Last week, on Wednesday 22 March, the Economic and Social Council requested the Commission on Human Rights to conclude its work in a short procedural session and to abolish the Commission, in effect as of 16 June 2006. The Commission is expected to conclude its work after a three hour session, in which only one NGO statement will be permitted. UNPO is joining other NGOs in a joint NGO declaration prepared by the International Service for Human Rights to be presented at the last session. Please find below the text of this declaration.

UNPO Secretariat

Statement to the Final Session of the Commission on Human Rights

During the 60 years of the Commission on Human Rights, non-governmental organisations have played, in the words of the General Assembly, "an important role at the national, regional and international levels, in the promotion and protection of human rights". Unfortunately the arrangement made for their participation in the final session of the Commission through a single statement does not allow this important role to be reflected. Non-governmental organisations are very diverse, reflecting the variety and multiplicity of human experiences. They have brought to the Commission the voices of the voiceless and of victims of violations throughout the world. That diversity and those voices cannot be encapsulated in a single statement. With disappointment and a sense of loss, we note that they are missing from the final session of the Commission.

We have decided therefore not to make a single non-governmental statement to assess the work of the Commission. We cannot accept that this is an appropriate way to proceed now or in the future and we urge States to acknowledge this.

We look forward positively to the establishment of the Human Rights Council. We remind all States of the terms of the recent General Assembly resolution which committed the future Human Rights Council to "ensuring the most effective contribution" of non-governmental organizations to its work "based on arrangements … and practices observed by the Commission".

We invite all here today to join us in standing and observing a moment of silence for those who have suffered human rights violations during the life of this Commission, to mark with dignity its closing.