This statement is made on behalf of 269 non-governmental organisations. It cannot be made on behalf of all
non-governmental organisations because we have no authority to do so.
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 organisations to its work “based on
arrangements … and practices observed by the Commission”.
Signed by,
Action Canada for Population and Development, Canada
Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Israel
Adivasi Unnayan Kendra (Centre for Indigenous Peoples Development), Bangladesh
Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization
Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l’Homme, France
AIN O SALISH KENDRA (ASK), Bangladesh
Al Haq, Palestine
All Nepal Peasants’ Association, Nepal
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia
Alliance Rights Nigeria, Nigeria
Amnesty International, United Kingdom
Anglican Consultative Council, Switzerland
Anti-Racism Information Service, Switzerland
Arab Commission for Human Rights, France
Arab Lawyers Union
ARC International, Switzerland/Canada
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Thailand
Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD), Thailand
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Thailand
Asian Legal Resource Centre, China
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España, Spain
Association for Prevention of Torture, Switzerland
Association for World Education, Switzerland
Association of Humanitarian Lawyers, Switzerland
Association of World Citizens, Switzerland
Australian Council for International Development, Australia
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Australia
Bahá’ì International Community, Switzerland
Banader Community Council, Somali, Germany
Bureau of International Solidarity (BIS) of Marist Brothers, Italy
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canada
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
Casa Alianza, Honduras
Center for Women’s Global Leadership, USA
Centre de conseils et d’appui pour les jeunes en matière de droits de l’Homme, Switzerland
Centre for Conflict Studies, Nepal
Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia
Centre for Organisation Research & Education, India
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), Switzerland
Centre québécois de formation pour les jeunes en matière de droit humain, Canada
Centro de Derechos Humanos “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez”, Mexico
Centro de Derechos Humanos Agustin Pro-Juarez, Mexico
Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartoloméde Las Casas, Brazil
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Argentina
Centro para la Defensa del Consumidor, El Salvador
Christian Life Community of the Philippines, Philippines
CLAT-Nederland Solidarity with trade unions in Latin-America, Netherlands
Collectif Inter – Associatif pour la Réalisation des Activités Scientifiques et Techniques Jeunes au Cameroun,
Cameroon
Colombian Commission of Jurists, Colombia
Combined Legal Services Group, Australia
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, India
Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA), Argentina
Conectas Direitos Humanos, Brazil
Conference of Non-Government Organisations, Switzerland
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, USA
Consejo Indio de Sud America (Indian Council of South America), Peru
Consultative Council of Jewish Organisations, United Kingdom
Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Peru
Corporación Humanas – Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos y Justicia de Género,Chile
CRD (The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders), China
Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action, India
CRIN, Child Rights Information Network, United Kingdom
Dana and Qadisiyah Local Community Cooperative, Jordan
Defence of Children International, Palestine Section, Jerusalem
Derechos Humanos del Centro de Asesoria Laboral del Perú, Peru
Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Switzerland
Earth Peoples – Indigenous Peoples Information sharing circle, USA
Earthjustice, Switzerland
ECPAT International, Thailand
Egale Canada, Canada
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Egypt
EIP- Association mondiale pour l’école instrument de paix, Switzerland
El Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas de Chiapas, Mexico
El Colectivo de Abogados “Jose Alvear Restrepo” de Colombia, Colombia
European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA), Germany
Europe-Third World Center (CETIM), Switzerland
FEDFAM, Argentina
Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme, France
Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas Inc. (FAWCO), Netherlands
Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants, Switzerland
Femmes Africa Solidarité, Senegal
Fisheries Union of Bengkulu, Indonesia
Fondation Daniel Mitterrand, France
Foodfirst Information and Action Network (FIAN), Germany
Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos, Argentina
Forum for Indigenous Perspectives and Action, India
Forum Human Rights, Germany
Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, Australia
Foundation Solidarity in Partnership for One World in Diversity, Germany
Franciscans International, Switzerland
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Germany
Georgian Association of Women in Business, Georgia
Global Alternate Information Applications, India
Global Network for the Prevention of Torture, Bangladesh
Global Rights, USA
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA), Cameroon
Greek Helsinki Monitor, Greece
Haut Commissariat d’Intervention Générale, Cameroon
Homosexuelle Initiative (HOSI), Austria
Human Development and Peace Campaign, Nepal
Human Lactation Center, USA
Human Rights Advocates, USA
Human Rights Center “Citizens against Corruption”, Kyrgyzstan
Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan
Human Rights Council of Australia, Australia
Human Rights Monitoring Institute, Lithuania
Human Rights Watch, USA
Human Rights Without Frontiers, Nepal
Humanity for Orphans, Youth and Widows Initiatives, Kenya
ILGA Europe, Europe/Belgium
IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor, Indonesia
Indonesia Legal Aid and Human Rights Association, Indonesia
Indonesian Legal Aid Society Association, Indonesia
Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy, Indonesia
Information Monitor (INFORM), Sri Lanka
Institute for Planetary Synthesis, Switzerland
Inter-American Center for Human Rights, USA
International Alliance of Women, Austria
International Alliance of Women, Switzerland
International Association for Religious Freedom, United Kingdom
International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty, Switzerland
International Association Initiatives of Change, Switzerland
International Association of Charities, Belgium
International Association of Democratic Lawyers, France
International Association of Schools of Social Work, Ethiopia
International Association of the Universities of the Third Age, France
International Campaign for Tibet Europe, Netherlands
International Commission of Jurists – Danish section, Denmark
International Commission of Jurists, Switzerland
International Council of Women, Switzerland
International Educational Development, Switzerland
International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities
