Concerns: draft report on traditional values in the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

ARC International calls for our attention discussion scheduled this Monday 20/03/12 by Human Rights Council Advisory Committee were a draft report on “traditional values” will be discussed.

Amongst other things, the report suggests that “all international human rights agreements … must be based on, and not contradict, the traditional values of humankind. If this is not the case, they cannot be considered valid”.

It goes further suggesting that the international community should defer to the sovereignty of States, that human rights recognition arises from “responsible behaviour” by the individual, and in promoting “the family” as a transmitter of moral values fails to acknowledge either the diversity of family forms or the fact that families can also be potential sites of abuse.

ARC International has prepared a list of concerns with the draft report and will distribute them to Committee experts and States on the morning of Monday 20th February.

If your organisation wishes to sign on to this document, please click here.

To read it in spanish click here.

Copies of the report can be found clicking here.