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{{Short description|United Nations body tasked with the promotion of human rights}}
{{For|similarly named entities|United Nations human rights organization (disambiguation)}}{{Primary sources|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
| coa_pic           = United Nations Human Rights Council Logo.svg
| coa_res           = 150px
| coa_alt           = Logo of the Chattogram City Corporation
| coa_caption       = [[Emblem|Emblem of the UNHRC]]
| name = United Nations Human Rights Council
| leader1_type = President 
| leader1 =  {{flagdeco|Morocco}} [[Omar Zniber]]
| foundation =  {{start date and age|2006|03|15|df=yes}}
| affiliations = [[United Nations]]
| subsidiaries = 
| structure1 = File:United Nations Human Rights Council Membership.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| seats =
<div style="float:left;">{{legend|#0000ff|African States (13)}}</div><br />
<div style="float:left;">{{legend|#339900|Asia-Pacific States (13)}}</div><br />
<div style="float:left;">{{legend|#cc0000|Eastern European States (6)}}</div><br /> 
<div style="float:left;">{{legend|#cc3399|Latin American and Caribbean States (8)}}</div><br />
<div style="float:left;">{{legend|#cc9900|Western European and Other States (7)}}</div><br />
| session_room = File:UN Geneva Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room.jpg
| session_alt = United Nations Human Rights Council
| meeting_place =  The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room is the meeting room of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in the [[Palace of Nations]] in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]
| website       =  [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/home HRC at the ohchr.org]
}}

The '''United Nations Human Rights Council''' ('''UNHRC'''){{efn|{{langx|fr|link=no|Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Conseil des droits de l'homme|url=https://www.ohchr.org/FR/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Home.aspx|date=9 March 2019|access-date=9 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213210840/https://www.ohchr.org/FR/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Home.aspx|archive-date=13 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> CDH}} is a [[United Nations]] body whose mission is to promote and protect [[human rights]] around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/AboutCouncil.aspx |title=About the Human Rights Council |publisher=Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |access-date=29 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311073546/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/AboutCouncil.aspx |archive-date=11 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a [[United Nations Regional Groups|regional group]] basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Sessions.aspx|title=OHCHR {{!}} HRC Sessions|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703143723/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Sessions.aspx|archive-date=3 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The headquarters of the Council are at the [[United Nations Office at Geneva]] in [[Switzerland]].

The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in [[United Nations member state]]s and addresses thematic human rights issues like [[freedom of association]] and [[freedom of assembly|assembly]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/AssemblyAssociation/Pages/SRFreedomAssemblyAssociationIndex.aspx|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603024750/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/AssemblyAssociation/Pages/SRFreedomAssemblyAssociationIndex.aspx|archive-date=3 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[freedom of expression]],<ref>{{cite web|title=HRC Freedom of Opinion and Expression Resolution|url=http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/12/L.14/Rev.1|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703011949/http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A%2FHRC%2F12%2FL.14%2FRev.1|archive-date=3 July 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Freedom of religion|freedom of belief and religion]],<ref>{{cite web|title=USCIRF Welcomes Move Away from 'Defamation of Religions' concept|url=http://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/press-releases/3570-uscirf-welcomes-move-away-from-defamation-of-religions-concept.html|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015235739/http://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/press-releases/3570-uscirf-welcomes-move-away-from-defamation-of-religions-concept.html|archive-date=15 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[women's rights]],<ref>{{cite web|last=UNOG|title=Human Rights Council Establishes Working Group On Discrimination Against Women in Law And Practise|url=http://www.awid.org/Library/Human-Rights-Council-establishes-Working-Group-on-Discrimination-against-Women-in-Law-and-Practise|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015234059/http://www.awid.org/Library/Human-Rights-Council-establishes-Working-Group-on-Discrimination-against-Women-in-Law-and-Practise|archive-date=15 October 2013}}</ref> [[Sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations|LGBT rights]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11167&LangID=E|title=Council establishes mandate on Côte d'Ivoire, adopts protocol to child rights treaty, requests study on discrimination and sexual orientation|date=17 June 2011|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624081557/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11167&LangID=E|archive-date=24 June 2011}} and {{cite web|title=UN publishes first global report and recommendations to tackle gay rights abuses|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/16/un-publishes-first-global-report-and-recommendations-to-tackle-gay-rights-abuses/|date=16 December 2011|access-date=22 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005040/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/16/un-publishes-first-global-report-and-recommendations-to-tackle-gay-rights-abuses/|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Minority rights|rights of racial and ethnic minorities]].{{efn|
For war crimes, see {{cite news|title=UN Adopts Resolution on Sri Lanka War Crimes Probe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17471300|access-date=2 June 2012|work=BBC News|date=22 March 2012}}

