Meeting of States parties
Twenty-ninth meeting
New York
2 September 2010
Election, in accordance with articles 28 to 32 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of nine members of the Human Rights Committee to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 31 December 2010
Note by the Secretary-General
1.In conformity with articles 30, paragraph 4, and 32 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the 29th meeting of States parties to the Covenant will be convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters on Friday, 2 September 2010, for the purpose of electing nine members of the Human Rights Committee from a list of persons nominated by States parties (annex I) to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 31 December 2010(annex II). The names of the other nine members who will continue to serve on the Committee until 31 December 2012 appear in annex III.
2.In accordance with article 30, paragraph 2, and article 34 of the Covenant, the Secretary‑General, in a note verbale dated 1 March 2010, invited the States parties to submit, in conformity with article 29 of the Covenant, their nominations for the election of nine members of the Committee within three months, i.e. by 1 June 2010.
3.Annex IV contains the curricula vitae of the persons whose nominations had been received by the secretariat by the end of the day, 1 June 2010. Nominations received after this date will be issued in addenda to the present document.
Annex I
List of candidates nominated by States parties
Ghaleb SaeedAl-AdoofiYemen
Saad Hussain FathallahAl-IbrahemIraq
Mr. AbdelfattahAmorTunisia
Ms. ChristineChanetFrance
Prof. CornelisFlintermanThe Netherlands
Mr. YujiIwasawaJapan
Mr. Cheikh Saad BouhKamaraMauritania
Ms. HelenKellerSwitzerland
Mr. MelhemKhalafLebanon
Ms. Zonke ZaneleMajodinaSouth Africa
Mr. Ould BabahMohamdyMauritania
Ms. Iulia AntoanellaMotocRomania
Mohamed Saad AliMuhayamYemen
Dr. Gerald L.NeumanUnited States of America
Mr. LucienRakotoniainaMadagascar
Mr. TrilochanUpretiNepal
Mr. KonstantineVardzelashviliGeorgia
Ms. MargoWatervalSuriname
Annex II
List of the nine members whose terms expire on 31 December 2010
Mr. AbdelfattahAmorTunisia
Mr. Prafullachandra N.BhagwatiIndia
Ms. ChristineChanetFrance
Mr. YujiIwasawaJapan
Ms. HelenKellerSwitzerland
Ms. Zonke ZaneleMajodinaSouth Africa
Ms. Iulia AntoanellaMotoc Romania
Mr. José LuisPérez Sanchez-CerroPeru
Ms. RuthWedgwoodUnited States of America
Annex III
List of the nine members who will continue to serve on the committee until 31 December 2012
Mr. LazhariBouzidAlgeria
Mr. MahjoubEl HaibaMorocco
Mr. Ahmed AminFathallaEgypt
Mr. RajsoomerLallahMauritius
Mr. MichaelO ’ FlahertyIreland
Mr. RafaelRivas PosadaColombia
Sir NigelRodleyUnited Kingdom of Great Britainand Northern Ireland
Mr. Fabian OmarSalvioliArgentina
Mr. KristerThelinSweden
Annex IV
Curricula vitae of candidates *
Ghaleb Saeed Al-Adoofi (Yemen)
Date and place of birth: 12 May 1949, Taiz, Yemen
Working languages: Arabic, English
Current position /function
Retired Ambassador
Private office for legal studies and consultations, especially on matters relating to commercial law, WIPO matters
Member of the board of Yemen Red Crescent and Adviser on international humanitarian law
Main professional activities
International law, especially:
Human Rights law
International humanitarian law
International terrorism issues
Agreements relating to refugees
Anti-money laundering matters
Vienna diplomatic convention matters and Vienna consular convention matters law
The sea agreement of 1982 – Negotiations relating to borders
All legal matters relating to Yemeni diplomatic and consular law and by-laws
Educational background
General Law from University of Baghdad, Iraq
Diploma in International law from University of New York, United States of America
Diploma in International Humanitarian Law, 2009, from St. Stephen University, Budapest, Hungary
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Dealing with the threats against the Yemeni Jews living in Saada and Amran Governments by some radical and extremist Islamic fractions. Upon a request by the special rapporteur of Human Rights in Geneva forwarded to H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007
List of most recent publications in the field
N/A
Saad Hussain Fathallah Al-Ibrahem (Iraq)
Date and place of birth: 8 February 1958, Babylon, Iraq
Working languages: Arabic, English
Current position/function
Dean of National Institute for Human Rights in Iraq
General Director of the Directorate of Research and Studies in Ministry of Human Rights of Iraq
Member of National Organization of Human Rights in Iraq (NGO)
Member of Iraqi Jurists Union
Lecturer, University of Baghdad
Main professional activities
Member of Arab Experts to Human Rights Committee in Arab League
Head of the Iraqi Committee for UPR
Head of the Iraqi Committee for CCPR
Head of the Iraqi Committee for CESCR
Head of the Iraqi Committee for CEDAW
Head of the Iraqi Committee for CERD
Head of the Iraqi Committee for Human Trafficking
Head of the Iraqi Committee for Iraqi Committee for National Plan of Human Rights
Head of the Iraqi Committee for Human Rights Education
Member of Iraqi Committee for Iraqi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science
Member of Iraqi Committee for CRC
Educational background
