A/HRC/23/29 I. Introduction 1. On 25 February 2013, at its twenty-second session, the Human Rights Council, pursuant to Council resolution 21/20, held a high-level panel discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA), with a particular focus on its implementation, as well as achievements, best practices and challenges in this regard. In resolution 21/20, the Council also requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to liaise with relevant special procedures, States and other stakeholders, including relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, with a view to ensuring their participation in the panel discussion. The Office was also requested to prepare the present summary. 2. The panel discussion brought together people from various backgrounds with complementary perspectives on the VDPA, including high-level representatives, those present in Vienna in 1993, representatives of mechanisms or institutions mentioned or created at the World Conference, and new human rights actors. The panel provided a multistakeholder perspective on the VDPA, in particular its implementation since 1993 and the challenges ahead. Through an exchange of views and experience, the panel aimed to (a) emphasize the achievements of the VDPA from substantive and institutional perspectives; (b) highlight subsequent developments in terms of strengthening the human rights machinery, focusing on good stories and practices in implementation of the VDPA; (c) demonstrate the continued relevance of the VDPA and share experiences and perspectives on ways to further enhance the implementation of the VDPA; and (d) celebrate the creation and achievements of the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as a concrete illustration of implementation of the commitments and principles contained in the VDPA. 3. The meeting was chaired and moderated by the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Remigiusz A. Henczel, the Permanent Representative of Poland; and the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, the Permanent Representative of Ecuador. The panel discussion was opened by the SecretaryGeneral, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the State Secretary for European and International Affairs of Austria, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and the European Union (EU) Special Representative for Human Rights. The panellists were (a) the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General for the prevention of genocide and participant in the World Conference, Mr. Adama Dieng; (b) a member of the Turkish Parliament and member of the Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities, Ms. Safak Pavey; (c) the former Prosecutor of United Nations international criminal law tribunals, Ms. Carla Del Ponte; (d) human rights lawyer and participant in the World Conference, Ms. Hina Jilani; (e) the Special Advisor of the Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme du Maroc and participant in the World Conference, Mr. Albert Sasson; and (f) the Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists and participant in the World Conference, Mr. Gustavo Gallon. 4. In an effort to render the Human Rights Council more accessible to persons with disabilities and to allow them to participate in the work of the Council on an equal basis with others, this panel was made accessible to persons with disabilities. During the debate, sign language interpretation and captioning was provided and webcasted. 3