For intervention against nationwide human rights abuses, see 
* {{cite web|last=Human Rights Watch|title=UN: Rights Body Acts Decisively on Iran, Cote d'Ivoire|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/03/25/un-rights-body-acts-decisively-iran-cote-d-ivoire|access-date=2 June 2012|date=25 March 2011}},
* {{cite web|last=ISHR|title=Human Right Council follows up to special sessions on Cote-d'Ivoire and Libya|url=http://www.ishr.ch/council/376-council/1030-human-rights-council-follows-up-to-special-sessions-on-cote-divoire-a-libya|access-date=2 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120048/http://www.ishr.ch/council/376-council/1030-human-rights-council-follows-up-to-special-sessions-on-cote-divoire-a-libya|archive-date=6 June 2011}},
* {{cite web|title=Côte d'Ivoire: UN Human Rights Council strongly condemns post-electoral abuses|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37154&Cr=ivoire&Cr1|access-date=2 June 2012|date = 23 December 2010}},
* {{cite news|title=UN calls for investigation into Houla killings in Syria|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18295291|access-date=2 June 2012|work=BBC News|date=June 2012}},
* {{cite web|last=Human Rights Watch|title=UN: Rights Council Condemns Violations in Kyrgyzstan|date=21 June 2010|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/06/21/un-rights-council-condemns-violations-kyrgyzstan|access-date=2 June 2012}},
* {{cite web|last=ISHR|title=Human Rights Council follows up to special sessions on Cote d'Ivoire & Libya|url=http://www.ishr.ch/council/376-council/1030-human-rights-council-follows-up-to-special-sessions-on-cote-divoire-a-libya|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120048/http://www.ishr.ch/council/376-council/1030-human-rights-council-follows-up-to-special-sessions-on-cote-divoire-a-libya|archive-date=6 June 2011}}, 
* {{cite web|last=Human Rights Watch|title=UN Human Rights Council: Positive Action on Burma, Guinea, North Korea|date=26 March 2010|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/03/26/un-human-rights-council-positive-action-burma-guinea-north-korea|access-date=2 June 2012}}
}}

The Council was established by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 15 March 2006{{efn|by resolution A/RES/60/251}} to replace the [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] (UNCHR, herein CHR).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm|publisher=BBC|date=15 March 2006|title=UN creates new human rights body|access-date=27 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226121934/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4810538.stm|archive-date=26 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The Council works closely with the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations [[#Special procedures|special procedures]]. The Council has been strongly criticized for including member countries that engage in human rights abuses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gladstone |first=Rick |date=14 October 2021 |title=U.S. Regains Seat at U.N. Human Rights Council, 3 Years After Quitting |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/world/un-us-human-rights-council.html |access-date=5 December 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piccone |first=Ted |date=25 February 2021 |title=UN Human Rights Council: As the US returns, it will have to deal with China and its friends |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/02/25/un-human-rights-council-as-the-us-returns-it-will-have-to-deal-with-china-and-its-friends/ |access-date=5 December 2021 |website=Brookings |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Structure==
The members of the General Assembly elect the members who occupy 47 seats of the Human Rights Council.<ref name="OHCHR membership">{{cite web |title=HRC Membership of the Human Rights Council |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Membership.aspx |website=www.ohchr.org |publisher=OHCHR |access-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527133549/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Membership.aspx |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms.<ref name="OHCHR membership"/> The previous CHR had a membership of 53 elected by the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council|Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC) through a majority of those present and voting.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHR Membership and Bureau |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CHR/Pages/Membership.aspx |website=www.ohchr.org |publisher=United Nations Human Rights Council |access-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517103317/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CHR/Pages/Membership.aspx |archive-date=17 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Sessions===
The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June, and September.<ref>{{cite web|title=United Nations Human Rights Council, Sessions|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Sessions.aspx|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520143840/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Sessions.aspx|archive-date=20 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The UNHRC can decide at any time to hold a special session to address human rights violations and emergencies, at the request of one-third of the member states.<ref name="HRC Sessions">{{cite web |title=HRC Sessions |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/sessions.aspx |website=www.ohchr.org |publisher=OHCHR |access-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527205817/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Sessions.aspx |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{as of|2023|November}}, there had been 36 special sessions.<ref name="HRC Sessions"/>

===Members===
{{See also|List of members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights}}

The Council consists of 47 members, elected yearly by the General Assembly for [[Staggered elections|staggered]] three-year terms. Members are selected via the basis of equitable geographic rotation using the [[United Nations Regional Groups|United Nations regional grouping system]]. Members are eligible for re-election for one additional term, after which they must relinquish their seat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Membership.aspx |title=Membership of the Human Rights Council |date=26 February 2019 |website=United Nations Human Rights Council |publisher=United Nations |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213213435/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Membership.aspx |archive-date=13 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The seats are distributed along the following lines:<ref name="OHCHR membership"/>
* 13 for the African Group
* 13 for the Asia-Pacific Group
* 6 for the Eastern European Group
* 8 for the Latin American and Caribbean Group
* 7 for the Western European and Others Group

=== Current ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Term
! [[United Nations Regional Groups#Asia and the Pacific Group|Asia-Pacific States]] (13)
! [[African Group|African States]] (13)
! [[Eastern European Group|Eastern European <br> States]] (6)
! [[Latin American and Caribbean Group|Latin American & <br> Caribbean States]] (8)
! [[Western European and Others Group|Western European & <br> Other States]] (7)

