UNITED

NATIONS

	International Human Rights Instruments	Distr. GENERAL HRI/MC/1994/1 15 July 1994 Original: ENGLISH

Fifth Meeting of Chairpersons

  of Human Rights Treaty Bodies 

19-23 September 1994

PROVISIONAL AGENDA AND ANNOTATIONS

Note by the Secretary-General

1.   The fifth meeting of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies will be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 19 to 23 September 1994. The meeting will be convened on Monday, 19 September 1994 at 10 a.m.

2.   This document contains the provisional agenda for the fifth meeting of chairpersons, prepared by the Secretary-General, together with annotations relating thereto.

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

1.   Opening of the meeting.

2.   Election of the officers of the meeting.

3.   Adoption of the agenda.

4.   Organizational and other matters.

5.   Review of recent developments relating to the work of the treaty bodies.

6.   Improving the operation of the human rights treaty bodies.

7.   Adoption of the report.

GE.94-17413 (E)

ANNOTATIONS TO THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA

1.   Opening of the meeting

      The meeting will be opened by the representative of the Secretary-General, who will act as temporary chairperson until a chairperson is elected.

2.   Election of the officers of the meeting

      A chairperson and a rapporteur will be elected from among the treaty body representatives at the meeting.

3.   Adoption of the agenda

      The meeting will adopt its agenda, which it may decide to revise at any time and, as appropriate, add, defer or delete items.

4.   Organizational and other matters

      Under this agenda item, the meeting will consider its programme of work. In this connection, attention is drawn to the recommendation of the fourth meeting of chairpersons that, at the next meeting of chairpersons, representatives of non-governmental organizations be invited to address the meeting and to submit appropriate recommendations for consideration by the meeting (see A/47/628, para. 85).

5.   Review of recent developments relating to the work of the treaty bodies

      Under this agenda item, there will be a brief oral review by each of the participants on recent developments of special concern to the respective treaty bodies.

6.   Improving the operation of the human rights treaty bodies

      Under this agenda item, the meeting may wish to consider ways to improve the operation of the treaty bodies. In this connection, the chairpersons will have before them the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of the international instruments and the general situation of overdue reports (HRI/MC/1994/3) and on improving the operation of the human rights treaty bodies (HRI/MC/1994/2) which, inter alia, contains references to specific issues and related developments examined in the light of follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights, as well as in regard to the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the fourth meeting of chairpersons, the Vienna statement of the international human rights treaty bodies and the interim report of the updated study of the independent expert on enhancing the long-term effectiveness of the United Nations human rights treaty regime.

      In addition, the meeting will have before it the following documentation:

      (a)  Report of the fourth meeting of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies (A/47/628);

      (b)  Consideration of the conclusions and recommendations of the fourth meeting of persons chairing human rights treaty bodies (A/48/508 and Corr.1);

      (c)  Financing and adequate staff resources for the operations of the human rights treaty bodies (A/48/560);

      (d)  Interim report of the updated study of the independent expert on enhancing the long-term effectiveness of the United Nations human rights treaty regime (A/CONF.157/PC/62/Add.11/Rev.1);

      (e)   Vienna statement of the international human rights treaty bodies (A/CONF.157/TBB/4 and Add.1);

      (f)   Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23);

      (g)  Relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 47/111 and 48/120 on the effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights; resolution 48/119 on the International Covenants on Human Rights; and resolution 48/141 on the High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights;

      (h)  Relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, including resolutions 1993/16 and 1994/19 on the effective functioning of bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments; resolution 1994/15 on the status of the International Covenants on Human Rights; and resolution 1994/16 on the succession of States in respect of international human rights treaties;

      (i)   Compilation of general comments and general recommendations adopted by human rights treaty bodies (HRI/GEN/1/Rev.1).

7.   Adoption of the report

      The fifth meeting of chairpersons will adopt its report, which will be transmitted to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session. The report will contain, inter alia, the conclusions and recommendations of the meeting.

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