COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTS MICHAEL SMITH OF AUSTRALIA AS CHAIRPERSON OF ITS SIXTIETH SESSION

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTS MICHAEL SMITH OF AUSTRALIA

AS CHAIRPERSON OF ITS SIXTIETH SESSION

Also Elects Other Members of Bureau for Session Which Starts on 15 March 2004

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 19 January (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights today elected Ambassador Michael Peter Floyd Smith of Australia as Chairperson of the sixtieth session of the Commission which will start on 15 March 2004.

In a brief meeting, the Commission also elected Saeed Mohamed Al-Faihani of Bahrain, Manuel Antonio Gonzalez Sanz of Costa Rica, and Gordan Markotic of Croatia to the Bureau.  Mike Gbadebo Omotosho of Nigeria was elected as rapporteur.

Ambassador Smith said that it was a big honour for Australia and for himself for having been elected as Chairperson.  “Australia is a country that has a tradition of fair play, of giving everyone a fair go, and of plain speaking.  Let me assure you that my approach to this position will be very much informed by this tradition.  I will be as fair, balanced and approachable in the way in which I carry out these duties as I possibly can be”, he said.

Stating that he would dedicate himself to defending and promoting the cause of international human rights everywhere, Ambassador Smith underscored that the Commission’s work had to have an impact at the country level.

Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan opened the session with an address in which he paid homage to High Commissioner Sergio Vieira de Mello who was killed in a terrorist attack in Iraq exactly five months ago today. 

Mr. Ramcharan said that the effective implementation of human rights principles was the test of the credibility of the human rights enterprise.  Noting the Commission’s special procedures system of special rapporteurs, independent experts, representatives of the Secretary-General and working groups, all of which examined a broad range of situations and practices which violated human rights, Mr. Ramcharan said:  “The duty of conscience and the duty of protection go hand-in-hand.  I have always had faith in the Commission and in its historic mission and I continue to believe that you would want to rise to the challenge of protection and retain the respect of the peoples of the world in whose name you act.”  The acting High Commissioner specifically noted the problem of trafficking in young women and children, urging the Commission to make a contribution to this issue.

The sixtieth session of the Commission will conclude on 23 April 2004.

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