(IFPRERLOM), USA
International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture, France
International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Thailand
International Federation of Social Workers, Switzerland
International Federation of University Women, Switzerland
International Federation of Women Lawyers, Finland
International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Netherlands
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, Austria
International Humanist and Ethical Union, United Kingdom
International Initiative for Visibility of Queer Muslims, Bosnia and Herzegovina
International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies, Switzerland
International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples, Switzerland
International Lesbian and Gay Association, Belgium
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Japan
International NGO Forum On Indonesian Development, Indonesia
International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Switzerland
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation, USA
International Progress Organization, Austria
International Protection Center, Russia
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture (IRCT), Denmark
International Save the Children Alliance, Switzerland
International Service for Human Rights, Switzerland
International Volunteerism Organization for Women Education and Development (VIDES), Italy
International Women’s Rights Action Watch (IWRAW) Asia Pacific, Malaysia
International Working Group on Sexuality and Social Policy, Brazil
International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations, Switzerland
Inter-religious International Federation for World Peace, Switzerland
Iqra Foundation, India
Japan Fellowship of Reconciliation, Japan
Justiça Global, Brazil
KAREK, Kyrgyzstan
Kingsford Legal Centre, Australia
Korean Sexual-Minority Culture and Rights Center, Republic of Korea
La Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Peru
La Junta Directiva Regional del Foro de Mujeres del Mercosur, Paraguay
L’Association Mondiale pour l’Ecole Instrument de Paix, Switzerland
Law and People, Kyrgyzstan
Law Association of Zambia, Zambia
Law, Human Rights and Justice (HAK) Association, Timor Leste
Legal Advisory Office for Popular Organisations (GAJOP), Brazil
Legal Aid Office of Bengkulu, Indonesia
Legal Aid Society of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD), Germany
Liberty Victoria (Victorian Council for Civil Liberties), Australia
Ligue internationale contre le racisme et l’antisemitisme, France
Lutheran World Federation, Switzerland
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, USA
Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc, USA
Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), Germany
Mercy International Association, USA
MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Republic of Korea
Minority Rights Group, Greece
Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitie entre le peuples (MRAP), France
Mouvement Lao pour les Droits de l’Homme, France
Movimiento Nacional por los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala, Guatemala
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Secretariat, Australia
National Association of Community Legal Centres, Australia
National Women’s Lobby & Rights Group, Malawi
Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten, Netherlands
Nepal Bar Association, Human Rights Committee, Nepal
Nepal International Consumers Union, Nepal
Nord-Sud XXI, Switzerland
NSW Aboriginal Lands Council, Australia
Odhikar, Bangladesh
Order of Discalced Carmelites, Italy
Organisation for Non-patriarchal Inter-faith Dialogue Logos, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Organisation Mondiale Contre La Torture, Switzerland
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), Palestine
Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association International, Switzerland
Pax Christi International, Belgium
Pax Romana, Switzerland
People Who, USA
People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning, USA
Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Philippines
Physicians for Human Rights, USA
Planetary Association for Clean Energy (PACE), Canada
Prison Fellowship International, Switzerland
ProGay Philippines, the Philippines
Pusat Komas Community Communication Centre, Malaysia
Rede Nacional Feminista de Saúde, Direitos Sexuais e Direitos Reprodutivos, Brazil
Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières International, Switzerland
Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, South Africa
Rights Australia, Australia
Romanian Independent Society of Human Rights, Romania
Rural Initiatives in Sustainability and Empowerment, Pakistan
Russian Research Center for Human Rights, Russia
Safe Water for Africa Community Initiative, Nigeria
Save Bombay Committee and Prakruti, India
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Italy
Sekretariat Anak Merdeka Indonesia (SAMIN), Indonesia
Shen Yang Ai Zhi Yuan Zhu Center for Health and Education, China
Shimin Gaikou Centre (Citizens’ Diplomatic Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), Japan
Siberian Human Rights Network “Rights Society”, Russia
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, USA
Socialist International Women, United Kingdom
Society for Human Assistance and Development, Pakistan
Society for Threatened Peoples International, Luxemburg
Soka Gakkai International, Japan
Soroptimist International, United Kingdom
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia
Sudan National Committee on Traditional Practices, Sudan
Susila Dharma International, United Kingdom
SVG-Human Rights Association, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Think Centre, Singapore
Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario, Canada
Transnational Radical Party, USA
UN Watch, USA
Unescocat – Unesco Centre of Catalonia, Spain
Union Farmers of Bengkulu, Indonesia
Union Internationale des Avocats, Belgium
Universal Esperanto Association, Netherlands
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, the Netherlands
Women for Contemporary Society Association, Moldova
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Switzerland
Women’s International Zionist Organization, Israel
Women’s UN Report Network, USA
Women’s World Summit Foundation, Switzerland
Women’s Federation for World Peace International, Switzerland
Women’s Federation for World Peace International, USA
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – Australian Section, Australia
World Blind Union, Spain
World Council of Churches, Switzerland
World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, USA
World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Austria
World Federation of the DeafBlind, Denmark
World Federation of United Nations Associations, Switzerland
World Forum of Civil Society Networks (UBUNTU), Spain
World Movement of Mothers, France
World Student Christian Federation. Switzerland
World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations, France
World Union of Progressive Judaism, Switzerland
World Vision International, Switzerland
World Young Women’s Christian Association, Switzerland
Worldwide Organization for Women, USA
Yayasan Tanpa Batas, Indonesia
Zi Teng, Hong Kong SAR, China
Zonta International, USA