Diploma in Human Rights and Equality, Lund University, Sweden, 2006
PhD in Econometrics, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, 1993
MSc in Labour Economy, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, 1986
BSc in Economics, University of Baghdad, Iraq, 1981
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Iraqi delegate to many sessions of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
Iraqi delegate to Arab League Conference on Human Trafficking
Supervision of training courses about treaty bodies in Iraq
Supervision of the Iraqi National Campaign for CEDAW
Supervision of a number of MSc and PhD theses on Human Rights in Iraq
List of most recent publications in the field
“Challenges for Human Rights in Iraq”
“The Situation of the Right to Education in Iraq”
“Women’s Political Contribution in Iraq”
“The reality of the marshes and the environmental situation in Iraq”
“Children’s rights in Iraq after 2003”
Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia)
Date and place of birth: 4 April 1943, Ksar Hellal, Tunisia
Working languages: French, Arabic
Current position/function
Professor emeritus, Faculty of Law, Tunis; President of the International Academy of Constitutional Law; member and former Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee; Editor in Chief, Collected Courses of the International Academy of Constitutional Law; member of the editorial board of the Revue Arabe des Droits de l Homme.
Main professional activities
Teaching of courses in human rights and political freedoms, international law and international relations, constitutional law and political science. Research in the above fields which has resulted in several books and over 100 research articles. As Rapporteur for the Commission on Human Rights, authored 37 reports and numerous studies. As a member of the Human Rights Committee, authored 16 individual opinions and several articles on various aspects of the Committee’s work.
Educational background
Doctorate in public law, awarded the status of agrégé (following successful completion of the highest competitive examination for teachers) and a professorship in public law and political science. Postgraduate degree (D.E.S) in public law. Postgraduate degree (D.E.S) in political science. Law degree. Diploma from the National School of Administration. Baccalaureate in Philosophy.
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Numerous lectures and research on various aspects of the work of the Human Rights Committee on a yearly basis
Former Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (1993–2004)
President of the International Jury for the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education (2000–2008)
Member of the Fundamental Rights Bureau of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) (1993–2003)
Organized the First Conference of Deans of Arab Faculties of Law on Human Rights Education
Organized and chaired the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination (Madrid, 2001)
List of most recent publications in the field
Le procès pénal équitable (Fair criminal trials)
Observations sur l ’ idée de création d ’ un organe conventionnel unique (Comments on the idea of establishing a single treaty body)
Considérations sur le paragraphe 3 de l ’ article 19 du Pacte (Reflections on article 19, paragraph 3, of the Covenant)
Une lacune du Protocole facultatif: le délai de présentation des communications individuelles (A shortcoming of the Optional Protocol: the deadline for submitting individual communications)
Interrogations sur la liberté de religion ou de conviction aujourd ’ hui (Contemporary reflections on freedom of religion or belief)
Christine Chanet (France)
Magistrate (France)
Working languages: French, English
National functions
Counsellor to the Court of Cassation – Section President and Dean at the criminal division
Chairperson of the Committee in charge of reviewing criminal law decisions following the delivery of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights
Member of the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights
Officer of the National Order of Merit
Officer of the Legion of Honour
Functions linked with candidacy
Member of the Committee against Torture
President of the United Nations Human Rights Committee 1997–1998 and 2005–2006
Personal Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for examining the situation in Cuba
Member of the Working Group for the application of the Bangalore Principles on judicial independence
Career
Junior magistrate at the French National School of the Judiciary (1968–1970)
Magistrate at the Central Administration of the French Ministry of Justice (1970–1974)
Technical adviser and subsequently Special Assistant at the Secretariat of State for Women’s Affairs (1974–1976)
Special Assistant at the Secretariat of State for Culture (1976–1977)
Special Assistant in the Legal Affairs Directorate at the French Ministry of External Relations (1981–1983)
Head of International Civil and Criminal Affairs and Human Rights Department at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (since 1983)
Member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (1987)
Technical adviser in the Office of Pierre Arpaillange, French Minister of Justice (1988)
Advocate-General at the Court of Appeal of Paris (1992–1996)
Education
Law degree
