The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot. The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.

The Council’s Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:

1. African States: 13 seats
2. Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
3. Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
4. Western European and other States: 7 seats
5. Eastern European States: 6 seats

Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

For the current membership of the Council, please see here.

Key documents include:

• General Assembly resolution 60/251 establishing the Human Rights Council (2006)
• Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council – Resolution 5/1 (2006)
• Universal Periodic Review –  Decision 6/102 (2007)
• Modalities and practices for the universal periodic review process PRST/8/1 (2008)
• Annual report UNHRC (annually)

Perhaps one of the most significant innovations of the UN Human Rights Council to international human rights law is the creation of the Universal Periodic Review.  According to the Human Rights Council, “The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations.  As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed.”

The General Assembly created the Universal Periodic Review process in the same resolution that replaced the Commission on Human Rights with the Human Rights Council.  The resolution explains that the Review is to examine, “based on objective and reliable information, […] the fulfillment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments.”  See the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, 60/251 § 5(e) (15 Mar. 2006).

The UN Human Rights Council conducts the UPR during the three sessions of the UPR working group each year.  During each session, several states are subject to review.  In preparation for the review under the UPR, each state produces a report about its own compliance with international human rights standards.  (Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 § 15(a).  The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) prepares a separate report, compiling information from treaty bodies, special procedures, and other sources.  § 15(b).  The OHCHR also compiles a summary of information provided by other relevant stakeholders, such as human rights NGOs.  Each state’s review is facilitated by a “troika” of other member states.

When the Human Rights Council replaced the Commission on Human Rights in 2006, the responsibility for creating Special Procedures passed to the Human Rights Council.   A Special Procedure is a mandate for an individual (called a “Special Rapporteur”) or a working group (usually composed of five members) to examine a particular human rights issue.  Mandates may either be thematic or country specific.  The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is an example of a thematic mandate, and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Cambodia is an example of a country mandate.  There are currently 44 thematic mandates and 12 country mandates.

During the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in September of 2010, the Human Rights Council passed the Resolution on The Rights of Freedom of Assembly and Association. In addition to affirming the right to peaceful assembly and association, the Resolution 15/21 calls for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur to monitor and “study trends, developments and challenges in relation to the exercise of these rights, and to make recommendations on ways and means to ensure the promotion and protection of” these rights. The first Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai of Kenya began his duties in 2011 and began his second term in 2014. The second Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule of Togo began his duties in 2017.

The Special Rapporteur’s mandate includes monitoring the global environment for freedom of assembly and association, reporting twice annually to the UN, conducting fact-finding country missions and sending communications to governments. Maina Kiai issued a number of reports on implementation of peaceful assembly and associations, including recommendations to governments and CSOs.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur was extended for an additional period of three years in 2013, 2016, and 2019. The current Special Rapporteur is Clément Nyaletsossi Voule of Togo.

The resolution on Civil Society Space was initiated by the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, Maldives, Mexico, and United States of America. It was adopted in the 32nd session and commits States to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society (A/HRC/32/31). It urges states to:

• Ensure that civil society actors can seek, secure and use resources.
• Maintain accessible domestic procedures for the establishment or registration of organizations.
• Ensure that civil society can input into potential implications of legislation when it is being developed, debated, implemented or reviewed.
• Adopt clear laws and policies providing for effective disclosure of information.
• Ensure access to justice, and accountability, and to end impunity for human rights violations and abuses against civil society actors.

The resolution further requests the High Commissioner to report on best practices for ensuring civil society involvement with regional and international organizations, including the United Nations.

During the 20th Session of the Human Rights Council in June 2012, the Human Rights Council passed the Resolution on the Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet. The resolution “takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression” and “affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of one’s choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” That several countries which impose severe Internet censorship regimes felt compelled to join the 80 co-sponsors of the resolution shows that these countries are uncomfortable owning up to their actions. The resolution is “principally useful for public shaming,” according to Human Rights Watch.

In 2016 Sweden introduced a resolution on “the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet”, supported by a core group of Brazil, Nigeria, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States of America. The resolution was adopted at HRC32. The resolution strongly emphasizes human rights approach, while expanding access to the Internet and for the Internet to be open and accessible. It focuses on the need to protect human rights online to achieve Agenda 2030 on sustainable development, and more closely examines the digital divide affecting women and persons with disabilities.

