Negotiations on the Human Rights Council continued throughout the week, with sessions held on 5 December, 7 December and 9 December. A new shorter text, expected mid-week, did not appear and negotiations advanced on the basis of the compilation text circulated a week earlier.

Though some governments voiced resistance to moving too speedily through the text, the Chair progressed relatively quickly, and States had opportunities to comment and make statements on the preambular section of the text as well as all the operative sections on status; mandate and functions; size, membership and composition; rules of procedure; methods of work; and transitional arrangements.

Discussions heated up this week over the issue of peer review (OP 6 (d)), with many developing governments concerned that the review might be used as a punitive rather than a cooperative device, and a few developed countries fearing that the mechanism would divert funds from other areas and programs that may have a more direct impact on implementation of human rights in countries.

One particular issue of concern this week was the support by a handful of countries for a proposal by China that the Council supervise or review the work of the now independent Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OP6 (o)): an unacceptable propostion for many countries as well as human rights nongovernmental organisations following the negotiations.

For the most part during the discussions, governments took the floor to restate their positions. More intense and genuine negotiations are expected to start when the General Assembly President's Office releases a new streamlined text on Monday December 12.

Source: International Service for Human Rights