A/HRC/21/58 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 24 August 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-first session Agenda items 3 and 5 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Human rights bodies and mechanisms Interim report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on human rights and issues related to terrorist hostage-taking Note by the secretariat* 1. In its resolution 18/10, the Human Rights Council requested the Advisory Committee to prepare a study on the issue of hostage-taking by terrorist groups and its adverse impact on the protection of the human rights of hostages and on the protection and enjoyment of these rights by those living in local communities in the countries of the regions affected. It requested the Committee to submit the study to the Council at its twenty-third session and to present an interim report thereon at its twenty-first session. 2. At its eighth session, the Advisory Committee established a drafting group, consisting of Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Rapporteur), Latif Hüseynov (Chairperson), Obiora Chinedu Okafor, Shigeki Sakamoto, Ahmer Bilal Soofi and Jean Ziegler. The Committee also recommended that the Council consider a decision whereby it takes note of the recommendation of the Committee and requests it to submit an interim report to the Council at its twenty-second session, and a final report at its twenty-fourth session.1 3. At its ninth session, Cecilia Rachel V. Quisumbing a new member of the Advisory Committee, joined the drafting group. The Committee recalled the recommendation made at its eighth session, took note of the progress report (A/HRC/AC/9/CRP.1) and agreed to invite all interested stakeholders, including Member States, international organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, to contribute to the study, and requested the drafting group to finalize its work on the study in the light of the discussions held by the Committee at the ninth session, and to submit the draft final report * 1 GE.12-16174 Late submission. A/HRC/AC/8/8, text 8/5.