Human Rights Council
Thirty-first session
Geneva, 29 February - 24 March 2016
Order of the day*
Plenary meetings – Room XX
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
Reminder: The deadline for the submission of draft proposals to be adopted during
this session is Wednesday, 16 March 2016, at 1 p.m. (office E-3054).
MORNING
9.00 – 12.00
38th meeting
Item 4
(cont’d)
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Interactive dialogue with:
- Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab
Republic
A/HRC/31/68, A/HRC/31/CRP.1, A/HRC/31/NGO/89
[Modalities for participation in the individual interactive dialogue: States Members
of the Council, observer States, United Nations agencies and international and regional
organizations are requested to use the electronic system and inscribe on the list of
speakers by pressing the microphone button at their desk at the beginning of each
interactive dialogue. NHRIs are requested to inscribe and NGOs are requested to
confirm their on-line registration at the list of speakers desk in Room XX. Speaking
time is 3 minutes for States Members of the Council and 2 minutes for observer States
and other observers, including NHRIs and NGOs. The list of speakers will be closed
approximately 15 minutes after the beginning of the interactive dialogue.]
LUNCH
12.00 – 15.00
39th meeting
Item 4
(cont’d)
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
- Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights on its role and achievements in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
A/HRC/31/38, A/HRC/31/NGO/41, A/HRC/31/NGO/56,
A/HRC/31/NGO/70, A/HRC/31/NGO/177
- Oral update of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights on Eritrea
General debate
A/HRC/31/G/1, A/HRC/31/G/3, A/HRC/31/G/5, A/HRC/31/G/6,
A/HRC/31/NGO/23, A/HRC/31/NGO/28, A/HRC/31/NGO/67,
*
The information contained in this document was compiled and is correct as of 6 p.m. of the previous day. In the event that the
consideration of a specific item or sub-item does not take up the whole meeting, the Council will move to the consideration of the
next item or sub-item scheduled for the following meeting, with the exception of the high-level segment, panels and the consideration
of UPR reports. The Secretariat will communicate any changes or updates by SMS alerts, HRC Extranet and Twitter (@UN_HRC &
#HRC31). Any comments should be notified to the Secretariat, room E-3060.
A/HRC/31/OD/12
Order of the day, 15 March 2016
2
A/HRC/31/NGO/68, A/HRC/31/NGO/69, A/HRC/31/NGO/76,
A/HRC/31/NGO/78, A/HRC/31/NGO/79, A/HRC/31/NGO/85,
A/HRC/31/NGO/86, A/HRC/31/NGO/92, A/HRC/31/NGO/94,
A/HRC/31/NGO/97, A/HRC/31/NGO/99, A/HRC/31/NGO/109,
A/HRC/31/NGO/127, A/HRC/31/NGO/137, A/HRC/31/NGO/139,
A/HRC/31/NGO/149, A/HRC/31/NGO/161, A/HRC/31/NGO/166,
A/HRC/31/NGO/170, A/HRC/31/NGO/174, A/HRC/31/NGO/178,
A/HRC/31/NGO/180, A/HRC/31/NGO/189, A/HRC/31/NGO/209,
A/HRC/31/NGO/221, A/HRC/31/NGO/228
[Modalities for participation in the general debate: States Members of the Council,
observer States and other observers, including NHRIs, are requested to inscribe at the
list of speakers desk in Room XX. NGOs are requested to confirm their on-line
registration at the list of speakers desk in Room XX. Speaking time is 3 minutes for
States Members of the Council, and 2 minutes for observer States and all other
observers, including NHRIs and NGOs. The list of speakers will be closed
approximately 15 minutes after the beginning of the general debate.]
AFTERNOON
15.00 – 18.00
40th meeting
Item 4
(cont’d)
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
General debate (cont’d)
[Modalities for participation in the general debate: See above.]
EVENING
18.00 – 21.00
41st meeting
Item 3
(cont’d)
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to
development
Interactive dialogue with:
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
A/HRC/31/56, A/HRC/31/56/Add.1, A/HRC/31/56/Add.2,
A/HRC/31/CRP.2
[Modalities for participation in the individual interactive dialogue: States Members
of the Council, observer States, United Nations agencies and international and regional
organizations are requested to use the electronic system and inscribe on the list of
speakers by pressing the microphone button at their desk at the beginning of each
dialogue. NHRIs are requested to inscribe and NGOs are requested to confirm their online registration at the list of speakers desk in Room XX. Speaking time is 3 minutes
for States Members of the Council and 2 minutes for observer States and other
observers, including NHRIs and NGOs. The list of speakers will be closed
approximately 15 minutes after the beginning of the interactive dialogue.]
