International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions 7. HRC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The HRC is exploring ways to use information technology to make its procedures more transparent and accessible. All regular and special sessions of the HRC, apart from private meetings, are now webcast live.90 In addition, the website has an excellent archive that enables past sessions to be accessed and individual events and statements to be watched long afterwards. This service was funded by the Swiss Government during the first years of the HRC and is now accepted as a continuing HRC arrangement. An NHRI is able to follow HRC debates without having to travel to Geneva and an “A status” NHRI can participate through ICC and APF representatives in Geneva, including by having those representatives make any statements that the NHRI may wish to make. In addition, the HRC has decided to “explore the feasibility of the use of information technology, such as videoconferencing or video messaging, in order to enhance access and participation by non-resident State delegations, specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and [“A status”] national human rights institutions … as well as by non-governmental organizations in consultative status, bearing in mind the need to ensure full compliance of such participation with its rules of procedure and rules concerning accreditation”.9192 On 5 March 2012, during the HRC’s 19th ordinary session, the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice in Timor Leste became the first NHRI to address the HRC by video when he presented a three-minute statement as part of the NHRI’s follow-up activities to the February 2011 visit to Timor Leste by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.92 A Timorese child holding a United Nations flag is seen inside a local bus in Dili. UN Photo by Martine Perret. 90 The webcast is accessible at: www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/. 91 HRC Resolution 16/21; para. 59. 92 See: www.asiapacificforum.net/news/nhris-join-global-discussion-of-key-human-rights-issues. Chapter 5: Human Rights Council | 35