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;background:#ddeeee"
!'''2024–2026'''<br><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/78/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=1 January 2024 |archive-date= }}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|China}} <br>{{flagcountry|Indonesia}} <br />{{flagcountry|Japan}} <br />{{flagcountry|Kuwait}}
| {{flagcountry|Burundi}} <br>{{flagcountry|Ivory Coast}} <br>{{flagcountry|Ghana}} <br>{{flagcountry|Malawi}}
| {{flagcountry|Albania}} <br />{{flagcountry|Bulgaria}}
| {{flagcountry|Brazil}} <br />{{flagcountry|Cuba}} <br />{{flagcountry|Dominican Republic}}
| {{flagcountry|France}} <br />{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;background:#eeffee"
!'''2023–2025'''<br><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/77/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (11 October 2022) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=17 October 2019 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date= }}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|Bangladesh}} <br>{{flagcountry|Kyrgyzstan}} <br />{{flagcountry|Maldives}} <br />{{flagcountry|Vietnam}}
| {{flagcountry|Algeria}} <br>{{flagcountry|Morocco}} <br>{{flagcountry|South Africa}} <br>{{flagcountry|Sudan}}
| {{flagcountry|Georgia}} <br />{{flagcountry|Romania}}
| {{flagcountry|Chile}} <br />{{flagcountry|Costa Rica}}
| {{flagcountry|Belgium}} <br />{{flagcountry|Germany}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;background:#f7f7c7"
!'''2022–2024'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/76/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (14 October 2021) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=14 October 2021 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
| {{flag|India}} <br>{{flag|Kazakhstan}} <br>{{flag|Malaysia}} <br>{{flag|Qatar}} <br>{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| {{flag|Benin}} <br>{{flag|Cameroon}} <br>{{flag|Eritrea}} <br>{{flag|Gambia|name=The Gambia}} <br>{{flag|Somalia}}
| {{flag|Lithuania}} <br>{{flag|Montenegro}}
| {{flag|Argentina}} <br>{{flag|Honduras}} <br>{{flag|Paraguay}}
| {{flag|Finland}} <br>{{flag|Luxembourg}} <br>{{flag|United States}}

|}

=== Previous ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Term 
! [[African Group|African States]] (13) 
! [[United Nations Regional Groups#Asia and the Pacific Group|Asia-Pacific States]] (14)
! [[Eastern European Group|Eastern European <br /> States]] (5) 
! [[Latin American and Caribbean Group|Latin American & <br /> Caribbean States]] (8)
! [[Western European and Others Group|Western European & <br /> Other States]] (7)

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"
!'''2021–2023'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/75/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (13 October 2020) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=13 October 2020 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
| {{flag|Ivory Coast|name=Côte d'Ivoire}} <br>{{flag|Gabon}} <br>{{flag|Malawi}} <br>{{flag|Senegal}}
| {{flag|China}} <br>{{flag|Nepal}} <br>{{flag|Pakistan}} <br>{{flag|Uzbekistan}} 
| ''{{flag|Russia|name=<s>Russia</s>}}''{{efn|Membership suspended from the Council by [[Eleventh emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/3|Resolution ES-11/3]] following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].}}<br />{{flag|Ukraine}} <br>{{flag|Czech Republic}}
| {{flag|Bolivia|name=Bolivia}} <br>{{flag|Cuba}} <br>{{flag|Mexico}}
| {{flag|France}} <br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"
!'''2020–2022'''<br><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/74/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (17 October 2019) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=17 October 2019 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017184504/https://www.un.org/en/ga/74/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |archive-date=17 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|Libya}} <br>{{flagcountry|Mauritania}} <br>{{flagcountry|Sudan}} <br>{{flagcountry|Namibia}}
| {{flagcountry|Indonesia}} <br>{{flagcountry|Japan}} <br />{{flagcountry|Marshall Islands}} <br />{{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[South Korea]] 
| {{flagcountry|Armenia}} <br />{{flagcountry|Poland}}
| {{flagcountry|Brazil}} <br />{{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
| {{flagcountry|Germany}} <br />{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"		
!'''2019–2021'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/73/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (12 October 2018) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 October 2018 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125143237/http://www.un.org/en/ga/73/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |archive-date=25 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|Burkina Faso}} <br />{{flagcountry|Cameroon}} <br />{{flagcountry|Eritrea}} <br />{{flagcountry|Somalia}} <br />{{flagcountry|Togo}}
| {{flagcountry|Bahrain}} <br />{{flagcountry|Bangladesh}} <br />{{flagcountry|Fiji}} <br />{{flagcountry|India}} <br />{{flagcountry|Philippines}}
| {{flagcountry|Bulgaria}} <br />{{flagcountry|Czech Republic}}
| {{flagcountry|Argentina}} <br />{{flagcountry|Bahamas}} <br />{{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
| {{flagcountry|Austria}} <br />{{flagcountry|Denmark}} <br />{{flagcountry|Italy}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"		
!'''2018–2020'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/72/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (16 October 2017) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=16 October 2017 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|Angola}} <br /> {{flagcountry|DRC}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Nigeria}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Senegal}}
| {{flagcountry|Afghanistan|2013}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Nepal}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Qatar}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Pakistan}}
| {{flagcountry|Slovakia}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
| {{flagcountry|Chile}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Mexico}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Peru}}
| {{flagcountry|Australia}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Spain}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"
| '''2017–2019'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/71/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (28 October 2016) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=28 October 2016 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829092703/https://www.un.org/en/ga/71/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>	
| {{flagcountry|Egypt}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Rwanda}} <br /> {{flagcountry|South Africa}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Tunisia}}
| {{flagcountry|China}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Iraq}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Japan}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Saudi Arabia}}
| {{flagcountry|Croatia}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Hungary}}
| {{flagcountry|Brazil}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Cuba}}
| {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United States}} <small>(left in June 2018)</small> <br /> {{flagcountry|Iceland}} <small>(from 13 July 2018)</small>

