigenous peoples; activities for the International Decade
of the World's Indigenous People, which commenced in December 1994; and the 
establishment of a permanent forum in the United Nations for indigenous
people.  The Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities, a subsidiary of the Commission, has also submitted a report
containing draft decisions on indigenous issues for action.  That report
includes resolutions and decisions adopted by the Subcommission on, among
other issues, the situations in the Middle East, Kosovo, Rwanda, Burundi,
Iraq, Iran and the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel.

Violence against women will be the subject of the report of the Special 
Rapporteur appointed by the Commission in 1994.  At that time, the Commission
called for an intensified effort at an international level to integrate the 
equal status of women and their human rights into the mainstream of United
Nations activity and to address those issues regularly and systematically
throughout relevant United Nations bodies. <P>              

Other issues to be examined include:  follow-up to the World Conference 
on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993); the right of peoples to self-determination; 
advisory services to governments in human rights matters; human rights and 
terrorism; and hostage-taking. <P>              

Finally, this anniversary year of the Commission will provide an           
opportunity for members to consider progress in preparations for the           
celebration in 1998 of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. <P>              

High Commissioner for Human Rights Jose Ayala-Lasso, who is leaving his 
post on 15 March following his resignation, will address the opening of the 
session.  Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed, ad interim, Ralph
Zacklin, Director and Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs,
as the Officer-in-Charge of the human rights programme during the selection
process for the post of High Commissioner. <P>              

The Commission was established in 1946 by the Economic and Social           
Council, and it held its first session in 1947.  In addition to preparing
studies, making recommendations and drafting international human rights
instruments, it also undertakes special tasks assigned to it by the General
Assembly or the Council, including the investigation of alleged human rights
violations.  In addition, it provides for the coordination of human rights
activities in the United Nations system.  The Commission has been authorized,
since 1990, to meet exceptionally between regular sessions to consider
particularly grave human rights situations, provided that a majority of its
53 members so agree. <P>              

Human Rights Violations <P>              

The Commission on Human Rights ....................

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