UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/4/49 2 March 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and follow-up to the World Conference for Human Rights* Summary This annual report to the Human Rights Council provides an opportunity to outline the efforts undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement a number of its priorities. It elaborates on the support given to the continued work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, both in its reform initiatives as well as its ongoing substantive work. In this context, it equally raises attention to the important work of the special procedures, and the support given to them by OHCHR. The report goes on to elaborate on the priority themes already identified in the Strategic Management Plan, and their implementation. Specifically, it provides a detailed outline of our continued efforts to strengthen country engagements, including but not limited to increased field presences. It equally highlights some key thematic expertise which continues to be prioritized, and strengthened both in their normative form as well as in their implementation. The report also touches specifically on the thematic issue of the death penalty, situating its sentencing and implementation within the international human rights legal framework, in an effort also to draw attention to the growing international trend towards its abolition. Finally, the report highlights the elaboration of new standard-setting instruments, and the Office’s engagement in supporting the work of their respective monitoring mechanisms. * The present report was submitted after the deadline so as to reflect the most recent information. GE.07-11139 (E) 060307