The Human Rights Council (HRC) has several mechanisms and entities to implement its mandate, collectively called the “Institution-building package” (2007).
Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
- Definition: A peer-review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) requiring all UN Member States to undergo a review of their human rights record every 4.5 years.
- Objectives
- Ensure equal treatment of all UN Member States.
- Provide an opportunity for each State to:
- Report on actions taken to improve human rights within their territory.
- Receive recommendations from other States, informed by stakeholder input and pre-session reports.
- Promote continuous improvement and accountability.
- Establishment
- Created in March 2006 by UNGA Resolution 60/251.
- The first review cycle started in 2008.
- Progress
- By November 2022, at the 41st session of the UPR Working Group, the fourth cycle of reviews began.
- All 193 UN Member States have already undergone three rounds of review.
- Significance
- Aims to support, monitor, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights.
- Encourages sharing of best practices among States.
- Ensures universal participation and cooperation.
Special Procedures
- Comprise independent human rights experts (individuals or working groups).
- Mandated to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
- Cover both thematic issues (education, health, freedom of speech, human trafficking, etc.) and country-specific situations (e.g., DPRK, Iran, Eritrea, Ukraine).
- Called the “eyes and ears” of the Council.
- They are unpaid and their tenure is limited to a maximum of six years.
- With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Special Procedures perform the following roles:
- Conduct country visits to assess human rights situations.
- Address individual complaints and broader concerns by sending communications to States and relevant actors.
- Contribute to the formulation of international human rights standards.
- Carry out advocacy, awareness-raising, and provide technical advice and cooperation.
Advisory Committee
- Known as the Council’s “think tank”.
- Provides expertise, research, and advice on thematic human rights issues.
- Composed of 18 independent experts, elected by the Council.
Complaint Procedure
- Allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Human Rights Council..
- Focuses on consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations.
- Ensures victims’ voices are heard at the international level.
Other Mechanisms
- Platforms for dialogue and cooperation among States and stakeholders.
- Groups for legal evolution of human rights instruments.
FAQs
Q1. What is the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)?
The UNHRC is an inter-governmental UN body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. It was created in 2006, replacing the former Commission on Human Rights.
Q2. Where is the UNHRC headquartered?
The Council is headquartered at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
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