A/HRC/13/56 Part Two: Summary of proceedings I. Organizational and procedural matters A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Human Rights Council held its thirteenth session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1 to 26 March 2010. The President of the Council opened the session. 2. At its 1st meeting, on 1 March 2010, the Council observed a minute of silence for the victims of the natural catastrophes that had recently struck several countries. 3. At the same meeting, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed the plenary. 4. At the 12th meeting, on 8 March 2010, the High Commissioner made a statement for International Women’s Day. 5. At the 33rd meeting, on 19 March 2010, a statement in commemoration of the International Day of Nowruz was made by the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 6. In accordance with rule 8 (b) of the rules of procedure of the Council, as contained in part VII of the annex to Council resolution 5/1, the organizational meeting of the thirteenth session was held on 18 February 2010. 7. The thirteenth session consisted of 45 meetings held over 20 days (see paragraph 35 below). B. Attendance 8. The session was attended by representatives of States Members of the Council, observer States of the Council, observers for non-member States of the United Nations and other observers, as well as observers for United Nations entities, specialized agencies and related organizations, intergovernmental organizations and other entities, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (see annex I). C. High-level segment 9. At the 1st to the 5th meetings, from 1 to 3 March 2010, the Council held a high-level segment, at which 60 dignitaries addressed the plenary, including 2 vice-presidents, 5 viceprime ministers, 35 ministers, 15 vice-ministers and 3 secretaries-general or ministerial level representatives. 10. The following dignitaries addressed the Council during the high-level segment, in the order that they spoke: (a) At the 1st meeting, on 1 March 2010: Francisco Santos Calderón, Vice-President of Colombia; Teresa Fernández de la Vega, Vice-President of Spain; Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium; Salomon Nguema Owono, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Social and Human Rights Affairs of Equatorial Guinea; Ahmed Shaheed, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Maldives; Dipu Moni, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh; Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Chairperson 83