During the 33rd Session of the UNHRC on September 30 2016, the Human Rights Council adopted the Resolution on Equal Participation in Political and Public Affairs. The resolution tasks the OHCHR to prepare guidelines on public participation in consultation with civil society and other actors. It provides an important step forward in framing the content of the ‘right to participation’ and in reminding governments that participation is not a will, but a right.

In July 2021, the UNHRC issued a resolution (A/HRC/47/L.1) that highlighted key challenges faced by civil society that were exacerbated or engendered by COVID-19 and the response to the pandemic. The resolution was titled “Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society” and recognized the role of civil society during the pandemic and in recovery efforts.

The Human Rights Council invites broad participation by civil society organizations as sources of information on states’ compliance with international human rights standards.

As discussed above, for each state undergoing the Universal Periodic Review process, the OHCHR compiles a summary of information from stakeholders, including human rights and other civil society organizations, about the country under review.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Consultative Status

The Human Rights Council maintains that “participation of NGOs in the Human Rights Council shall be based on the arrangements and practices observed by the Commission of Human Rights, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996.  The participation of NGOs in the regular and special sessions of the Human Rights Council, as well as the sessions of its working group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), is limited to NGOs enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC.”

Organizations that hope to gain consultative status with ECOSOC and the Human Rights Council must meet certain requirements.  These requirements include:

1. The organization’s activities must be relevant to the work of ECOSOC;
2. The NGO must have been in existence (officially registered) for at least 2 years in order to apply;
3. The NGO must have a democratic decision-making mechanism; and
4. The major portion of the organization’s funds should be derived from contributions from national affiliates, individual members, or other non-governmental components.”

Further information regarding the application process.

If the Committee on NGOs – which is a standing committee of the ECOSOC – accepts an application, it may recommend approval to ECOSOC.  If ECOSOC grants final approval, then the NGO gains consultative status.  The website of the NGO Branch – which services the Committee on NGOs – lists over 3,000 NGOs with Special, General, or Roster Consultative status.

The Committee has come under criticism for deviating from the guiding principles in ESOSOC resolution 1996/31 in its handling of applications for consultative status and review of quadrennial reports.

The Social Forum

The Social Forum is an annual three-day meeting convened by the Human Rights Council which provides an additional opportunity within the United Nations system to exchange ideas and concerns about human rights in all regions worldwide. The Human Rights Council describes the Social Forum as “a unique space for open and interactive dialogue between the representatives of Member States, civil society, including grass-roots organizations, and intergovernmental organizations on issues relating to the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all.”

The Social Forum has existed since 2002, but it came under the direction of the Human Rights Council in 2007.  The Forum explores the promotion and protection of human rights in different context each year.

Reports and documents from every regular session of the Human Rights Council can be found via this link. Special sessions can be found here.

Positive votes on Sudan and Russia crucial to end cycles of impunity (October 2023)
Ahead of the conclusion of the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in which member states will decide whether to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism in Sudan and extend human rights reporting in Russia, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said, “These decisions of the Human Rights Council on Sudan and Russia serve as a crucial test for the Council as to whether it can rise above political interests of member states and be fit for purpose. The Council must not allow itself to be shackled by geopolitics.”

UN rights council condemns Quran-burning incidents (July 2023)
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution condemning recent incidents in which the Quran was burned. That was despite many countries’ choosing not to back the resolution for fear of it infringing on freedom of speech. Amongst the 47 council members, there were 28 votes in favor of the resolution, 12 votes against, and seven abstentions.

Civil society presents key takeaways from Human Rights Council (April 2023)
Civil society participation is a cornerstone of the HRC. It brings voices from local communities and organizations who can effectively inform the HRC of human rights priorities and needs on the ground. Yet the special emergency measures and ongoing budget constraints adopted by the HRC in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, coupled with measures adopted to respond to the Covid-19 crisis, and the ongoing Strategic Heritage Plan, have heavily restricted civil society participation at the HRC.