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"
| '''2016–2018'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/70/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (28 October 2015) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=28 October 2015 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{BDI}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Ivory Coast|name=Côte D'Ivoire}} <br /> {{ETH}} <br /> {{KEN}} <br /> {{TOG}}
| {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]] <br /> {{KGZ}} <br /> {{MGL}} <br /> {{PHI}} <br /> {{UAE}}
| {{GEO}} <br /> {{SLO}}
| {{ECU}} <br /> {{PAN}} <br />{{flagcountry|Venezuela|name=Venezuela}}
| {{BEL}} <br /> {{GER}} <br />{{SWI}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"
| '''2015–2017'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/69/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (21 October 2014) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 October 2014 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{BWA}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Congo}} <br /> {{GHA}} <br /> {{NGA}}
| {{BGD}} <br /> {{IND}} <br /> {{IDN}} <br /> {{QAT}}
| {{ALB}} <br /> {{LVA}}
| {{flagcountry|Bolivia|name=Bolivia}} <br /> {{SLV}} <br />{{PRY}}
| {{NLD}} <br /> {{PRT}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2014–2016'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/68/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (12 November 2013) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 November 2013 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{DZA}} <br /> {{MAR}} <br /> {{NAM}} <br /> {{ZAF}}
| {{CHN}} <br /> {{MDV}} <br /> {{SAU}} <br /> {{VIE}}
| {{flagcountry|North Macedonia|name=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia}} {{efn|Now as the Republic of North Macedonia}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Russia|name=Russian Federation}}
| {{CUB}} <br /> {{MEX}}
| {{FRA}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"	
| '''2013–2015'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/67/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (12 November 2012) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 November 2012 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{ETH}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Ivory Coast|name=Côte D'Ivoire}} <br /> {{GAB}} <br /> {{KEN}} <br /> {{SLE}}
| {{JPN}} <br /> {{KAZ}} <br /> {{PAK}} <br /> {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]] <br /> {{ARE}}	
| {{EST}} <br /> {{MNE}}
| {{ARG}} <br /> {{BRA}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
| {{DEU}} <br /> {{IRL}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United States}}
	
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2012–2014'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/65/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (20 May 2011) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 May 2011 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{BEN}} <br /> {{BOT}} <br /> {{BUR}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Congo}}
| {{IND}} <br /> {{INA}} <br /> {{KUW}} <br /> {{PHI}}
| {{ROM}} <br /> {{CZE}}
| {{CHI}} <br /> {{CRC}} <br /> {{PER}}
| {{ITA}} <br /> {{AUT}}

|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2011–2013'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/ga/64/elections/hrc/index.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (13 May 2010) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=13 May 2010 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726110016/http://www.un.org/ga/64/elections/hrc/index.shtml|archive-date=26 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{AGO}} <br /> {{LBY|1977}} <br /> {{MTN}} <br /> {{UGA}}
| {{QAT}} <br /> {{MAS}} <br /> {{MDV}} <br /> {{THA}}
| {{MDA}} <br /> {{POL}}
| {{ECU}} <br /> {{GUA}}
| {{CHE}} <br /> {{ESP}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2010–2012'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/63/elections/hrc_elections.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (12 May 2009) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 May 2009 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>	
| {{DJI}} <br /> {{CMR}} <br /> {{MUS}} <br /> {{NGA}} <br /> {{SEN}}
| {{BGD}} <br /> {{CHN}} <br /> {{JOR}} <br /> {{KGZ}} <br /> {{SAU}}
| {{flagcountry|Russia|name=Russian Federation}} <br /> {{HUN}}
| {{CUB}} <br /> {{MEX}} <br /> {{URY}}
| {{BEL}} <br /> {{NOR}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United States}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2009–2011'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/ga/62/elections/hrc_elections.shtml |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (21 May 2008) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 May 2008 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114214133/https://www.un.org/ga/62/elections/hrc_elections.shtml|archive-date=14 November 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>	
| {{BFA}} <br /> {{GAB}} <br /> {{GHA}} <br /> {{ZAM}}
| {{BHR}} <br /> {{JPN}} <br /> {{PAK}} <br /> {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]]
| {{SVK}} <br /> {{UKR}}
| {{ARG}} <br /> {{BRA}} <br /> {{CHL}}
| {{FRA}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2008–2010'''<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/ga/61/elect/hrc/ |title=Election of the Human Rights Council (17 May 2007) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=17 May 2007 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110031542/http://www.un.org/ga/61/elect/hrc/ |archive-date=10 January 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{EGY}} <br /> {{AGO}} <br /> {{MAD}} <br /> {{RSA}}
| {{IND}} <br /> {{INA}} <br /> {{QAT}} <br /> {{PHI}}
| {{BIH}} <br /> {{SVN}}
| {{flagcountry|Bolivia|name=Bolivia}} <br /> {{NIC}}
| {{NLD}} <br /> {{ITA}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2006–2009'''<br /><ref name="First Election">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/ga10459.doc.htm |title=General Assembly Elects 47 Members of New Human Rights Council; Marks 'New Beginning' for Human Rights Promotion, Protection |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 October 2018 |website=United Nations General Assembly |publisher=United Nations |access-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921124506/https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/ga10459.doc.htm |archive-date=21 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>	
| {{DJI}} <br /> {{CMR}} <br /> {{MRI}} <br /> {{NGR}} <br /> {{SEN}}
| {{BGD}} <br /> {{CHN}} <br /> {{JOR}} <br /> {{MAS}} <br /> {{KSA}}
| {{AZE}} <br /> {{flagcountry|Russia|name=Russian Federation}}
| {{CUB}} <br /> {{MEX}} <br /> {{URU}}
| {{DEU}} <br /> {{CAN}} <br /> {{CHE}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2006–2008'''<br /><ref name="First Election" />	
| {{GAB}} <br /> {{GHA}} <br /> {{MLI}} <br /> {{ZAM}}
| {{JPN}} <br /> {{PAK}} <br /> {{SRI}} <br /> {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]]
| {{ROU}} <br /> {{UKR}}
| {{BRA}} <br /> {{GUA}} <br /> {{PER}}
| {{FRA}} <br /> {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
		
