A/HRC/22/71 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 12/21, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a workshop on how a better understanding of traditional values of humankind underpinning international human rights norms and standards could contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to present to the Council a summary of the discussions. 2. In its resolution 16/3, the Human Rights Council welcomed the holding of the above-mentioned workshop on 4 October 2010 and the report of the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) containing the summary of its discussions held at the workshop. The Council affirmed that dignity, freedom and responsibility are traditional values, shared by all humanity and embodied in universal rights instruments, recognized that the better understanding and appreciation of these values contribute to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and requested the Advisory Committee to prepare a study on how a better understanding and appreciation of traditional values of dignity, freedom and responsibility could contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights. 3. At its seventh session, the Advisory Committee adopted recommendation 7/1 by consensus, in which it established a drafting group consisting of the following members: Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Chairperson), Vladimir Kartashkin (Rapporteur), Obiora Chinedu Okafor, Anantonia Reyes Prado, Mona Zulficar, Dheerujlall Seetulsingh, Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Shiqiu Chen, Alfred Ntunduguru Karakora and Chinsung Chung. The Committee also requested the drafting group to prepare the above-mentioned study and to submit it to the Committee for consideration at its ninth session. 4. At its eighth session, the Advisory Committee adopted recommendation 8/6 by consensus, in which it took note of the comments and suggestions made during the discussions on the preliminary study prepared by Mr. Kartashkin, and requested the drafting group to submit a revised preliminary study to the Committee at its ninth session for further consideration. At its ninth session, the Committee considered the revised preliminary study and requested the drafting group to finalize it in the light of the discussions held. In its resolution 21/3, the Human Rights Council accorded the Committee additional time to finalize the study, in accordance with Committee recommendation 9/4. 5. In pursuing its mandate, the drafting group is guided by, inter alia, Human Rights Council resolution 6/30, in which the Council requested the Advisory Committee to regularly and systematically integrate a gender perspective into the implementation of its mandate, including when examining the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination against women, and to include in its reports information on and qualitative analysis of human rights of women and girls. 6. The Advisory Committee is mindful that discussions on the relationship between traditional values and human rights have revealed divided views, demonstrating the need to reflect on both the negative and the positive impact that traditional values may have on the effective implementation of human rights. Assessing how a “better understanding” of these values can contribute to human rights, as mentioned by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 16/3, involves analysis of existing United Nations and other human rightsfocused publications from all perspectives, including consideration of the role traditional values may play in promoting respect for human rights, as well as the ways in which legitimate concerns may best be addressed. 3