Item 5
Human rights bodies and mechanisms
- Report of the Forum on Minority Issues
A/HRC/31/72, A/HRC/31/NGO/16
- Annual report of the special procedures
A/HRC/31/79
General debate
A/HRC/31/39, A/HRC/31/67, A/HRC/31/NGO/13,
A/HRC/31/NGO/42, A/HRC/31/NGO/108, A/HRC/31/NGO/138,
A/HRC/31/NGO/142, A/HRC/31/NGO/188
[Modalities for participation in the general debate: States Members of the Council,

Document already circulated on 11 March 2016.
3
Order of the day, 15 March 2016
observer States and other observers, including NHRIs, are requested to inscribe at the
list of speakers desk in Room XX. NGOs are requested to confirm their on-line
registration at the list of speakers desk in Room XX. Speaking time is 3 minutes for
States Members of the Council, and 2 minutes for observer States and all other
observers, including NHRIs and NGOs. The list of speakers will be closed
approximately 15 minutes after the debate has started.]
Other information:
•
Draft programme of work is attached.
•
All speakers scheduled to take the floor should provide the Secretariat beforehand with 25 copies of their
statements.
•
Delegations are requested to send their statements to hrcstatement@ohchr.org for posting on HRC Extranet.
•
Identity session photo-badges may be obtained by all delegations from the UNOG Security and Safety Section at
the ‘Pregny Gate’ (Palais des Nations, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. upon presentation of a copy
of the letter requesting accreditation and an identity document. Due to the high number of participants expected,
kindly allow sufficient time for accreditation.
•
Information about accessibility for persons with disabilities is available at the dedicated web page on accessibility
[http://www.ohchr.org/hrc/accessibility].
•
The deadline for submission of draft resolutions or decisions is Wednesday, 16 March 2016, at 1.00 p.m. (office
E-3054). Related guidelines and signature forms for co-sponsors are available on HRC31 Extranet.
•
Delegations wishing to reserve rooms for meetings should contact Ms. Laura Giardini (email: lgiardini@ohchr.org
* tel. 79255 * office E-3060), no later than 12 noon of the day before the meeting.
•
The Human Rights Council is on social media:
Twitter: @UN_HRC & #HRC31
http://www.facebook.com/UNHRC
•
To access the live or archived webcast, please go to http://webtv.un.org
•
PHOTOGRAPHS AND FILMING: Please note that only accredited media are permitted to film and take
photographs in Room XX.
Order of the day, 15 March 2016
4
DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE 31ST SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (29 FEBRUARY-24 MARCH 2016)
Version as of 10 March February 2016 (subject to change)
WEEK 1
29 February
M 9.00
–
O 12.00
Y
U
ANNUAL FULL-DAY MEETING
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
(HRC res. 7/29 and 28/19)
9:00
–
12.00
HLS (cont’d)
12.00
–
15.00
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID with:
- IE on foreign debt
- SR on food
12.00
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
12.00
–
Individual IDs with:
–
15.00 - SR on Islamic Republic of Iran 15.00
15.00
–
18.00
ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON
HUMAN RIGHTS
MAINSTREAMING
(HRC res. 16/21)
9.00
–
12.00
HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON 50TH
ANNIV. OF HUMAN RIGHTS
COVENANTS
(HRC res. 29/1)
E
S 12.00
–
D 15.00
15.00
–
18.00
HLS (cont’d)
9.00
–
12.00
12.00
–
15.00
ANNUAL FULL-DAY MEETING
ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
(HRC res. 7/29 and 28/19)
8 March
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID with SRSGs:
- violence against children
- children and armed conflict
ITEM 3
Clustered ID w SRSGs (cont’d)
Clustered ID with:
- SR on torture
- SR on sale of children
A
15.00
Y –
18.00
18.00
–
21.00
15.00
–
18.00
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID (cont’d)
HLS (cont’d)
2 March
9 March
HLS (cont’d)
9.00
–
12.00
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID (cont’d)
Clustered ID with:
- SR on privacy
- SR on freedom of religion
HLS (cont’d)
12.00
–
15.00
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
ID on joint compilation w:
- SR peaceful assembly
- SR summary executions
N
13.00
–
S 15.00
E
D
A
Y
15.00
–
18.00
HLS (cont’d)
General segment
3 March
T 9.00 PANEL DISCUSSION ON CLIMATE
CHANGE AND RIGHT TO HEALTH
H –
(HRC res. 29/15)
12.00
U
ITEM 3
R 12.00
Clustered ID with:
S –
15.00 - SR on environment
- SR adequate housing
D