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #000000;"		
| '''2006–2007'''<br /><ref name="First Election" />	
| {{DZA}} <br /> {{MAR}} <br /> {{RSA}} <br /> {{TUN}}
| {{BHR}} <br /> {{IND}} <br /> {{INA}} <br /> {{PHI}} 
| {{POL}} <br /> {{CZE}}
| {{ARG}} <br /> {{ECU}}
| {{FIN}} <br /> {{NLD}}
|}

===Presidents===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! Name
! Country
! Time
|-
|18
|[[Omar Zniber]]
|{{flag|Morocco}}
|10 January 2024 – 31 December 2024
|-
| 17
|{{ill|Václav Bálek|wd=Q115659112|s=1|v=sup}}
|{{flag|Czech Republic}}
|1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/12/human-rights-council-elects-vaclav-balek-czech-republic-its-president-2023?sub-site=HRC |title= Human Rights Council elects Václav Bálek of the Czech Republic as its President for 2023 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=9 December 2022 |website=UN OHCR |publisher=UN |access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 16
|[[Federico Villegas (diplomat)|Federico Villegas]]
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27916&LangID=E |title=Human Rights Council elects Federico Villegas of Argentina as its president for 2022 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 December 2021 |website=UN OHCR |publisher=UN |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 15
|[[Nazahat Shameen Khan]]
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farge |first1=Emma |title=Fiji wins presidency of U.N. rights body after vote unblocks leadership impasse |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/fiji-wins-presidency-of-un-rights-body-after-vote-unblocks-leadership-impasse/ar-BB1cMyUD?ocid=ob-fb-enus-1541512262291 |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=msn.com |agency=Reuters |date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 14
|[[Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger]]
|{{flag|Austria}}
|1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Presidency.aspx|title=President of the 14th Cycle|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621163605/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Presidency.aspx|archive-date=21 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 13 || Coly Seck ||{{flag|Senegal}} || 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019 
|-
| 12 || Vojislav Šuc ||{{flag|Slovenia}}|| 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018
|-
| 11 || Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli || {{flag|El Salvador}} || 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017
|-
| 10  || Choi Kyong-lim || {{ROK}} || 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16851&LangID=E The Human Rights Council elects Ambassador Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim of the Republic of Korea as its new President.] Retrieved 4 January 2016.</ref>
|-
| 9  || [[Joachim Rücker]] || {{DEU}} || 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015
|-
| 8  || Baudelaire Ndong Ella || {{flagcountry|GAB}} || 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2014
|-
| 7  || Remigiusz Henczel || {{flagcountry|POL}} || 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?Cr=human+rights+council&NewsID=43731|title=UN News – UN Human Rights Council: new President will help promote human rights equitably|first=United Nations News Service|last=Section|date=10 December 2012|website=UN News Service Section}}</ref>
|-
| 6  || [[Laura Dupuy Lasserre]] || {{flagcountry|URY}} || 19 June 2011 – 31 December 2012
|-
| 5  || Sihasak Phuangketkeow || {{flagcountry|THA}} || 19 June 2010 – 18 June 2011<ref name="www2.ohchr.org"/>
|-
| 4  || Alex Van Meeuwen || {{flagcountry|BEL}} || 19 June 2009 – 18 June 2010<ref name="www2.ohchr.org">{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/membership.htm |title=Human Rights Council – Membership of the Human Rights Council |publisher=.ohchr.org |access-date=26 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218214302/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/membership.htm |archive-date=18 February 2011 }}</ref>
|-
| 3  || [[Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi]] || {{flagcountry|NGA}} || 19 June 2008 – 18 June 2009
|-
| 2  || [[Doru Romulus Costea]] || {{flagcountry|ROU}} || 19 June 2007 – 18 June 2008
|-
| 1  || [[Luis Alfonso de Alba]] || {{flagcountry|MEX}} || 19 June 2006 – 18 June 2007
|-
|}

===Suspensions===
The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of [[human rights]] during its term of membership.<ref>{{cite web |title=Resolution adopted by the General Assembly - 60/251. Human Rights Council |url=https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/A.RES.60.251_En.pdf |publisher=OHCHR |access-date=22 May 2020 |date=3 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322225252/https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/a.res.60.251_en.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.<ref name="http">{{cite web |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/A.RES.60.251_En.pdf |title=UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251.8 |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618102047/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/A.RES.60.251_En.pdf |archive-date=18 June 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The resolution establishing the UNHRC states that "when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto",<ref name="Blackstone">{{cite book |editor1-last=Ghandhi |editor1-first=P. R. |editor2-last=Ghandhi |editor2-first=Sandy |title=Blackstone's International Human Rights Documents |date=2012 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-965632-5 |page=238 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RcicAQAAQBAJ&q=%22when%20electing%20members%20of%20the%20Council%2C%20Member%20States%20shall%20take%22&pg=PA238 |chapter=Resolution adopted by the General Assembly 60/251: Human Rights Council (2006)}}</ref> and that "members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights".<ref name="Blackstone"/>

Under those provisions, and in response to a recommendation made by the Council's members, on 1 March 2011 the General Assembly voted to [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 65/265|suspend Libya's membership]] in the light of the situation in the country in the wake of [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s "violent crackdown on anti-government protestors";<ref>{{cite news |title=General Assembly Suspends Libya from Human Rights Council |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2011/ga11050.doc.htm |publisher=United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases |date=1 March 2011}}</ref> Libya was reinstated as a Council member on 18 November 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Member States vote to reinstate Libya as member of UN Human Rights Council |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/11/395392-member-states-vote-reinstate-libya-member-un-human-rights-council |publisher=United Nations: UN News |date=18 November 2011}}</ref> 