Postgraduate diploma in law
Postgraduate diploma in criminology
Laureate of the Paris Faculty of Law
Recent publications
La peine de mort au regard du Pacte International sur les droits civils et politiques (The death penalty from the viewpoint of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), Mélanges Cohen-Jonathan
Les libertés d ’ opinion et d ’ expression devant le comité des droits de l ’ Homme de l ’ O.N.U. (Freedom of opinion and speech before the UN Human Rights Committee), Revue des avocats aux conseils – Dalloz 2006
“La destruction des droits” article 30 ou la Déclaration Universelle des droits de l ’ Homme (“The destruction of rights” Article 30 or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), Le Monde 2008 – édition Folio
Les influences croisées des juridictions internationales et des juridictions nationales (Intersecting influences of national and international courts), Université Laval (Quebec), Les cahiers du Droit 2010
Cornelis Flinterman (The Netherlands)
Date and place of birth: 3 November 1944, The Hague, the Netherlands
Working languages: English, French
Current position/ function
Emeritus professor of human rights, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Honorary professor of human rights, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Member of the Human Rights Committee of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (Netherlands)
Member of the Board of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee
Main professional activities
Lecturer and senior lecturer in law, comparative and constitutional law, Leiden University, 1969–1970, 1971–1974, 1976–1978
Visiting lecturer in law (comparative and constitutional law), University of Ghana, 1974–1976
Research associate of the Ghana Law Reform Commission, 1974–1976
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal and Social Affairs Division, The Hague, 1979–1981
Professor of Law (international and constitutional law), Maastricht University, 1982–1998
Professor of Human Rights and Director of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (SIM) and the Netherlands Research School of Human Rights, 1998–2007
Educational background
LLM Degree, Leiden University, the Netherlands (1969)
LLM Degree, University of Virginia, United States of America (1971)
Visiting Scholar, Yale Law School, United States of America (1973)
PhD Degree, Leiden University, the Netherlands (1981)
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Member of the Advisory Board of the Dutch Health Professionals and Human Rights Foundation
Member of the Board of African Legal Aid (AFLA), Maastricht, the Netherlands
Member of the Editorial Board of the Netherlands Human Rights Quarterly
Member of the Advisory Board of the Human Rights Quarterly (USA)
Member of the Advisory Board of the Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law
Member of the Advisory Board of the African Human Rights Law Journal
Previously
Alternate member of the United Nations Sub-Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities (1986–1991)
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights and Foreign Policy, subsequently the Human Rights Committee of the Advisory Council on International Affairs, the Netherlands (1992–2002)
List of most recent publications in the field
Publications in the field of (comparative) constitutional and administrative law, international law, law of international organizations and national, European and international human rights law. Publications include: H.B. Schoepp-Schilling and C. Flinterman, eds., The Circle of Empowerment. Twenty-five Years of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (New York, 2007)
Baehr, P.R., Senders M. and Flinterman, C., eds., Innovation and Inspiration. Fifty Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amsterdam, 1999
Yuji Iwasawa (Japan)
Date and place of birth: 4 June 1954, Tokyo, Japan
Working languages: Japanese, English, French, German, Chinese
Current position/function
Chairperson, Human Rights Committee
Chair of International Law, University of Tokyo Faculty of Law
Vice-President, Asian Development Bank Administrative Tribunal
Chairperson, Executive Committee for ILA 2014 Kyoto
General Editor, “International Law from Japanese Perspectives” Series (Nijhoff)
Main professional activities
Member, Human Rights Committee, 2007 – present
Professor of International Law, University of Tokyo Faculty of Law, 2005 – present
Rapporteur, Committee on International Human Rights Law, International Law Association, 1995–2004; presented reports at biennial conferences of the Association, 1996 (Helsinki), 1998 (Taipei), 2000 (London), 2002 (New Delhi), 2004 (Berlin)
Member (State-Nominated), United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2002–2004
Lecturer, Hague Academy of International Law, 2002
Member, Permanent Group of Experts under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Subsidies, 2003–2008
Visiting Fellow, Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law, Cambridge, 1991–1993, 1997, 2000–2001
Overseas Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge, 2000–2001
Arbitrator, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, 1997–2006
Refugee Examination Counsellor for the Japanese Minister of Justice, 2005–2007
Educational background
1984–1986: University of Virginia School of Law (S.J.D.)
