A/HRC/29/45
I. Introduction
1.
In its resolution 20/15, the Human Rights Council decided to establish an openended intergovernmental working group with the mandate of progressively negotiating a
draft United Nations declaration on the right to peace.
2
In its resolution 27/17, the Human Rights Council decided that the open-ended
intergovernmental working group would hold its third session for five working days in
2015 with the objective of finalizing the declaration. The third session was held from 20 to
24 April 2015.
3.
Also in its resolution 27/17, the Human Rights Council requested the ChairpersonRapporteur of the working group to conduct informal consultations with Governments,
regional groups and relevant stakeholders before the third session of the group. The Council
also requested the Chairperson-Rapporteur to prepare a revised text on the basis of the
discussions held during the first and second sessions of the working group and on the basis
of the intersessional informal consultations to be held, and to present it prior to the third
session of the working group for consideration and further discussion thereat. The revised
text prepared by the Chairperson-Rapporteur was circulated to all States by note verbale on
31 March 2015.
4.
On 20 April 2015, the session was opened by the Officer-in-Charge of the Human
Rights Council Mechanisms Division of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on behalf of the High Commissioner. The
Officer-in-Charge recalled that the realization of peace lay at the very heart of the
principles and purposes of the United Nations, as reflected in its Charter. He referred to the
2005 World Summit Outcome,1 and the Human Rights up Front initiative, launched by the
Secretary-General in 2013, in which the complementarity between peace and human rights
was clearly reflected. The Officer-in-Charge commended the efforts of the ChairpersonRapporteur to engage actively with States, civil society and academia in order to reconcile
the diverse views and positions with regard to the right to peace and to move the process
forward. He also confirmed the continued readiness of OHCHR to assist the working group
in all its endeavours.
II. Organization of the session
A.
Election of the Chairperson-Rapporteur
5.
At its first meeting, on 20 April 2015, the working group re-elected Christian
Guillermet-Fernández (Costa Rica) as its Chairperson-Rapporteur, by acclamation. He had
been nominated by Guatemala on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean
States.
B.
Attendance
6.
Representatives of the following States Members of the United Nations attended the
meetings of the working group: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada,
1
General Assembly resolution 60/1.
3
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