GENEVA, 12 March: The UN Human Rights Council opened its fourth session Monday, hearing a video message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and an address by High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour before starting its high-level segment and hearing from a number of dignitaries.
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that the world was watching to see if the Council would live up to its promise. He hoped that the Councils members would work together to promote an objective and universal approach to human rights.
In the weeks and months ahead, this would be put to the test time and again, and acute crises and long-simmering human rights issues would demand scrutiny and remedy. It was crucial that the Council had the components in place to pass this test.
By the first anniversary of the Council in June, the wheels of the Council should be in full motion, including the Universal Periodic Review, Mr Ban noted.
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