United Nations Human Rights Council

Description

The United Nations Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world.

It is made up of 47 states, elected by the UN General Assembly for staggered three-year terms on a regional basis. It discusses thematic human rights issues and country situations, holds regular sessions three times a year, and can call special sessions on urgent human rights emergencies. It meets at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Council runs a Universal Periodic Review that examines the human rights record of every UN member state in turn, drawing on reports from governments, UN bodies and non-governmental organizations. It appoints special rapporteurs and independent experts, known as special procedures, to study specific human rights themes or the situation in particular countries. An Advisory Committee gives it expert advice, and a confidential complaint procedure lets individuals, groups and organizations report gross and consistent patterns of human rights violations anywhere in the world.

The Council was established by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006, replacing the former Commission on Human Rights. It works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.