1977–1978: Harvard Law School (LLM)
1973–1977: University of Tokyo Faculty of Law (LLB)
1983, 1990, 1990: Summer Session, Hague Academy of International Law
1983: Study Session, International Institute of Human Rights (Strasbourg)
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty concerned
Member, Committee on International Human Rights Law, International Law Association, 1995–present; participated in special conferences of the Committee, 1999 (Bellagio), 2003 (Turku), 2006 (Maastricht)
Member, Executive Council, Japanese Society of International Human Rights Law, 2003–present
Lecturer on International Human Rights Law to Japanese judges, Tokyo, 2005–2008
Lecturer on International Human Rights Law, Asia-America Institute of Transnational Law, Hong Kong, 1996
Read a paper at an international conference on the “Enforcement of International Human Rights by Domestic Courts”, Siena, 1993
Read a paper at an international conference on the “Future of the UN Human Rights Treaty System”, Cambridge, 1997
Participated in the Expert Group Meeting on Disability organized by the United Nations, Berkeley, 1998
Academic Adviser for the Japanese Member of the United Nations International Law Commission, Geneva, 1997
List of most recent publications in the field
International Law, Human Rights, and Japanese Law: The Impact of International Law on Japanese Law (Oxford, O.U.P. 1998)
Domestic applicability of treaties: what are “ self-executing ” treaties? (Tokyo, 1985)
Lectures on International Law (co-edited, Tokyo, 2004)
“Dispute Settlement in the WTO” (Tokyo, 1995)
“Trilateral Perspectives on International Legal Issues: Conflict and Coherence” (co-edited, Washington, D.C.: Am. Soc’y Int’l L., 2003)
Cheikh Saad Bouh Kamara (Mauritania)
Date and place of birth: 30 May 1944, Fdérick, Mauritania
Working languages: French, English, German
Current position/function
Honorary University Professor of Sociology; expert; international consultant
Main professional activities
Teaching of courses in sociology and human rights; consultancy work in civics and in the organization of civil society in Mauritania and West Africa
Educational background
Doctorate in Sociology, Paul Valéry University, Montpellier, France, October 1976. Doctoral thesis: Les travailleurs mauritaniens en France (Mauritanian workers in France)
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Former President of Mauritania’s Independent National Electoral Commission: April–June 2009
Former member and later President (1993–2007) of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Former member of Mauritania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (2005–2007) and Chairperson of the Committee for Communication and Civics
Former President and founding member of the Association Mauritanienne des Droits Humains (1991–2003)
Former Vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (IFHR) (2001–2004)
Member of the Board of Directors of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) since 2007
List of most recent publications in the field
2009: White paper on decentralization in Mauritania
2008: Civics, Traditional forms of social solidarity in Mauritania
2007: Media and civil society, Public perception of parliament in Mauritania
Helen Keller (Switzerland)
Date and place of birth: 1 June 1964, Zurich
Professional experience
Jan–June 2010: Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Advanced Studies, Oslo, Norway
Since Jan 2010: Counsel in the “Lindt” law firm (www.lindtlaw.ch), Zurich, Switzerland
Jan–Aug 2009: Visiting Researcher at the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France
Since July 2008: Member of the Human Rights Committee (monitoring body of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
2005–2008: Management of the research project “Reception of the ECHR in Europe”
Since 2004: Professor (ordinaria) at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) for Constitutional, European and Public International Law (http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/ lehreforschung/alphabetisch/keller.html)
2002: Habilitation, University of Zurich, degree: Private Dozentin (PD)
Since 2001: Professor (ordinaria) at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland, for Constitutional, European and Public International Law (www.unilu.ch)
2001: Visiting Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg, Germany
1996–2003: Management of the research project “Commentary to Swiss Environmental Protection Law”
1996–2009: Counsel in the “Umbricht” law firm, Zurich
1996: Research Fellow at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy, Supervisor Prof. Renaud Dehousse
1995: Research Fellow at Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, MA, United States, Supervisors Prof. Joseph H.H. Weiler and Prof. Anne-Marie Slaughter
1994: Master’s Degree in European Law, Bruges, Belgium
1994: Awarded “Walther-Hug-Preis” for one of the best doctoral theses in public law in Switzerland
1993: Doctorate, University of Zurich (Degree: Dr. iur.); Doctor’s Diploma, Dissertation
1989: Graduation from Law School (degree: lic. iur.)
1983–1989: Studies at the University of Zurich, Faculty of Law, Switzerland
Melhem Khalaf (Lebanon)
Date and place of birth: 20 January 1962, Beirut, Lebanon
Working languages: Arabic, French, some English
Current position/function
Law firm: Member of the Bar of Beirut
Teaching of courses in law at various faculties (Faculty of Law and Political Science), Saint Joseph University, Beirut
Member of the Committee for Legislation Reform of the Ministry of Justice
Member of several other legal committees within the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Social Affairs (rights of the child, prison rights, etc.)
