What’s been happening at the Open-Ended Working Group for the OP to ICESCR?

 

This is the fourth and last of the regular updates we will provide for the duration of the Third Session of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG).

Day Nine: Thursday 16 February 2006

Programme for the day

 

There was no morning session as it was dedicated to report drafting. In the afternoon session the draft report was distributed.  The draft report contained attributed comments and summaries of the proceedings during the previous week and half.  It contained no recommendations or conclusions, but rather reflected the views in the room expressed yesterday regarding states who called on the chair to draft an OP etc.


 

NGO Activities

The NGO Coalition and other NGOs conducted many meetings with delegates throughout the morning (including in preparation for the GRULAC and African Group meetings in the morning) and met with the Chair after the session to discuss the proposals from the Canadians & the UK regarding proposed wording for a new mandate, as well as strategies for work in preparation of the Commission and after a drafting mandate has been obtained.

The NGO Coalition members also met during the morning to continue their discussions about the future activities of the Coalition.  Minutes to this meeting will be sent separately.

Day Ten: Friday 17 February 2006

Programme for the day

 

The focus of the session was to adopt the draft report and make closing statements.

Themes from Statements

The draft report was adopted by consensus after a number of changes were proposed.  Besides from many small amendments to clarify positions, the main discussions focused on paragraph 126 of the draft report which contained the views of states such as UK, Canada, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Luxembourg and Greece on their wishes for the mandate of the future WG (whether it should draft an OP or not).  Spain and Ecuador stressed the need to emphasis the great majority of states were in favour of drafting an Optional Protocol. 

NGO activities

The NGO Coalition made a closing statement thanking the Chair, the Secretariat and the delegates (amongst others) for their work throughout the Working Group.