HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES DECISION ON DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO ANTI-TORTURE PACT

FIRST EVER SESSION OF SOCIAL FORUM TO BE HELD

IN GENEVA FROM 25 TO 26 JULY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 July (UN Information Service) -- The first ever session of the Social Forum, which has been set up to create a space within the United Nations human rights system for dialogue with non-governmental organizations and members of civil society, will be held from 25 to 26 July at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Social Forum was established by the Commission on Human Rights to respond to human rights concerns on the impact of globalization on economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the impact of poverty and destitution on the realization of human rights.

The Commission on Human Rights, in a decision taken on 22 April, endorsed the request of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to authorize the holding of a pre-sessional forum on economic, social and cultural rights before the next session of the Sub-Commission (29 July to 16 August), with the participation of 10 of its members.  The Economic and Social Council approved the decision in its 2002 substantive session.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights envisages that the first part of the Forum will consist of a dialogue between civil society and a panel of eminent personalities, addressing the theme "Globalization and human rights:  challenges and opportunities in the new millennium".  The second part of the Forum will focus on the relationship between the right to adequate food and poverty reduction, giving special attention to the rural poor.

The Office of the High Commissioner is encouraging participation of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and other non-governmental organizations outside Geneva and particularly newly emerging actors in the South, such as smaller groups, grass-roots organizations, youth associations, community organizations, trade unions and associations of workers in the Social Forum.

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