A/HRC/DEC/19/119
(e)
The secretariat of the Human Rights Council will continue to provide all nongovernmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
with robust advice and support so that they may contribute constructively and positively to
the work of the Human Rights Council.
48.
The task force recommends a number of practical steps for videoconferencing and
video messaging, as described below.
49.
Taking into account the interactive nature of videoconferencing, all efforts should be
made by the secretariat to render its use feasible within the context of the work of the
Human Rights Council. In the meantime, video messaging should be used to enhance the
participation of non-resident State delegations, specialized agencies, other
intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions compliant with the
Paris Principles and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council.
50.
Video messaging may be used in full compliance with the rules of procedure of the
Human Rights Council and the rules concerning accreditation. In particular:
(a)
National human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles may
pre-record video messages in one of the six official languages of the United Nations, to be
delivered to enhance their participation in the plenary debates of the Human Rights
Council, in accordance with the provisions contained in the annex to Council resolution
16/21, paragraph 13 (national human rights institution of the State under review) and
paragraph 28 (national human rights institution from the country concerned);
(b)
A limited number of non-governmental organizations in consultative status
with the Economic and Social Council may pre-record video messages in one of the six
official languages of the United Nations, to be delivered, as a test, in the framework of the
general segment of the plenary session of the Human Rights Council (held in March),
interactive dialogues with special procedures relating to the reports on country missions
(for organizations that have contributed to the mission to that country), plenary adoption of
universal periodic review outcomes (in particular for organizations involved in the national
process or having sent contributions for the summary of stakeholder information prepared
by the Office of the High Commissioner) and panels/annual discussions, in order to
enhance the participation of local stakeholders in plenary meetings.
B.
Paper-smart measures
(1)
General remarks
51.
According to paragraph 60 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21,
the use of modern information technology, such as the electronic circulation of copies, is
encouraged in order to reduce the circulation of paper.
52.
The task force acknowledged the urgent need to reduce the consumption of paper
and thereby encouraged both the secretariat and all delegations, whenever possible, to
resort to modern information technology in the framework of the work of the Human
Rights Council. The task force was informed of and welcomed effective paper-smart
measures already taken by the United Nations Office at Geneva, such as the reduction of
the number of copies of parliamentary documents sent to Permanent Missions, the e-version
of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations (“Blue Book”) replacing hard copies and
other measures to encourage all Missions and observers to increasingly rely on electronic
distribution of documents. In this regard, the United Nations Office at Geneva provided
information on the use of UNOG mailing accounts: as at 30 January 2012, only 17
Permanent Missions had opted to receive electronic versions of official documents, 72 had
accessed their accounts and made adjustments, and 92 had not had access to their accounts
at all.
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