The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter-governmental body whose aim is to promote and protect human rights within the United Nations (UN) system. It replaced the former Commission on Human Rights in 2006 when the General Assembly adopted the Resolution 60/251 (UNGA Resolution 60_251). It is composed by 47 UN Member States, elected by the General Assembly. In order to achieve its tasks, the Council addresses situations of human rights violations around the world and makes recommendations on them. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
In relation to its work, regulated by HRC resolution 5/1 (A_HRC_RES_5_1), the following mechanisms are worth to be recalled:
- the Universal Periodic Review (URP)
- the UN Special Procedures
- the complaint procedure (the former 1503 procedure)
Useful links
www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/HRCIndex.aspx