Reviewing the UN Human Rights Council:
Looking back and moving forward

Center for International Law and Policy 2010 Annual Conference

Friday, April 9, 2010, 9:30 am-5:00 pm

Location: The W Boston, 100 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116

The conference featured a diverse range of international experts.

Experts from around the globe joined in a discussion of the history, efficacy, and future of the UN’s Human Rights Council. Participants critically examined the work of the council with a view toward generating recommendations for the upcoming General Assembly review of the council. The diverse range of experts included prominent representatives from the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, the U.S. Department of State, diplomatic representatives from other council member states, civil society, and the academy.

Opening Address

Ms. Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, will deliver the opening address.

Ms. Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ambassadors' Luncheon

H.E. Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations in Geneva

H.E. Ambassador Eileen Donahoe, Representative of the United States to the UN Human Rights Council

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Loulichki, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations

H.E. Dr. Ali Treki, President of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly

Schedule of Events

The panel discussion was followed by a large and attentive audience.

Panel One: Looking Back – The Transformation from Commission to Council

8:30-9:30 am	Registration and Breakfast
9:30-9:40 am	Welcome John Cerone, Professor of International Law & Director of the Center for International Law & Policy, New England Law \| Boston; Special Advisor, U.S. Delegation to the Human Rights Council
9:40-10:15 am	Opening Address Ms. Kyung-Wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
10:30-11:45 am	Panel One: Looking Back – The Transformation from Commission to Council Moderator: Andrew Loewenstein, Partner, Foley Hoag LLC and Chair, Committee on Public International Law and Human Rights, Boston Bar Association Felice Gaer, Director, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights Kate Gorove, Office of the Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State Craig Mokhiber, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Headquarters Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Office and Representative at the United Nations, Amnesty International
11:45 am-Noon	Break
Noon-1:30 pm	Ambassador’s Luncheon Moderator: John Cerone, Professor of International Law & Director of the Center for International Law & Policy, New England Law \| Boston; Special Advisor, U.S. Delegation to the Human Rights Council H.E. Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations in Geneva H.E. Ambassador Eileen Donahoe, Representative of the United States to the UN Human Rights Council H.E. Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Loulichki, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations H.E. Dr. Ali Treki, President of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly
1:30-1:45 pm	Break
1:45-3 pm	Panel Two: An Examination of the Work of the Council Moderator: Amy Senier, Associate, Foley Hoag LLP Christina Cerna, Principal Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States Hurst Hannum, Professor of International Law, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University Andrew Hudson, Manager, Human Rights Defenders Program, Human Rights First Suzanne Nossel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
3-3:15 pm	Break
3:15-4:30 pm	Panel Three: Moving Forward—Recommendations for the Improving the Functioning and Effectiveness of the Council Moderator: Tawia Ansah, Professor of Law, New England Law \| Boston Juliette De Rivero, Geneva Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch Melanie Khanna, Legal Adviser, U.S. Mission to the U.N. and Other International Organizations Ted Piccone, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution Bertram Ramcharan, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ad interim
4:30-4:45 pm	Closing Remarks John Cerone, Professor of International Law & Director of the Center for International Law & Policy, New England Law \| Boston; Special Advisor, U.S. Delegation to the Human Rights Council

Speakers

Christina Cerna, Principal Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States

John Cerone, Professor of International Law & Director of the Center for International Law & Policy, New England Law | Boston; Special Advisor, U.S. Delegation to the Human Rights Council

Juliette De Rivero, Geneva Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch

Felice Gaer, Member, UN Committee Against Torture

Kate Gorove, Office of the Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State

Hurst Hannum, Professor of International Law, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

Andrew Hudson, Manager, Human Rights Defenders Program, Human Rights First

Melanie Khanna, Legal Adviser, U.S. Mission to the U.N. and Other International Organizations

Andrew Loewenstein, Partner, Foley Hoag LLC and Chair, Committee on Public International Law and Human Rights, Boston Bar Association

Craig Mokhiber, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Headquarters

Suzanne Nossel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs

Ted Piccone, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Bertram Ramcharan, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ad interim

Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Office and Representative at the United Nations, Amnesty International

Click here for full participant bios.

Further Information

Co-Sponsored by the New England Journal of International and Comparative Law, the American Society of International Law, the International Law Society, and the Boston Bar Association.

Please e-mail the Center for International Law and Policy for more information.

Reviewing the UN Human Rights Council: Looking back and moving forward