On 7 April 2022, just days after photographic and video material of the [[Bucha massacre]] emerged, the [[Eleventh emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly|eleventh emergency special session of the General Assembly]] suspended Russia from the council due to the [[War crimes in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|gross and systematic violations of human rights]] committed during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web |title=UN suspends Russia from Human Rights Council |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/07/politics/un-russia-human-rights/index.html |work=CNN|date=7 April 2022 |access-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407161012/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/07/politics/un-russia-human-rights/index.html |archive-date=7 April 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> Deputy Permanent Representative [[Gennady Kuzmin (diplomat)|Gennady Kuzmin]] said that Russia had withdrawn from the council earlier in the day in expectation of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-nations-general-assembly-voting-rights-united-nations-linda-thomas-greenfield-6b4f311e6099315aa4efc2d5772ab80e|author=Lederer, Edith M.|last2=Peltz|first2=Jennifer|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2022|title=UN assembly suspends Russia from top human rights body|agency=Associated Press|work=AP News}}</ref> Russia was only the second Human Rights Council member to be suspended from the UN body, after Libya in 2011, and it was the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to be suspended from any United Nations body.<ref name=AJ>{{cite news|author=Al Jazeera and news agencies|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/7/un-to-vote-on-suspending-russia-from-rights-council|work=Al Jazeera|title=UN suspends Russia from human rights body over Ukraine abuses|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>

===Directly responsible subsidiary bodies===

====Universal Periodic Review Working Group====
{{Main|Universal Periodic Review}}

An important component of the Council consists of a periodic review of all 193 UN member states, called the [[United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review|Universal Periodic Review]] (UPR).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/06/27/universal-periodic-review-mechanism | publisher=Human Rights Watch | date=27 June 2006 | access-date=24 February 2009 | title=The Universal Periodic Review Mechanism}}</ref> The mechanism is based on reports coming from different sources, one of them being contributions from [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental organisations]] (NGOs). Each country's situation will be examined during a three-and-a-half-hour debate.<ref>Main points: [http://www.upr-info.org/en/upr-process/what-is-it What is the UPR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124094808/https://upr-info.org/en/upr-process/what-is-it |date=24 November 2020 }}. Retrieved 31 January 2016</ref><ref>More details on: [http://www.upr-info.org/en/how-to/role-ngos Information note for NGOs regarding the Universal Periodic Review mechanism (as of second cycle) ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124093010/https://upr-info.org/en/how-to/role-ngos |date=24 November 2020 }}. Retrieved 31 January 2016</ref>

The first cycle of the UPR took place between 2008 and 2011,<ref>For complete calendar, see: [http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/uprlist.pdf Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review]</ref> the second cycle between 2012 and 2016,<ref>For complete calendar, see:  [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/UPR/Calendar2ndCycle.doc Human Rights Council 2nd Universal Periodic Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712134030/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/UPR/Calendar2ndCycle.doc |date=12 July 2017 }}</ref> and the third cycle began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2021.<ref>For complete calendar, see:  [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/UPR/UPR_3rd_cycle.docx Human Rights Council 3rd Universal Periodic Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927113448/https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/UPR/UPR_3rd_cycle.docx |date=27 September 2019 }}</ref>

The General Assembly resolution establishing the Council provided that "the Council shall review its work and functioning five years after its establishment".<ref>Paragraph 16 of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006</ref> The main work of the review was undertaken in an Intergovernmental Working Group established by the Council in its Resolution 12/1 of 1 October 2009.<ref>See:  [http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/65/53&referer=/english/&Lang=E Resolution 12/1 of 1 October 2009, included in UN document A/65/53, containing the Report of the Human Rights Council on its Twelfth Session (14 September – 2 October 2009)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324064236/https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2F65%2F53&referer=%2Fenglish%2F&Lang=E |date=24 March 2020 }}</ref> The review was finalized in March 2011, by the adoption of an "Outcome" at the Council's 16th session, annexed to Resolution 16/21.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/general-document/pdf/a_hrc_res_16_21_hrc_review_e.pdf |title=Resolution 16/21 |website=upr-info.org |access-date=31 January 2016 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930100846/http://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/general-document/pdf/a_hrc_res_16_21_hrc_review_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

First cycle: The following terms and procedures were set out in General Assembly Resolution 60/251:
* Reviews are to occur over a four-year period (48 countries per year). Accordingly, the 193<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.un.org/en/member-states/|title=Member States {{!}} United Nations|newspaper=United Nations|access-date=7 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504180220/https://www.un.org/en/member-states/|archive-date=4 May 2019|url-status=live|last1=Nations |first1=United }}</ref> countries that are members of the United Nations shall normally all have such a Review between 2008 and 2011;
* The order of review should follow the principles of universality and equal treatment;
* All Member States of the Council will be reviewed while they sit at the Council and the initial members of the Council will be first;
* The selection of the countries to be reviewed must respect the principle of equitable geographical allocation;
* The first Member States and the first observatory States to be examined will be selected randomly in each regional group to guarantee full compliance with the equitable geographical allocation. Reviews shall then be conducted alphabetically.

Second cycle: HRC Resolution 16/21 brought the following changes:
* Reviews are to occur over a four-and-a-half-year period (42 countries per year). Accordingly, the 193 countries that are members of the United Nations shall normally all have such a Review between 2012 and 2016;
* The order of review will be similar to the 1st cycle;
* The length of each Review will be extended from three to three-and-a-half hours;
* The second and subsequent cycles of the review should focus on, inter alia, the implementation of the recommendations.

