UNITED NATIONS

A
General Assembly
Distr. LIMITED A/HRC/6/L.17/ Rev.1 26 September 2007 Original: ENGLISH

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixth session Agenda item 5 HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND MECHANISMS Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela*: revised draft resolution 6/... The Social Forum The Human Rights Council, Recalling all previous resolutions and decisions adopted on this issue by the former Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, as well as by the Economic and Social Council, Recalling also its resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, Bearing in mind that the reduction of poverty and the elimination of extreme poverty remain an ethical and moral imperative of humankind, based on respect for human dignity, and noting the report of the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the fourth Social Forum, held on 3 and 4 August 2006, which focused on "The fight against poverty and the rights to participation: the role of women",

* Non-member States of the Human Rights Council.

GE.07-14420 (E) 260907

A/HRC/6/L.17/ Rev.1 page 2 Reaffirming the unique nature within the United Nations of the Social Forum, which makes possible a dialogue and an exchange between the representatives of Member States, civil society, including grass-roots organizations, and intergovernmental organizations, and stressing that the current reform of the United Nations should take into account the contribution of the Social Forum as a vital space for open and fruitful dialogue on issues linked with the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all, 1. Welcomes the report of the fourth Social Forum held in Geneva on 3

and 4 August 2006 submitted by the Chairman-Rapporteur (A/HRC/Sub.1/58/15); 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the conclusions and recommendations of

the 2006 Social Forum and of the innovative nature of many of them, and calls upon States, international organizations - in particular those with a mandate for poverty eradication non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions and other relevant actors to take them into account when designing and implementing poverty-eradication programmes and strategies; 3. Decides to preserve the Social Forum as a unique space for interactive dialogue

between the United Nations human rights machinery and various stakeholders, including grass-roots organizations, and underlines the importance of coordinated efforts at national, regional and international levels for the promotion of social cohesion based on the principles of social justice, equity and solidarity as well as to address the social dimension and challenges of the ongoing globalization process; 4. Decides also that the Social Forum shall continue meeting every year, requests that

the next meeting of the Social Forum be held during 2008, in Geneva, on dates suitable for the participation of representatives of United Nations Member States and of the broadest possible range of other stakeholders, especially from developing countries, and decides that at its next meeting the Social Forum should focus on: (a) Questions relating to the eradication of poverty in the context of human rights;

A/HRC/6/L.17/ Rev.1 page 3 (b) Capturing best practices in the fight against poverty in the light of grass-roots

presentations to the Social Forum; (c) 5. devote: (a) One day to thematic discussions on poverty and human rights and the work of the Social dimension of the globalization process; Decides that the Social Forum will meet for three working days, in order that it may

international human rights mechanisms in the field of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development in relation to poverty, in order to receive feedback from civil society to provide to different mechanisms; (b) (c) One day to discussion on the social dimension of the globalization process; One day to an interactive debate with relevant thematic procedures mandate holders

of the Human Rights Council on issues related to the topics of the Social Forum, and to formulating conclusions and recommendations to be presented to relevant bodies through the Human Rights Council; 6. Requests the President of the Human Rights Council to appoint, before the end

of 2007, from candidates nominated by regional groups, the Chairperson-Rapporteur for the 2008 Social Forum and decides to respect the principle of regional rotation while appointing the chairpersons-rapporteurs of the Social Forum in the future; 7. Invites the appointed Chairperson-Rapporteur to announce, in a timely manner, the

most appropriate dates for convening the 2008 Social Forum, after holding consultations with United Nations Member States and other stakeholders; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult all

actors identified in the present resolution on the issues referred to in paragraph 4 above and to present a report as a background contribution for the dialogues and debates that will be held at the 2008 Social Forum;

A/HRC/6/L.17/ Rev.1 page 4 9. Requests also the High Commissioner for Human Rights to facilitate the

participation in the 2008 Social Forum, to assist the Chairperson-Rapporteur as resource persons, of up to four relevant Human Rights Council thematic procedures mandate holders, in particular the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty and the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity; 10. Decides that the Social Forum will remain open for participation of representatives

of United Nations Member States and all other interested stakeholders such as intergovernmental organizations, different components of the United Nations system, especially mandate holders of thematic procedures and mechanisms of the human rights machinery, regional economic commissions, specialized agencies and organizations - in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, as well as representatives designated by human rights national institutions and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and other non-governmental organizations, in particular newly emerging actors such as small groups and rural and urban associations from the North and the South, anti-poverty groups, peasants' and farmers' organizations and their national and international associations, voluntary organizations, youth associations, community organizations, trade unions and associations of workers, as well as representatives of the private sector, regional banks, and other financial institutions and international development agencies, 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; 11. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to

seek effective means of ensuring consultation and the broadest possible participation of representatives from every region, especially those from developing countries, in the Social Forum, including by establishing partnerships with non-governmental organizations, the private sector and international organizations; 12. Requests also the Secretary-General to adopt the appropriate measures to disseminate

information about the Social Forum, invite the relevant individuals and organizations to the Social Forum and take all practical measures required for the success of this initiative;

A/HRC/6/L.17/ Rev.1 page 5 13. Invites the 2008 Social Forum to submit to the Human Rights Council a report

including a proposal of possible themes for the 2009 Social Forum; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Social Forum with all the

services and facilities necessary to fulfil its activities, and also requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the necessary support to facilitate the convening and proceedings of the Social Forum; 15. Decides to continue consideration of this issue under the relevant agenda item when

the report of the 2008 Social Forum is submitted to the Human Rights Council. -----