To all Permanent Missions in Geneva, United Nations departments and bodies, specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations:



Second special session of the Human Rights Council
Geneva, 11 August 2006 

(Room XX)


The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presents its compliments to all Permanent Missions in Geneva, United Nations departments and bodies, specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and has the honour to inform them that the President of the Human Rights Council, having consulted with interested parties, has decided to convene a special session on Friday, 11 August 2006, starting at 10.00 am, in order to respond to the request of the Ambassador of Tunisia, on behalf of the Group of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, supported in total by 16 Member States.

The above-mentioned request read as follows: Upon the decision of the Group of Arab States and the Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), I have the honour to request you to convene immediately a special session of the Human Rights Council to consider and take action on the gross human rights violations by Israel in Lebanon, including the Qana massacre, country-wide targeting of innocent civilians, and destruction of vital civilian infrastructure”. 

In order for a special session to be convened, in conformity with operative paragraph 10 of the General Assembly Resolution 60/251, the support of one-third of the membership of the Council (16 members or more) is required. The above-mentioned request was signed by the following Member States: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

The modalities for the 1st special session held on 5 and 6 July 2006 that were prepared by the President of the Council in consultation with the Bureau are attached for ease of reference.

8 August 2006