Main professional activities
Legal profession: Trial lawyer, legal adviser, analyst of draft legislation
Teaching profession: In charge of tutorials; member of PhD examining board
Expert legal opinions
Educational background
Doctorate in law, University of Montpellier I, France
Postgraduate degree (D.E.A) in information technology for law and information technology law, University of Montpellier I, France
Master’s degree in law, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour (Jesuit secondary school) Beirut, Lebanon
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Founder of the OffreJoie association, Lebanon and France
Founding member of the Islamo-Christian initiative “Autour de Marie”, which the Lebanese Government acknowledged by declaring 25 March (Annunciation Day) an Islamo-Christian public holiday in Lebanon
Member of Human Rights Watch, Lebanon
Involved in various EUROMED (Euro-Mediterranean Partnership) youth programmes
Launched numerous peace initiatives
Common prayer sessions for representatives of all religious communities in Lebanon
Peace demonstrations in the midst of the political crisis
Civil society collective “Our unity is our salvation”
Holiday camps for children from war-torn villages or regions
International reconstruction sites
Former national official, Mouvement Eucharistique des Jeunes (MEJ)
Former first-aid volunteer, Lebanese Red Cross
List of most recent publications in the field
Courses on human rights and humanitarian law
Assessment of Lebanese legal instruments in the area of the rights of the child
Living together: contribution of civil society associations – managing religious diversity (Lebanon-Quebec)
Decentralization and the risk of a return to local feudalism (University of Notre Dame)
Debate to promote dialogue in universities: a culture of citizenship (Saint-Esprit de Kaslik University)
Zonke Zanele Majodina (South Africa)
Date and place of birth: 13 September 1944, Cape Town
Working languages: English
Current position/function
Research Associate, Africa Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Main professional activities
Member, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration, Netherlands
Member of Board of Directors, Human Rights Institute of South Africa
Member of Board of Directors, Centre for Policy Studies, South Africa
Educational background
BSc Hons, University of South Africa (Psychology)
M.Phil, University of London (Clinical Psychology)
PhD, University of Cape Town (Clinical Psychology)
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Member of Organization of Women for a better World, Spain
Advisor on Human Rights, Congolese Women in the Diaspora, South Africa
List of most recent publications in the field
A South African perspective on the Right to Equality, Journal of the South African Human Rights Commission , Vol. 1, (2008)
The Long Road Ahead, Hans Boehl, Cape Town (2009)
Ould Babah Mohamdy (Mauritania)
Date and place of birth: 1953, Rkîz, Mauritania
Working languages: Arabic, French, English
Current position/function
Attorney at law before the Mauritanian Supreme Court since 1989
Human rights activist, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian League for Human Rights
Main professional activities
Lawyer: Handling human rights cases, particularly those concerning vulnerable minority groups (minors, women, persons with disabilities, children in trouble with the law)
Studies
Study on the rights of women in the Mauritanian Constitution
Study on trade union freedoms in Mauritania
Study on the requirements for a fair trial
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Secretary-General of the Mauritanian League for Human Rights
Member of the Bar of Mauritania, specialization in human rights
Human rights consultant to Mauritania’s National Human Rights Commission
Former consultant to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation and Integration
Trial attorney in Mauritania since 1987
List of most recent publications in the field
A paper on the independence of lawyers in the discharge of their professional duties
Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Romania)
Date and place of birth: 20 August 1967, Timisoara, Romania
Working languages: French, Romanian (native speaker), English, Spanish, Russian, Italian, German
Current position/function
Judge, Constitutional Court of Romania
Professor of International Law, University of Bucharest
Director, European Master Human Rights, Venice
Member, United Nations Human Rights Committee
Member of the Bureau of the United Nations Human Rights Committee
Lawyer, Bucharest Bar – position reserved
Main professional activities
Judge, Bucharest Court, 1990–1996
Member and alternate member of the United Nations Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (1996–2007)
President of the United Nations Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (2000–2001)
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the situation of Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001–2004)
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on human rights and the human genome (2003–2007)
President of the United Nations Working Group on the Administration of Justice (2002–2007)
Member, United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations, (2000–2004)
