Mr. Chairmant,

The 56th session of the Commission on Human Rights adopted a package plan to review its mechanism. The reform of the Sub-Commission is one of the important subjects. We are pleased to note that the duration of the 52nd session of the Sub-Commission has been shortened. Accusations and groundless attacks have been relatively reduced. The atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation has increased. Thematic studies have seen new development. We appreciate all this.

Mr. Chairman, since its establishment 54 years ago, as an expert consultative body under the Commission, the Sub-Commission has been playing a unique role in the United Nations human rights field. It has promoted the drafting of many international human rights instruments and activities of this Commission in relevant domains. It supports the legitimate struggle of the people of the aggressed and occupied countries and areas, opposes racism and racial segregation and has for a long time studied the issues of widespread concern to the developing countries. We fully endorse this.

Mr. Chairman, due to the ever rapid advancement of sciences and technology of today’s world with faster and more frequent changes, new issues in the field of human rights emerge one after another. The Sub-Commission consists of experts from five continents with different cultural, legal and religious backgrounds. They should study these new issues, especially those of concern to the developing countries in the new situation. We maintain that the Sub-Commission should undergo constant reform to adapt to the new situation. The aim and direction of reform are to reduce political confrontation, strengthen international cooperation, increase efficiency, and more effectively perform its function as an expert and consultative body. I would like to take this opportunity to express our following expectations:

1.We hope that the Sub-Commission will become a forum for intensifying cooperation and dialogue in human rights field. We have noted with satisfaction that a reformed Sub-Commission will no longer adopt any country specific resolutions, which is a positive change, representing a correct direction. We hope the Sub-Commission will strictly stick to this approach. The 52nd session of the Sub-Commission once more adopted by consensus the Resolution on “The Promotion of Dialogue on Human Rights Issues”. For the first time in the history of the Sub-Commission, all the expert members co-sponsored the resolution. We appreciate it and expect the Sub-Commission to take concrete action in further strengthening dialogue.

2.We hope that the Sub-Commission will carry on its work on thematic studies by giving special attention to the problems confronting developing countries. In recent years, the Sub-Commission has carried out studies on such issues as human rights and extreme poverty, human rights and income distribution, traditions and customs affecting the health of women and children, indigenous people’s heritage and their right to land, and the effect of globalization on the enjoyment of human rights. We hope that the Sub-Commission will continue to give priority to the study on economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development, women, children, racial discrimination, indigenous people and immigration, as well as to put forward action-oriented recommendations. At the same time, in selecting its themes for study, it should be prudent, objective and pragmatic, emphasizing on quality instead of quantity. We hope that this session of the Commission will adopt the studies of the 52nd session of the Sub-Commission on such themes as human rights and human responsibility, realization of the rights to drinking water and health care.

3.We hope that the Sub-Commission will further improve its efficiency. After the reform, the duration of the Sub-Commission has become shorter, but the agenda items have not been streamlined accordingly. This requires the Sub-Commission to increase efficiency and carry out its various studies within a limited amount of time. We hope the Sub-Commission will make further efforts in this respect.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.