Explainer: What is the UN Human Rights Council?

War crimes, racism, arbitrary detention and rape as a weapon of war: these just a few of the pressing international issues over which the UN Human Rights Council deliberates.

Its new session which began on Monday is the longest ever, running until April, and promises a packed agenda, with ongoing wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, the situation of human rights defenders worldwide and more than 50 national human rights records under scrutiny.

But, what does the Human Rights Council do and why does its work matter?

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”.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council on February 26, 2024. (Photo: UNHRC)

What does the Human Rights Council actually do?

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.

In addition to launching fact-finding missions and establishing commissions of inquiry into specific situations of concern, it meets three times a year at the Palais des Nations in Switzerland to discuss a wide range of political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights with UN officials, independent experts and investigators, Member States and civil society organizations.

How does it work?

The most innovative feature of the Human Rights Council is the universal periodic review. This unique mechanism involves examining the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every four years. It’s like a national human rights report card.

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 Human Rights Chief @volker_turk and UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres highlight the importance of promoting – and protecting human rights – as they launch an agenda for protection.

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) February 26, 2024

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.

To 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.

How does the HRC make a difference in human rights worldwide?

Although human rights have always been a very sensitive matter for Member States, the Human Rights Council remains an essential part of the UN’s human rights architecture.

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.

All these mechanisms allow for grave violations to be highlighted and brought onto the global stage for examination, discussion and, whenever feasible, action. Such action can change the course of events.

Who gets to serve on the Human Rights Council?

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.

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.

A delegate casts her country's ballot during elections in the General Assembly Hall for new members of the UN Human Rights Council. (Photo: UN Photo/Manuel Elías )

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.

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.

Who serves now?

By secret ballot on October 10, 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.

As of January 1, 15 newly-elected States began serving three-year terms.

Here’s what’s happening at the Human Rights Council now

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.

Here’s what you need to know:

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 discussion 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.