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
A 15.00
Clustered ID with:
–
- SASG on genocide
Y 18.00 - SR on defenders
F 9.00
–
R 12.00
I 12.00
–
D 15.00
A
15.00
Y –
18.00
4 March
ANNUAL DEBATE ON RIGHTS
OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES (HRC res. 7/9 and
28/4)
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
18.00
–
21.00
9.00
–
12.00
12.00
–
15.00
- IE on Côte d’Ivoire
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
12.00 OHCHR report on DPRK and 12.00
– oral update on Eritrea followed –
15.00
by
15.00
General debate
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
General debate (cont’d)
15.00
–
18.00
ANNUAL DISCUSSION ON
TECHNICAL COOPERATION
(HRC res. 18/18 and 30/21)
ITEM 10 (cont’d)
Individual IDs with:
- IE on Haiti
- IE on Mali
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
ITEM 2 (cont’d)
ID with SR on minority issues
18.00
18.00 - Individual ID on HC report on
ITEM 5
South Sudan
- Report of Forum on Minority
–
–
ITEM 10 (cont’d)
Issues
21.00
21.00 - Individual ID on HC oral update
- SP annual report by CC chair
on Ukraine
followed by General debate
16 March
23 March
9.00
ITEM 5 (cont’d) GD Item 5
ITEM 2 (cont’d)
–
9.00
HC/SG country reports
11.00
ITEM 6
– Other
(Item 2) followed by General
11.00
UPR outcomes
12.00
–
debate
Micronesia
12.00
ITEM 10 (cont’d)
12.00
ITEM 6 (cont’d)
12.00 - HC/SG country reports (Item
–
UPR outcomes
– 10) followed by General debate
ITEM 1 (cont’d)
15.00 Lebanon, Mauritania, Nauru 15.00
Decisions and conclusions
9.00
–
12.00
17 March
ITEM 6 (cont’d)
UPR outcomes
Australia, Georgia,
Saint Lucia
9.00
–
12.00
ITEM 1 (cont’d)
Decisions and conclusions
12.00
–
15.00
ITEM 6 (cont’d)
UPR outcomes
Oman, Myanmar,
Saint Kitts and Nevis
12.00
–
15.00
ITEM 1 (cont’d)
Decisions and conclusions
15.00
15.00
PANEL DISCUSSION ON
PREVENTING VIOLENT
–
–
18.00 EXTREMISM (HRC res. 30/15) 18.00
11 March
18 March
PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE
PANEL DISCUSSION ON HUMAN 9.00 INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN
RIGHTS AND HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC
–
DEMOCRACY AND RACISM
(HRC res. 30/8)
12.00
(HRC res. 29/20)
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
ITEM 6 (cont’d)
- Report of IGWG on transnational 12.00
UPR outcomes
corporations
–
Sao Tome & Principe
- HC/OHCHR/SG thematic reports 15.00
followed by General debate
followed by General debate
ITEM 1 (cont’d)
Decisions and conclusions
10 March
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID w. (cont’d)
- SR on terrorism
- SR on cultural rights
ITEM 2*
HC annual report
followed by ID with the HC
12.00
–
15.00
9.00
–
12.00
ITEM 9
- Reports of IGWG, Ad Hoc
Committee and HC oral update
followed by General debate
ITEM 10
18.00
- Enhanced ID on Burundi
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
–
- Individual ID with IE on Central
21.00
African Republic
15 March
22 March
ITEM 10 (cont’d)
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
9.00
Individual ID w. IE CAR
Individual ID with COI on the
–
(cont’d)
Syrian Arab Republic
12.00
Individual ID with
15.00
–
18.00
ITEM 6 (cont’d)
UPR outcomes
Rwanda, Nepal, Austria
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
Clustered ID (cont’d)
9.00
–
12.00
15.00
18.00
18.00
19.30
ITEM 4 (cont’d)
Individual IDs with:
- SR on Iran (cont’d)
- SR on Myanmar
ITEM 7 (cont’d)
General debate (cont’d)
ITEM 8 General debate
15.00
–
18.00
15.00
–
18.00
15.00
18.00
18.00
19.30
* Item 2 remains open throughout the session.
ITEM 3
Clustered ID with:
- SR on persons with disabilities
- IE on albinism
15.00
–
18.00
15.00
–
18.00
HLS (cont’d)
W
E 10.00
–
D 13.00
WEEK 4
21 March
ITEM 7
9.00 - Individual ID w. SR on OPT
–
- HC/SG reports followed by
12.00
General debate
9.00
–
12.00
1 March
T
WEEK 3
14 March
ITEM 4
Individual IDs with:
- SR on DPR of Korea
- SR on Eritrea (oral update)
ITEM 1
Opening of session
High-level segment (HLS)
N
12.00
D –
15.00
A
WEEK 2
7 March
ITEM 2 (cont’d)
ID with the HC (cont’d)
ITEM 3 (cont’d)
General debate (cont’d)
15.00 DEBATE ON STATE OF RACIAL
– DISCRIMINATION WORLDWIDE
(GA res. 70/140)
18.00
15.00
–
18.00
ITEM 1 (cont’d)
Decisions and conclusions
24 March
Appt. of mandate holders
Adoption of session report
25 March
UNITED NATIONS HOLIDAY
5
Order of the day, 15 March 2016
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
31st session (29 February - 24 March 2016)
Inscriptions on the list of speakers and speaking time arrangements
TYPE OF
DISCUSSION
MEMBER STATES
(MIN.)
