The seminar on good governance practices for the promotion of human rights was convened in Seoul from 15-16 September 2004. The seminar was organized jointly be the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme at the request of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR resolutions 2002/76 of 25 April 2002, 2003/65 of 24 April 2003 and 2004/70 of 21 April 2004) and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed the opening session of the seminar. The seminar was also addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in the Republic of Korea . The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.

The purpose of the seminar was to discuss effective examples of governance practices that have had an impact on the promotion of human rights and to draw lessons from them. The seminar focused on essential elements of good governance as identified in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/70 on the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights , including the promotion of the rule of law, strengthening services delivery for human rights, strengthening democratic institutions and participation, combating corruption in the public and private sectors and international cooperation in support of national good governance practices.

The seminar resulted in a Chairman's Statement. The High Commissioner's report on the outcomes of the seminar will be submitted to the next session of the Commission on Human Rights. In addition, an outcome publication, conceived as a searchable resource tool, will be prepared.

Representatives of States, national human rights institutions, United Nations organs and bodies, other international bodies and national and international non-governmental organizations attended the seminar.

Documentation