§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the violence in Algeria and the disappearance of an estimated quarter of a million people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, they will call for a special meeting of the Human Rights Commission, in accordance with the procedure 270WA laid down in Economic and Social Council Resolution 1990/48 of 25 May 1990; and whether, given that human rights and humanitarian emergencies arise regularly throughout the world, they will propose that the Commission meet twice a year.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe have no plans to call for a special session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, nor do we intend to propose that the Commission routinely meet twice a year. The Commission retains the option of meeting exceptionally between its regular sessions. Human rights issues are also addressed at the UN General Assembly.