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Here’s what’s happening at the Human Rights Council now
It is up to Member States themselves to choose the countries which serve, through election, as opposed to consideration of any individual State’s own human rights record.
What does the Human Rights Council actually do?
The HRC’s 55th session opens on Monday and runs through 5 April. Steered by president Omar Zniber, it will be attended by the UN Secretary-General, General Assembly president Dennis Francis and High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk alongside top officials from Member States during its high-level segment.The Council also forms investigative panels to probe violations in specific countries and thematic areas, for instance, the expert mechanism to advance racial justice and equality in law enforcement.The Council has the power to adopt resolutions, launch fact-finding missions and investigations and establish commissions of inquiry. In particular, the Council can appoint independent experts on specific issues. For instance, in 2023, the Council appointed the first ever Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia and in 2021, it recognized for the first time the right to a clean and safe environment as a human right.
How does it work?
This video explains it all:With the session promising robust discussions and actions aimed at addressing pressing human rights concerns globally, follow UN News coverage of the Human Rights Council’s deliberations here.Here’s what you need to know:The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says everyone has a right to education.
In a nutshell, the Geneva-based Council is a multilateral forum for the international community to discuss anything relating to human rights issues around the world.
How does the HRC make a difference for human rights worldwide?
Elections to the Council take place annually by secret ballot. Countries serve for three years on a rotational basis, as some of the seats expire on 31 December every year. There are 47 seats, equitably distributed according to five regional divisions.UN Photo/Manuel ElíasTo examine and monitor violations, the Council appoints independent experts including Special Rapporteurs, who act in their individual capacity and do not get any remuneration from the UN for their work. They are sometimes called “the eyes and ears” of the Council.
The geographical group divisions and seat allocations are meant to prevent disproportionate focus on just a handful of regions and countries and ensure that every country is fairly assessed.
Who gets to serve on the Human Rights Council?
© UNICEF/Ahmed HaleemBy secret ballot on 10 October 2023, the UN General Assembly elected Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi and the Netherlands.While the 47-member body has been the subject of controversy since its creation in 2006 – including the temporary withdrawal of the United States in 2018 – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the crucial role the Council plays in the UN’s human rights architecture, which is “the bedrock of peace”.A delegate casts her country’s ballot during elections in the General Assembly Hall for new members of the UN Human Rights Council. (file)
Who serves now?
The review is a cooperative, State-driven process under the auspices of the Council, which provides the opportunity for each country to present measures taken and challenges to be met to improve the human rights situation at home and to meet their international obligations.UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré
All these mechanisms allow for grave violations to be highlighted and brought on the global stage for examination, discussion and, whenever feasible, action. Such action can change the course of events.
- On 4 March, the High Commissioner will deliver his global update, focusing on the human rights situation in various countries, with particular attention to critical regions.
- Throughout the session, delegates will discuss numerous thematic and country reports.
- Topics of discussions will address the situation in Ukraine and violations caused by Russia’s military invasion.
- Also under the spotlight are Venezuela, Iran, Colombia, and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
As it is understood that the Council can only be as effective as its Member States, its election process was placed directly in the hands of the General Assembly, the only UN organ where every one of the 193 countries has equal voting weight.
