29/01/2011

Footnotes reflecting the points of order included in Georgia's report of the Working Group

Footnotes reflecting the points of order made by the Russian Federation and Georgia were included in Georgia's Report of the Working Group.

The Russian Federation made two points of order during the Universal Periodic Review of Georgia when the latter raised the human rights situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Georgia replied to those by also making two points of order.

Following those points of orders, the Vice President of the Human Rights Council (HRC), H.E. Mr. Arcanjo Maria Do Nascimento, had then reminded delegations that points of order should only be made on procedural matters and that discussions on territories did not fall within this category.

However, as the Vice President did not rule out the points of order but only commented them, Georgia and the Russian Federation were able to get those points of order included in footnotes in the Working Group Report.

Previously, points of order had been included in footnotes in the Report of the Working Group of Lebanon. Those points of order made by Israel and Lebanon were not on procedural matters either but the President did not object to them nor commented them. During the adoption of the Report, Belgium had taken the floor to regret the inclusion.

Those two reports have set potentially dangerous precedents as any State willing to see its political opinion on the nature of a territory or State reflected in the Report of the Working Group just has to make a point of order during the review.
 
 
Read the Report of the Working Group of Georgia here