Member, United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, (1999–2000, 2003)
Member, United Nations Social Forum, (2005)
Member of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1998–2004), (2008–present)
Educational background
PhD in Philosophy (Moral Philosophy), University of Bucharest, Department of Philosophy
Habilitation in Law, University Paris XI, “Jean Monnet” Department
S.J.D. (Doctorat) in International Public Law University Aix-Marseille III, School of Law (mention très bien avec les félicitations du jury)
LL.B, University of Bucharest, School of Law (9.91/10)
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Judge ad hoc at the European Court of Human Rights
Director, (Romania), European Master of Human Rights and Democratization, European Interdisciplinary Center for Human Rights and Democratization, Venice
Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Comparative Law (1998–2004), (2008-present)
Member, Editorial Board, East European and Russian Yearbook of International and Member, Scientific Board, European Yearbook of Human Rights
Member, International Commission of Jurists
President, Association pour le Prix Femmes d ’ Europe, Romania (2000–2002)
Member, European Agency for Human Rights (2008–present)
Yale University Law School (2004–2007), Senior Schell Fellow
European University Institute, Florence (2006), Special Invited Professor, Academy of European Law
Deputy Dean, Department of Political Science, University of Bucharest, 1998
List of most recent publications in the field
“The International Law of Genetic Discrimination” in T. Murphy (ed.) New Technologies and Human Rights, Oxford University Press, 2009
“Conceptions of pluralism and international law” in E. Jouannet, H.R. Fabri, V. Tomkiewitz
“A quoi ça sert le droit international”, Proceedings of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Hart, Oxford, 2008
Plaidoyer pour les droits de l’homme, Centre de droit de l’homme, Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II, Université de Bucarest, 2008
Women’s rights as human rights from universal to regional, essays in honour of Justice Bhagwati, (ed.), University of Bucharest, EMA Venice, Afras Academy, India
Mohamed Saad Ali Muhayam (Yemen)
Date and place of birth: 13 July 1949
Working languages: Arabic, French, English
Current position/function
Director General of Political Planning and Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sana`a, Yemen
Main professional activities
International relations and politics, Inter-Law, Research and Studies, Yemeni Foreign Political Policies and Activities
Educational background
Doctorate in Law (International Law) from University of Paris (Panthéon-Sorbonne) Paris, France (1988)
L ist of most recent publications in the field
“International Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines” (2000 Pol. Aff. Mag./Yemen)
“Foreign Policy Making” (2005 Seminar – Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
“International in a changing world” (Atthawabet Magazine 2009)
Israeli War against Gaza (2009 – Algaish Magazine)
Gerald L. Neuman (United States of America)
Date and place of birth: 22 May 1952, Mineola, New York
Working languages: English, German and French; Spanish (reading knowledge); Russian (elementary)
Current position/function
J. Sinclair Armstrong Professor of International, Foreign, and Comparative Law, Harvard Law School(teaching and research in Human Rights, United States Constitutional Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, and Immigration and Nationality Law)
Main professional activities
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Member, American Society of International Law (Executive Council Member 2001–2003)
International teaching positions
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg (2010, 2007)
University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas) (2009)
Tokyo University (2000, 1996)
University of Leiden (1996, 1994, 1992)
Raising Rights Consciousness Programme, Budapest (1993)
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main (1989)
Prior faculty positions
Columbia University School of Law (1992–2006)
University of Pennsylvania Law School (1984–1992)
Educational background
J.D. 1980, Harvard Law School
PhD 1977, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Mathematics)
A.B. 1973, Harvard College
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Frequent author of amicus briefs in United States human rights litigation, including:
Boumediene v. Bush (S. Ct. 2008) (re: rights of Guantánamo detainees)
Rasul v. Bush (S. Ct. 2004) (re: rights of Guantánamo detainees)
INS v. St. Cyr (S. Ct. 2001) (re: habeas corpus in deportation)
Alvarez-Machain v. United States (9th Cir.1996) (re: extraterritorial physical abuse)
Sale v. Haitian Centers Council (S. Ct. 1993) (high seas interdiction of refugees)
List of most recent publications in the field
Books
Human Rights (casebook) (with Louis Henkin et al.) (1999); and 2nd edition (2009)
Strangers to the Constitution: Immigrants, Borders, and Fundamental Law (1996)
Articles
Understanding Global Due Process, 23 Geo. Immigr. L.J. 365–401 (2009)
Habeas Corpus Suspension Clause after Boumediene v. Bush, 110 Colum. L. Rev. 537 (2010)
The External Reception of Inter-American Human Rights Law (forthcoming Quebec J. Int’l L.)
