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About United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Details, Aim, Members, Functions
About United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Details, Aim, Members, Functions
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is an inter-governmental body within United Nations system.
UNHRC is responsible for reinforcing promotion and protection of human rights around globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
UNHRC was created by UNGA on 15th March 2006 by adopting resolution 60/251 to promote human rights globally.
UNHRC had replaced former UN Commission on Human Rights. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
UNHRC Members
UNHRC is comprised of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with a specific number of seats allocated for every five regions of the world that include:
African States (13 seats)
Asia-Pacific States (13 seats)
Eastern European States (6 seats)
Latin American and Caribbean Countries (8 seats)
Western European and other Countries (7 seats)
Members serve for 3-year terms and can serve only two terms in a row.
Earlier in 2018, the United States under President Donald Trump administration had withdrawn from UNHRC questioning council’s legitimacy as of presence of several dictatorial regimes violating human rights on it.
UNHRC Functions
Members of the UNHRC work to engage countries on improving human rights. They make decisions ranging from exposing violations to recommending that UN Security Council make a referral to International Criminal Court (ICC).
UNHRC does not have authority to take action but can exert significant pressure on violating country. It can also set up special reporters’ with mandate to investigate and report human rights violations and abuses.
