UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/7/51 7 January 2008 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventh session Item 2 of the provisional agenda ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPORTS OF THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL Report of the Secretary-General on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights Note by the Secretariat 1. In resolution 2005/73, the Commission on Human Rights requested the Secretary-General to submit to it, at its sixty-third session, a report on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, to formulate concrete proposals and recommendations on ways and means to strengthen cooperation between United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights and to include therein the results of action taken in pursuance of the resolution. 2. The Human Rights Council, in decision 2/102, requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to “continue with the fulfilment of her activities, in accordance with all previous decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and to update the relevant reports and studies”. On the current issue of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, a comprehensive annual report was submitted to the Commission at its sixty-first session, pursuant to resolution 2005/73. A report on the subject was submitted more recently to the General Assembly pursuant to resolution 59/196. The Office of the High Commissioner understands decision 2/102 to preserve the previous biennial reporting cycle in respect of this issue until otherwise decided by the Council. GE.08-10049 (E) 080108