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#HRC43 is resuming in a few minutes on http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/43rd-regular-session-human-rights-council/5708665739001, starting with an informal discussion on the modalities and dates of #HRC44. We hope to get the much-needed information that has been lacking so far, which is hindering #CivilSocietyParticipation and planning.
This is after several consultations where many Global South states raised concerns on unequal participation in the #HRC, if convened, given the ongoing lockdown and focus of many capitals on COVID-19 response and given the restricted capacity of many smaller missions in Geneva.
Today many Global South delegations reiterated their request to postpone #HRC44 by at least 1 week, and repeated that they will not be able to participate meaningfully given capacity constraints due to COVID-19 & the impossibility to receive capital staff support. #HRC43
These concerns of course also apply to civil society especially when not based in Geneva, and especially in the Global South. #HRC43 https://twitter.com/SexualRights/status/1272861178516176898?s=20
But many delegations, especially from the Western European & Others Group, support convening #HRC44 next week and used last week's #HRC43 #UrgentDebate and resolution on systemic racism & police brutality as a successful example of the importance of the #HRC's work...
... completely covering up the fact that the #UrgentDebate discussions and the resolution that followed it were watered down to the point of stripping almost all references to the US, and replacing the African Group's call for a commission of inquiry by a @UNhumanrights report.
For a recap of the #UrgentDebate please see our thread: https://twitter.com/SexualRights/status/1273242628180652032
And for a recap of the voting and adoption discussions on the #HRC43 resolution on racism and police brutality, please see this thread: https://twitter.com/SexualRights/status/1273966230148440066
And of course check out the updates and statement from our partner @CALAdvocacy, and the call from the Special Rapporteur on Racism and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent who criticized that lip service: https://twitter.com/CALAdvocacy/status/1273945505807110144
The same states who contributed to watering down the #HRC43 resolution & #UrgentDebate last week & complained of lack of time & transparency for negotiations are now using it as a successful example of the #HRC's ability to work quickly & flexibly in the time of COVID-19...
After they disregarded the demand for a special HRC session & independent inquiry into police violence & repression of protests in the US from the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile & Michael Brown, supported by over 600 groups: https://twitter.com/jdakwar/status/1270056578725675010?s=20
This is a continuation of the lip service we saw last week, spinning the #HRC43 #UrgentDebate & resolution on systemic racism & police brutality as a victory of the #HRC & evidence of its credibility - when the credible action would have been to establish a commission of inquiry.