Lucien Rakotoniaina (Madagascar)
Date and place of birth: 29 September 1949, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Working languages: French
Current position/function
Member of the judiciary(magistrat), Director of Human Rights and International Relations at the Ministry of Justice
President of the inter-ministerial drafting committee in charge of preparing human rights reports
National Director of the Human Rights Promotion and Protection Project in Madagascar, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Main professional activities
Participates in the formulation of policies to promote and protect human rights
Assists with procedures for ratifying human rights treaties, incorporating them into domestic legislation and ensuring their application in the courts
Fosters cooperation with national and international human rights organizations
Teaches courses in criminal law at the Catholic University of Madagascar
Teaches courses in criminal law at the Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature (Legal Service Training College), Madagascar
Educational background
1979–1980: Diplôme d’Etudes Judiciaires (diploma in legal studies) with honours; First in Year
1980: Master’s degree in public law and political science
1980: First in Year when entered the judiciary. Teacher training course at the Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature (Legal Service Training College), France. Certificates awarded by University of South Florida, United States, for specialized studies on organized transnational crime and by the Institute of International Legal Studies, United States, for specialized studies on military law and the law of the sea
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Founded and oversees the work of human rights centres, which support disadvantaged victims of human rights violations
Supervises studies to combat harmful traditional practices that adversely affect women and children
Produces films to raise awareness about the need to combat torture, arbitrary detention, violence against women and trafficking in women
Drafts national human rights reports and serves as a member of the delegation of Madagascar present during consideration of State party reports submitted with regard to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the universal periodic review process
List of most recent publications in the field
Guide (drafted in the national language) for officials in charge of the implementation of legislation to ensure compliance with universal rules on combating torture and arbitrary arrest or detention and to restrict the use of firearms
Films to raise awareness about trafficking in persons, domestic violence, corruption and human rights
Trilochan Upreti (Nepal)
Date and place of birth: 05/03/1959, Terrathum, Nepal
Working languages: English
Current position/function
Working as Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers of the Government of Nepal (GoN), where my main responsibilities are:
Liaise with UNHCHR Nepal, Nepal Human Rights Commission, civil society and other stakeholders
Coordinate and work on human rights issues on behalf of GoN
Prepare, submit and defend human rights reports to the treaty bodies
Formulate, oversee and implement human rights policy, laws and curriculum
Main professional activities
Involved in policy formulation in areas of Rule of Law, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, inter alia
Implement the annual action plan for GoN’s celebration of 2010 as the year against Gender-Based Violence
Ensure the compliance of domestic and international human rights instruments for protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights by the Nepalese people
Coordinate in updating the improvement of the human rights standards by incorporating them in the training curriculum of the Nepal Police, the Nepalese Army and administrative organs
Responsible for addressing the abuses and violation of human rights during the 11-year conflict between the Government and the Maoist Party, pursuant to the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) and Interim Constitution by enacting the Truth and Reconciliation Bill and Disappearance Bill and constituting the Commissions
Overall responsibility is to implement and comply with national and international HR standards, monitor violations and make recommendations to the Cabinet on prosecutions in the case of breaches by the administrative and security apparatus
Educational background
Obtained LLB and MA academic degrees from Tribhuvan University, LLM degree from the University of Hull, United Kingdom, in Public International Law and PhD from the University of Reading, United Kingdom
Practised as Government Attorney in six districts, worked as legal officer in different ministries and worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in drafting legal instruments and in the areas of human rights for seven months
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Responsible for preparing the State’s periodic report, holding public consultations with stakeholders, updating the report, submitting it to the Cabinet for its approval, submitting it to the treaty bodies and defending the report on behalf of the Government
Currently coordinating and preparing periodic report to be submitted to the Committee on ESC Rights, assisting the relevant ministries to prepare reports to be submitted to ICCPR, CEDAW and CRC Committees and preparing the National Report for the UPR, conducting research and studies on concluding remarks, recommendations and observations made by treaty bodies in preparation of pertinent reports, chairing the committee meetings in preparation of these reports, organizing regional seminars to obtain comments and suggestions from civil society, human rights communities, government ministries and relevant stakeholders
Making recommendations as needed to the Government to make laws, policies and programmes in order to implement the provisions of HR treaties
List of most recent publications in the field
International Watercourses Law and its Application in South Asia (Pairavi Publication, Kathmandu, 2006)
Transitional Justice and Human Rights : Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Revealing the Truth (co-author) (Kathmandu, May 2007)
Right to Self Determination in International Law, Pairavi Book Publishers (Kathmandu, 2009)
Nepal at Crossroads (a book on analysis of conflict, human rights and peace process in Nepal) (Sajha Pub, Kathmandu, 2010)
“Equitable Utilization of International Watercourses: Bilateral and Multilateral Perspectives” (in International Watercourses Law of 21st Century, Surya P. Subedi (ed.), (Ashgate, United Kingdom, 2005)
Konstantine Vardzelashvili (Georgia)