We must ‘learn from history’, says UN Human Rights Council President (February 2022)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Addresses the UN Human Rights Council on “New And Perilous Phase” in Afghanistan (September 2021)

Rights groups call for rejecting Bahrain’s candidacy for presidency of UNHRC (December 2020)

Human Rights Council picks up again after COVID suspension (June 2020)

End of Mission Statement on Mission to Zimbabwe (September 2019)

Resolution on civil society space: engagement with international and regional organizations (July 2018)

Peaceful Protest Resolution: same rights that people have offline must also be protected online (July 2018)

Clément Voule on freedom of assembly and association (July 2018)

UN OHCHR report on civic space in multilateral institutions (May 2018)

Poland should ensure free and full participation at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (May 2018)

Enhance the process to select new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (March 2018)

Mr. Clément Voule is the new Un Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Assembly and Association (March 2018)

Global Human Rights Update: standing up for human rights in the 70th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (March 2018)

On the human rights challenge of states of emergency in the context of countering terrorism (February 2018)

Zeid calls Iranian authorities to handle the protests with great care (January 2018)

Growing number of reprisals against human rights defenders cooperating with the UN (December 2017)

Resolution on the human rights situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (December 2017)

Poland’s reforms severely undermine independence of judiciary – UNSR (December 2017)

Strong, legally binding treaty on environmental rights urgently needed in Latin America and Caribbean (November 2017)

UN experts call for dropping of terror charges against leading human rights defenders in Turkey (November 2017)

International organizations fail on freedom of information, finds UN Special Rapporteur (October 2017)

Situation in Catalonia should be resolved through political dialogue (October 2017)

Kenya must lift protest ban and halt attacks on the judiciary and civil society, warn UN experts ahead of presidential election (October 2017)

Rising reprisals against human rights defenders cooperating with the UN (September 2017)

2017: Darker and more dangerous (September 2017)

Venezuela: widespread and systematic use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions against demonstrators (August 2017)

Special Rapporteurs calls for Urgent action to safeguard people’s online rights amid rampant State censorship (June 2017)

Former Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai in Geneva for release of his final United Nations reports (June 2017)

Denial of access and lack of cooperation with UN bodies will not diminish scrutiny of a State’s human rights record (June 2017)

Human Rights Council concludes clustered interactive dialogue on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and on education (June 2017)

US Calls for Reform of the UN Human Rights Council (June 2017)

A thank you message from former Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai – and news on work yet to come (May 2017)

Belarus Backsliding Badly on Human Rights: U.N. Report (May 2017)

U.N. rights council: Strong message sent to Philippines on killings (May 2017)

CSOs play a key role in the UPR: An overview of the Second Cycle (April 2017)

The Civil Society Compendium Launch (April 2017)

Belarus: UN expert decries Government’s return to mass violence against peaceful protestors (March 2017)

Increased monitoring and assessment in follow-up to UPR recommendations (March 2017)

Ugandan CSOs finalise suggested implementation matrix (March 2017)

64 States commit to key UPR principles (March 2017)

Philippines’ request for deferral of UPR rejected (February 2017)

Strengthening Civil Society Advocacy in the Universal Periodic Review (December 2016)

Authorities should not interfere with internal affairs of associations, Kiai tells African Court in Rwanda case (January 2017)

Factsheet: Assembly & association rights in the workplace (October 2016)

Final presentation to UN General Assembly, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association (October 2016)

ECNL supports the UN OHCHR in its work on the right to participation (September 2016)

Canada, UNHCR and Open Society Foundations seek to increase refugee resettlement through private sponsorship (September 2016)

On corporate human rights, Australia’s actions speak louder than words (August 2016)

Ethiopia’s Bloody Crackdown: The Case for International Justice (August 2016)

States Running for the Human Rights Council Participate in Pledging Event (July 2016)

UN review of Hungary shows country ‘treats human rights as a public enemy’ (May 2016)

Time to Get Tough on Tajikistan’s Human Rights Crisis (May 2016)

UN experts provide a roadmap to avoid human rights violations during protests (March 2016)

Zeid urges Yemen to reverse decision to expel top UN human rights official (January 2016)

UN Human Rights Council Calls Special Session on Burundi (December 2015)

Cutting aid to support refugees will allow extremism to thrive, Kiai writes in Guardian (November 2015)

Criticism is no threat to sovereignty (September 2015)

Study on best practices, experiences and challenges and ways to overcome them with regard to the promotion, protection and implementation of the right to participate in public affairs (July 2015)

OHCHR calls for input: How to create and maintain civil society space? (June 2015)

Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue on extreme poverty and on counter-terrorism (June 2015)