Similar mechanisms exist in other organizations: [[International Atomic Energy Agency]], [[Council of Europe]], [[International Monetary Fund]], [[Organization of American States]], and the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref>Lars Müller, (ed.), The First 365 days of the United Nations Human Rights Council, p. 81 and ff.</ref>

====Advisory Committee====
The [[Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights]] was the main subsidiary body of the CHR. The Sub-Commission was composed of 26 elected human rights experts whose mandate was to conduct studies on discriminatory practices and to make recommendations to ensure that racial, national, religious, and linguistic minorities are protected by law.<ref name = "SubC">{{cite web
  | title = Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
  | publisher = Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
  | date = n.d.
  | url = http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/subcom/index.htm
  | access-date = 11 August 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161231093141/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/subcom/index.htm
  | archive-date = 31 December 2016
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

In 2006, the newly created UNHRC assumed responsibility for the Sub-Commission. The Sub-Commission's mandate was extended for one year (to June 2007), but it met for the final time in August 2006.<ref name = "SubC"/> At its final meeting, the Sub-Commission recommended the creation of a Human Rights Consultative Committee to provide advice to the UNHRC.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Report of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of human rights on its fifty-eighth session
  | work = A/HRC/2/2
  | publisher = Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
  | date = 9 November 2006
  | url = http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/HRC/2/2&Lang=E
  | access-date = 11 August 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415145122/https://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A%2FHRC%2F2%2F2&Lang=E
  | archive-date = 15 April 2016
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

In September 2007, the UNHRC decided to create an Advisory Committee to provide expert advice<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
  | publisher = UN Human Rights Council
  | date = n.d.
  | url = http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/advisorycommittee.htm
  | access-date =11 August 2009}}</ref> with 18 members, distributed as follows: five from African states; five from Asian states; three from Latin American and Caribbean states; three from Western European and other states; and two members from Eastern European states.<ref>[http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/443E3545A5A97926C125760D0069B671?opendocument Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Concludes Third Session] Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Roundup 7 August 2009.</ref>

====Complaint procedure====
The UNHRC complaint procedure was established on 18 June 2007 (by UNHRC Resolution 5/1)<ref name="UNHRC Website Complaint Procedure"/> for reporting of consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world and under any circumstances.

The UNHRC set up two working groups for its Complaint Procedure:

* the ''Working Group on Communications'' (WGC) – consists of five experts designated by the Advisory Committee from among its members, one from each regional group. The experts serve for three years with the possibility of one renewal. The experts determine whether a complaint deserves investigation, in which case it is passed to the WGS.
* the ''Working Group on Situations'' (WGS) – has five members, appointed by the regional groups from among its members on the Council for one year, which is renewable once. The WGS meets twice a year for five working days to examine the communications transferred to it by the WGC, including the replies of states thereon, as well as the situations which are already before the UNHRC under the complaint procedure. The WGS, on the basis of the information and recommendations provided by the WGC, presents the UNHRC with a report on consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and makes recommendations to the UNHRC on the course of actions to take.<ref name="UNHRC Website Complaint Procedure">{{cite journal|url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/574157|title=Resolution 5/1|date=23 June 1949|journal=United Nations Digital Library System|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213045709/https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/574157|archive-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>

;Filing a complaint

The Chairman of the WGC screens complaints for admissibility. A complaint must be in writing, and cannot be anonymous. Examples provided by the UNHRC of cases that would be considered consistent patterns of gross human rights violations include alleged deterioration of human rights of people belonging to a minority, including forced evictions, [[racial segregation]] and substandard living conditions, and alleged degrading situation of prison conditions for both detainees and prison workers, resulting in violence and death of inmates.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/623242?ln=es|title=Complaint Procedure of the Human Rights Council|date=4 March 2008|journal=United Nations Digital Library System|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219093945/https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/623242?ln=es|archive-date=19 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Individuals, groups, or NGOs can claim to be victims of human rights violations or that have direct, reliable knowledge of such violations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Activism and the Role of NGOs - Manual for Human Rights Education with Young people - www.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/human-rights-activism-and-the-role-of-ngos |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Manual for Human Rights Education with Young people |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Complaints can be regarding any state, regardless of whether it has ratified a particular treaty. Complaints are confidential and the UNHRC will only communicate with the complainant, unless it decides that the complaint will be addressed publicly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/complaint-procedure/faq |website=United Nations Human Rights Council}}</ref>

The interaction with the complainant and the UNHRC during the complaints procedure will be on an as-needed basis. UNHRC Resolution 5/1, paragraph 86, emphasizes that the procedure is victims-oriented. Paragraph 106 provides that the complaint procedure shall ensure that complainants are informed of the proceedings at the key stages. The WGC may request further information from complainants or a third party.<ref name="UNHRC Website Complaint Procedure"/>

Following the initial screening a request for information will be sent to the state concerned, which shall reply within three months of the request being made. WGS will then report to the UNHRC, which will usually be in the form of a draft resolution or decision on the situation referred to in the complaint.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Council Complaint Procedure {{!}} A Conscientious Objector's Guide to the International Human Rights System |url=https://co-guide.org/mechanism/human-rights-council-complaint-procedure#:~:text=The%20Working%20Group%20on%20Situation,review%20and%20request%20further%20information. |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=co-guide.org}}</ref>

The UNHRC will decide on the measures to take in a confidential manner as needed, but this will occur at least once a year. As a general rule, the period of time between the transmission of the complaint to the state concerned and consideration by the UNHRC shall not exceed 24 months. Those individuals or groups who make a complaint should not publicly state the fact that they have submitted a complaint.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grievance Redress Service |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/products-and-services/grievance-redress-service |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=World Bank |language=en}}</ref>

