[hr-education] Re: Follow-up to the UN Decade for HRE

Dear colleagues,

   The UN Sub-Commission on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
adopted a resolution entitled "UN Decade for Human Rights Education" at
its annual session held from 28 July until 15 August in Geneva.  Not only
it was the first time that the Sub-Commission adopted such a resolution
since the Decade began, but also this resolution was unanimously adopted
by all the Sub-Commission members who were present in the room.  It is
very rare to happen at meetings of a UN human rights body. (Adoption by
consensus = adopted without vote because no one disagreed. Unanimous
adoption = every member present at the session is in favour of the
resolution hence adopted.  Normally every member co-sign or co-sponsor the
(draft) resolution.)

   It started by the statement made by a member of the Sub-Commission, Mr.
Yokota who proposed a second UN decade for HRE.  I would say, probably
there was none who anticipated that the Sub-Commission would deal with the
UN Decade for HRE issue since there is no agenda item directly linked with
HRE and accordingly the Sub-Commission has not done it ever.

   The NGOs swiftly reacted communicating each other, although the time
was very limited to prepare any action, in order to make a joint NGO
statement. In 4 days, the statement was drafted and signed by 7 NGOs
present at the Sub-Commission.  The statement was made on the basis of the
one we made at the Commission.

   By constructive dialogue and collaboration between the NGOs in Geneva
and the Sub-Commission members, the next step of the drafting the
resolution was made.

   I expect you all to understand that we had absolutely no time to
circulate the draft in advance since we had to finish it in 1-2 days
before the deadline of the draft to submit to the Sub-Commission. The
contents integrated very much what NGOs worked out during the Commission
on Human Rights's session in spring.  The Sub-Commission members were very
much in favour of the prepared draft since the beginning and adopted
unanimously.

   You can find the text of the resolution at:
  http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/55sub/advancedoc.htm#L11
and, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/L.11.  Resolution 2003/05

   Given this document, now we really need to do lobbying to the
appropriate authorities at the national level by NGOs. Also, we should
look ahead to the work of NGOs at the Commission next year.

   There is no guarantee that the Commission accepts the draft decision
recommended by the Sub-Commission resolution.

   Now, it is really up to what could be done from now until the next
session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, March-April 2004 that the
current UN Decade for Human Rights Education be maintained in a effective
form for its remaining areas of implementation.

   I suggest that each actor at the national and regional levels; (i)
promotes the importance of HRE again both in society - i.e. formation of
opinion poll, and (ii) more importantly does lobbying to the national
authority specifically influential to the government delegate to the UN
Commission on Human Rights session.  The government delegate who deals
with resolutions at the Commission on Human Rights always follow the
instruction given by the capital of the country in advance and during the
session.

  The following are some remarks of the resolution.

1. Sub-Commission recommends in operative paragraph 5;

  The following draft decision to the Commission on Human Rights for
adoption:

"The Commission on Human Rights, taking into consideration the report of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the follow-up to the United
Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004 (E/CN.4/2003/101), as
well as the recommendations contained in the report of the High
Commissioner on the midterm evaluation of the Decade (A/55/360), decides
to recommend to the Economic and Social Council that it recommend to the
General Assembly the proclamation of a second Decade for Human Rights
Education to begin on 1 January 2005."

2. The Sub-Commission recommends in operative paragraph 2;

The human rights treaty bodies, when examining reports of States parties,
devote attention specifically to human rights education and that human
rights education be included in the agenda of the annual meeting of the
persons chairing the treaty bodies so that they can make recommendations
on how human rights education can contribute to national capacity-building
aimed at strengthening national human rights protection mechanisms.

3. The Sub-Commission recommends in operative paragraph 3, referring to
o.para. 21 of Commission resolution 2003/70;

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (…) encourage
Governments to organize meetings, workshops and other activities at the
regional and international levels on the achievements and shortcomings of
the Decade, to be coordinated by the Office of the High Commissioner.

4. The Sub-Commission requests in operative paragraph 4;

  The Office of the High Commissioner to make available the study of the
High Commissioner on the follow-up to the United Nations Decade for Human
Rights Education, 1995-2004 (E/CN.4/2003/101) to the members of the
Sub-Commission at its fifty-sixth session in order that they may review
the achievements of the Decade and explore the possibilities for further
steps to be taken under the Plan of Action of the Decade.

  *****

Thank you,
Sincerely yours,

Kazunari Fujii
SGI UL Liaison Office, Geneva



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