UNHRC

UNHRC

Subject : International Organisations

Context : The US announced plans Monday to re-engage with the United Nations human rights council (UNHRC), from which Donald Trump withdrew almost three years ago, as the Biden administration reverses another move away from multilateral organizations and agreements.

Concept :

• The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
• The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis from 5 groups.
• To become a member, a country must receive the votes of at least 96 of the 191 states of the UN General Assembly (an absolute majority).
• The members are elected for a period of three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
• In electing Council members, the resolution provides that General Assembly members “shall take into account the candidates’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto.”
• The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June, and September.

Universal Periodic Review:

• The Universal periodic review (UPR) mechanism reviews all 192 UN member states every four years to “ensure universality of coverage and equal treatment of all Member States.”

Special Procedure :

• The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
• The system of Special Procedures is a central element of the United Nations human rights machinery and covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.

Special Rapporteur:

• The titles Special Rapporteur, Independent Expert, and Working Group Member are given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations (UN) within the scope of “special procedure” mechanisms.