RES/22/16 Promotion and protection of human rights in post-disaster and postconflict situations

GE.13-12907

Human Rights Council Twenty-second session

Agenda item 5 Human rights bodies and mechanisms

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

22/16.

Promotion and protection of human rights in post-disaster and post-

conflict situations

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 of 18 June 2007 and 16/21 of 25 March 2011, and Human Rights Council decision 6/102 of 27 September 2007,

Recalling also the mandate of the Human Rights Council, as set forth in General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to promote the effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system,

Taking note of Advisory Committee decision 9/1 of 10 August 2012 on research proposals, presented to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval in accordance with its functions as described in paragraphs 75 to 78 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1,

Acknowledging that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of millions of people around the world are affected in different ways by humanitarian crises, including armed conflict, natural disasters and man-made disasters, as well as during the stages of recovery, relief and rehabilitation,

Taking into account the discussions held within each mandate on the link between humanitarian crises and the enjoyment of human rights at the sessions of the Human Rights Council and during the humanitarian segment of the sessions of the Economic and Social Council, as well as the work being done by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as at other relevant international organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration,

 The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its twenty-second session (A/HRC/22/2), chap. I.

Noting that different thematic special procedures mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, have made specific references in their reports to the need for a human rights-based approach to the delivery of humanitarian assistance,

Recognizing the efforts of Member States as well as the work done, both on the ground and at the level of headquarters, by different United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, inter alia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund, by other agencies and organizations that work in post- disaster and post-conflict situations, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and other relevant resolutions of the Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, and acknowledging the efforts made in terms of effective coordination with the aim of avoiding any duplication,

1. Requests the Advisory Committee to prepare, from within existing resources, a research-based report on best practices and main challenges in the promotion and protection of human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations, with a focus on human rights mainstreaming in relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts, while respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence and the needs-based approach of humanitarian assistance, in particular to foster the capacity of States in such efforts, and to present the report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty- eighth session;

2. Also requests the Advisory Committee to seek the views and inputs of Member States, relevant international and regional organizations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, such as the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund, relevant human rights special procedures, as well as agencies and organizations that work in post-disaster and post-conflict situations, and civil society representatives, in order to prepare the above-mentioned research-based report;

3. Encourages the Advisory Committee, when elaborating the above-mentioned report, to take into account, as appropriate, the work done on the issue by competent United Nations bodies and mechanisms within their respective mandates;

4. Requests the Advisory Committee to present a progress report of the requested research-based report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-sixth session for its consideration.

48th meeting

21 March 2013

[Adopted without a vote.]