Date and place of birth:26 July 1972
Working languages:Georgian (native), English, Russian
Current position/function
Since 2006, October – elected as a Justice and Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia
Main functions
As a Chairman of the First Collegium of the Constitutional Court presides over court hearings
Supervises research, analysis and strategy development for the reform of court procedures
Coordinates international relations and public education activities
Main professional activities
2009 – Appointed as an Ad Hoc Judge to the European Court of Human Rights
Since 2007 – Substitute Member of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)
2004–2006 – Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia. Among several issues supervised the implementation of the Free Legal Aid Service System in Georgia, development of mechanisms for protection of personal data and overseeing issues related to citizenship and migration
Educational background
2002 – Graduated from Tbilisi Institute of Law, Tbilisi, Georgia (Diploma in Law)
1997 – University of Edinburgh, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Economic and Social History, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (PhD Research Programme)
1995 – Central European University, History Department, Budapest, Hungary (MA in Modern History)
1994 – Tbilisi State University, History Department, Tbilisi, Georgia
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Since April 2010 – Head of the Centre for Constitutional Studies at Ilia State University (Georgia), supervising research on constitutional justice, legal reform, society development and democratic transformation
2008–2010 – Designed and delivered short courses on Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Freedom of Expression and Religion, Property Rights
2004–2006 – As a Deputy Minister was in charge of drafting of laws: on non-profit organizations; restitution and rehabilitation of victims of the conflict in the former South Ossetia Autonomous Region; was part of a group working on the law on repatriation of persons deported in the 1940s from the territory of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
2001–2004 – British Council, Georgia, Manager of projects on legal and human rights education, voters’ education, reform of the criminal procedure and prosecution in Georgia, elaborating and proposing amendments to strengthen defence rights in the criminal process
2002–2003 – Member of the Task Force on Communications and Broadcasting Law, developing strategy and framework legislation for establishment of Public Service Broadcasting in Georgia
2000–2002 – Independent Council of Public Oversight, monitoring human rights conditions in penitentiaries, drafting recommendations, appeals and requests to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia
2000–2001 – Member of the Analytical Team, Reform Support Agency (RSA) – MegaProject operated by the Open Society Georgia Foundation in cooperation with Research Triangle Institute (USA) in Support of the Education Reform in Georgia
2001 – Liberty Institute NGO (Georgia), in charge of monitoring and reporting human rights violations, with a special focus on freedom of expression and religion
List of most recent publications in the field
Co-author and editor of the Guide to Constitution, to be published in 2010
Editor for the Georgian edition of the Human Rights in Criminal Proceedings by Stefan Trechsel , first published in 2005 by Oxford University Press Inc., published in 2009
Member of editorial board, Constitutions of the Foreign States (2006)
Editor of Human Rights: Freedom of Expression Manual (2003)
Non-Orthodox Christian Sects – Trail of Christian Evangelists (Media Caucasica, 1999)
Margo Waterval (Suriname)
Date and place of birth: 18 March 1948, Paramaribo, Suriname
Working languages: Dutch, English
Current position/function
Lecturer at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname
Lecturer in Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and Diplomatic and Consular Law. On behalf of the University, participation in the National Commission on the Elimination of Child Labour. Advising the Board of the University on matters regarding human rights and exams Acting Chair of the Institute of Children’s Rights. Chair of an NGO working with Indigenous and Maroons
Main professional activities
Lecturing at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and as a consultant writing and presenting country reports to U.N. Human Rights Committee in New York and Geneva, Switzerland
Advising the Government on human rights cases and with other lawyers participating in human rights cases before the inter-American Human Rights Commission in Washington, D.C. and before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica
Training students of the university to participate in moot court competitions in The Hague (The European International Model United Nations – TEIMUN), Washington, D.C. (on the Inter-American Human Rights System), Trinidad and Tobago (before the Caribbean Court of Justice – CCJ) and at present for the World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in South Africa.
Educational background
Starting as a teacher at the elementary school, continued as a teacher of English and Dutch at a secondary school for more than 25 years. Studied law and graduated from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (1998) and graduated in 2001 at the Law School of the American University in Washington, D.C. in the International Legal Program. Training in Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law in San José, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados
Other main activities in the field relevant to the mandate of the treaty body concerned
Preparing to participate in the writing and presentation of the universal periodic review in Geneva, Switzerland. As chair of the board of directors of Amazon Conservation Team-Suriname (NGO), the office is participating with the Government in mapping the areas of the Indigenous Peoples and the Maroons to fulfil the obligation by the Samaaka Lo and the Moiwana judgement issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. In July 2010, will participate in the training of lawyers who are becoming judges, in Human Rights Law, at the Foundation for legal cooperation of Suriname-Netherlands. The counterpart is a judge.
List of most recent publications in the field
The role of NGOs in defending human rights (2005)
The principle of complementarity of the Rome Statute (ICC) (2007)
Relation of articles 28, 32 and 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with regard to the homicide in Nickerie (2008)
Human rights in Suriname (2010)