Expert Seminar on Democracy and the Rule of Law

Geneva, 28 February - 2 March 2005
Palais des Nations, Room XVIII

NEW

• Report of the second expert seminar “Democracy and the rule of law” submitted to the sixty-first session of the Commission on Human Rights under agenda item 11 (E.CN.4/2005/58).
  
• Conclusions and Recommendations of the Expert Seminar on Democracy and the Rule of Law
  
• Opening statement by Mehr Khan-Williams, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been mandated by the Commission on Human Rights (resolution 2003/36) to organize a second expert seminar to examine further the interdependence between democracy and human rights, with a focus on the rule of law, and to report on the conclusions of the seminar to the Commission at its sixty-first session.

In the same resolution, the Commission invited all Governments, relevant intergovernmental organizations and interested non-governmental organizations to continue and deepen debates aimed at identifying ways and means to promote and consolidate democracy, in particular on issues identified by the first expert seminar -held in November 2002- for further elaboration. The report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on "Continuing Dialogue on Measures to Promote and Consolidate Democracy" is contained in document (E.CN.4/2003/59).

Participants

In addition to the experts invited by OHCHR to participate in the seminar, note verbales and letters have been addressed to Governments, experts of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, relevant intergovernmental organizations and interested non-governmental organizations, to participate in the seminar as observers pursuant to resolution 2003/36.

Documentation

The provisional agenda of the seminar will be available in three languages, English, French and Spanish.

All background documents including the papers elaborated by the experts ready prior to the meeting will be available on the internet. Documents will also be available in the meeting room throughout the Seminar.

Dates and venue

The expert seminar will meet from 28 February - 2 March 2005 , daily from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 . The Seminar will take place in Room XVIII at the Palais des Nations, Geneva .

Accreditation

States, organizations and NGO's wishing to accredit representatives to the Seminar are invited to send their request(s) to the Secretariat: Ms. Kate Hardie; Tel: +41(0)22 9179256; Fax: +41 (0)22 9179059; E-mail: khardie@ohchr.org at their earliest convenience.

Registration prior to the seminar will ensure that a badge will be available from 8:00 - 17:00 on the first day of the seminar at the Villa les Feuillantines, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211, Geneva, opposite the Palais des Nations.