International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Item 7 Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories • Human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories • Right to self-determination of the Palestinian people Item 8 Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action Item 9 Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action Item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Special sessions of the HRC are convened whenever a requisition for a session, signed by one-third of the HRC member States, is presented to the HRC President. Special sessions are held regularly. In its first six years, from June 2006 to June 2012, the HRC held 18 special sessions, dealing with both specific country situations and general human rights issues. Special sessions work on the same rules of procedure as regular sessions, though there are additional rules governing them.80 HRC meetings are characterized by a high level of participation. The 47 HRC member States are the principal participants and the only ones permitted to vote. Other States and organizations are permitted to participate as observers, without a vote: • UN Member States (“observer States” in the HRC) • UN specialized agencies (for example, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund) • regional and other groupings of States (for example, the Arab League, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) • NGOs with ECOSOC accreditation • “A status” NHRIs and their international and regional associations.81 HRC sessions are almost always held in public and observers, including NHRIs, have full access to the floor of the session. However, some meetings or parts of meetings may be closed to observers and restricted to member States. At each regular session, there is a confidential meeting to consider complaints.82 In addition, the HRC may decide to conduct a private meeting in “exceptional circumstances”.83 All decisions taken at a private meeting must be announced subsequently at an early public meeting of the HRC.84 6. PARTICIPATION BY NHRIs IN HRC MEETINGS In establishing the HRC the GA decided explicitly that: … the participation of and consultation with observers, including States that are not members of the Council, the specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, shall be based on arrangements, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 and practices observed by the Commission on Human Rights, while ensuring the most effective contribution of these entities …85 80 HRC Resolution 5/1; “V Agenda and framework for the programme of work”; part D. 81 For information about the accreditation of NHRIs and their levels of status, see Chapter 16 of this manual. 82 Under agenda item 5. See Chapter 13 of this manual for more information. 83 HRC Rules of Procedure; Rule 16. 84 HRC Rules of Procedure; Rule 17. 85 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 11. 32 | Chapter 5: Human Rights Council