OBSERVER STATES /
OTHER OBSERVERS
(MIN.)
OBSERVERS FOR
NHRIs* / NGOs**
(MIN.)
General debates1
3’
2’
2’ per NHRI / NGO
Clustered interactive
dialogues2
5’
3’
3’ per NHRI / NGO
(Maximum duration of
each clustered
interactive dialogue is
4 hours)
May be reduced
according to the number
of registered speakers to
3’ (or 2’)
May be reduced
according to the number
of registered speakers to
2’
May be reduced
according to the number
of registered speakers to
2’
(including interactive
dialogue with the High
Commissioner)
3’
2’
2’ per NHRI / NGO
Panel discussions3
2’
2’
2’ per NHRI / NGO
Consideration of
UPR outcomes4
3’
2’
2’ per NHRI / NGO
May be reduced
according to the number
of registered speakers to
May be reduced
according to the number
of registered speakers to
2’ (or minimum 1:30)
minimum 1:30
3’ (for the first reply)
2’ (for the second reply)
3’ (for the first reply)
2’ (for the second reply)
Individual interactive
dialogues3
Rights of reply5
N/A
Electronic system
Inscriptions for all interactive dialogues (“IDs”) and panel discussions will be done through the electronic
system in Room XX. Delegates representing States, United Nations agencies and international and regional
organizations can inscribe on the list of speakers by pressing the microphone button at their desk, when the
timer is displayed on the screen. For States Members of the Council, only the microphone with the red sticker
can be used to inscribe on the list. This does not apply to NGOs and NHRIs (see below). The lists of speakers
for all IDs and panel discussions close 15 minutes after the corresponding dialogue or discussion has started;
delegations may still inscribe at the list of speakers desk until that moment.
Schedule of inscriptions
1. For general debates (“GDs”), the lists of speakers for all agenda items opened on Friday 26 February
2016 at 9 a.m. in office E-3056 behind Room XX and as from Monday 29 February 2016, the list is available
at the secretariat desk in Room XX. The list will close approximately 15 minutes after the beginning of the
respective debate. All delegates are requested to inscribe in person.
Order of the day, 15 March 2016
6
2. For all clustered IDs, electronic inscription took place on Wednesday 2 March 2016 at around 3 p.m.
and inscriptions on the list of speakers for each clustered ID were possible until its closure approximately 15
minutes after the beginning of the respective dialogue. Where the total duration of a given clustered ID be
estimated to last less than 4 hours, the speaking time limits remained 5 minutes for Members (and groups) and
3 minutes for observers. However, if estimated to be more than 4 hours, the speaking time limits was reduced
to 3 minutes for Members (and groups) and 2 minutes for observers. Where this measure was deemed
insufficient to ensure that the total duration not exceed 4 hours, the speaking time limit was further reduced to
2 minutes for both Members (and groups) and observers.
3. For all individual IDs and panels, electronic inscription will take place at the beginning of each dialogue
or panel. The list will close approximately 15 minutes after the beginning of the respective dialogue or panel.
4. For the adoptions of UPR outcomes under agenda item 6, inscription opened on Monday 7 March at 9
a.m. and remained open for four working days until Thursday 10 March at 6 p.m. No inscription on the
lists is possible after that date. Speaking order was drawn by lot by the Bureau of the HRC on Friday 11
March. Speaking time for States varies depending on the number of speakers inscribed. Total time for States
Members of the Council, observer States and United Nations agencies is 20 minutes. Total time for other
stakeholders is 20 minutes, with speaking time of 2 minutes for all.
5. The right of reply is limited to two replies and is exercised either at the end of the day (unless there is a
panel discussion at the end of the day) or at the end of the consideration of a relevant agenda item concerned.
NHRIs and NGOs
* National human rights institutions (NHRIs) with “A” status accreditation wishing to make an oral statement
should approach the NGO/NHRI list of speakers desk in Room XX before the delivery of the statement.
** Accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) wishing to make an oral statement should submit a
request using the online registration system for oral statements available on the Council website at
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NgoParticipation.aspx
NGO delegations must confirm in person their request and the name of the speaker who will deliver the
statement at the NGO/NHRI list of speakers desk in Room XX 24 hours preceding the relevant meeting.