To be accepted complaints must:
* be in writing and submitted in one of the six UN official languages ([[Arabic]], Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish);
* contain a description of the relevant facts (including names of alleged victims, dates, location, and other evidence), with as much detail as possible, and shall not exceed 15 pages;
* not be manifestly politically motivated;
* not be exclusively based on reports disseminated by mass media;
* not be already dealt with by a special procedure, a treaty body, or other United Nations or similar regional complaints procedure in the field of human rights;
* be after domestic remedies have been exhausted, unless it appears that such remedies would be ineffective or unreasonably prolonged;
* not use a language that is abusive or insulting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Council Complaint Procedure |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/complaint-procedure/hrc-complaint-procedure-index |website=United Nations Human Rights Council}}</ref>


The complaint procedure is not designed to provide remedies in individual cases or to provide compensation to alleged victims.<ref name="UNHRC Website Complaint Procedure"/>

;Effectiveness

Due to the confidential manner of the procedure, it is almost impossible to find out what complaints have passed through the procedure and also how effective the procedure is.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=King |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=94z69vcUz30C&dq=Due+to+the+confidential+manner+of+the+procedure%2C+it+is+almost+impossible+to+find+out+what+complaints+have+passed+through+the+procedure+and+also+how+effective+the+procedure+is.&pg=PA47 |title=Supervising Counsellors: Issues of Responsibility |last2=Wheeler |first2=Sue |date=2001-03-18 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-0-7619-6408-7 |language=en}}</ref>

There is a principle of non-duplication, which means that the complaint procedure cannot take up the consideration of a case that is already being dealt with by a special procedure, a treaty body or other United Nations or similar regional complaints procedure in the field of human rights.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On the UNHRC website under the complaints procedure section there is a list of situations referred to the UNHRC under the complaint procedure since 2006. This was only available to the public as of 2014, however generally does not give any details regarding the situations that were under consideration other than the state that was involved.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In some cases the information is slightly more revealing, for example a situation that was listed was the situation of [[trade union]]s and human rights defenders in [[Iraq]] that was considered in 2012, but the UNHRC decided to discontinue that consideration.<ref name="McBeth 2011">McBeth, Nolan and Rice ''The International Law of Human Rights'' (OUP, 2011) at 231</ref>

The complaints procedure has been said to be too lenient due to its confidential manner.<ref name="McBeth 2011"/> Some have often questioned the value of the procedure, but 94% of states respond to the complaints raised with them.<ref>Moeckli, Shah, Sivakumaran, Harris International Human Rights Law 2nd ed (OUP, 2014) at 371</ref>

The OHCHR receives between 11,000 and 15,000 communications per year. During 2010–11, 1,451 out of 18,000 complaints were submitted for further action by the WGC. The UNHRC considered four complaints in their 19th session in 2012. The majority of the situations that have been considered have since been discontinued.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

History shows that the procedure works almost in a petition like way; if enough complaints are received then the UNHRC is very likely to assign a [[United Nations special rapporteur|special rapporteur]] to the state or to the issue at hand. It has been said that an advantage of the procedure is the confidential manner, which offers the ability to engage with the state concerned through a more [diplomatic] process, which can produce better results than a more adversarial process of public accusation.<ref name="McBeth 2011"/>

The procedure is considered by some a useful tool to have at the disposal on the international community for situations where naming and shaming has proved ineffective.<ref name="McBeth 2011"/> Also another advantage is that a complaint can be made against any state, regardless of whether it has ratified a particular [[treaty]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Due to the limited information that is provided on the complaints procedure it is hard to make comments on the process itself, the resources it uses versus its effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mirzoev |first1=Tolib |last2=Kane |first2=Sumit |date=2018-04-16 |title=Key strategies to improve systems for managing patient complaints within health facilities – what can we learn from the existing literature? |journal=Global Health Action |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=1458938 |doi=10.1080/16549716.2018.1458938 |issn=1654-9716 |pmc=5912438 |pmid=29658393}}</ref>

====Other subsidiary bodies====
In addition to the UPR, the Complaint Procedure, and the Advisory Committee, the UNHRC's other subsidiary bodies include:

*''Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples'', which replaced the CHR's [[Working Group on Indigenous Populations]]
*''Forum on Minority Issues'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/forum.htm |title=Forum on Minority Issues |publisher=.ohchr.org |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702104345/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/forum.htm |archive-date=2 July 2012  }}</ref> a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities
*''Social Forum'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/SForum/Pages/SForumIndex.aspx |title=Social Forum |publisher=Ohchr.org |access-date=24 July 2012}}</ref> a space for dialogue between the representatives of Member States, civil society, including grass-roots organizations, and intergovernmental organizations on issues linked with the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all. It was established in 1997 in response to concerns regarding the impact of globalization on the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights. The appointment of Iran as Chair of the 2023 HRC Social Forum, which focused on "the contribution of science, technology, and innovation to promoting human rights, including in the context of post-pandemic recovery",<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khabook |first=Reza |date=2023-06-08 |title=Iran's Appointment as the Chair-Rapporteur of the UNHRC Social Forum: Politicisation of Subsidiary Expert UN Human Rights Bodies |url=https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/irans-appointment-as-the-chair-rapporteur-of-the-unhrc-social-forum/ |journal=Völkerrechtsblog |language=en |doi=10.17176/20230608-110936-0}}</ref> drew condemnation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farge |first=Emma |date=2023-11-02 |title=Iran's appointment to chair UN rights meeting draws condemnation |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/irans-appointment-chair-un-rights-meeting-draws-condemnation-2023-11-02/ |access-date=2023-11-04}}</ref>
===Special procedures===
{{Main|United Nations special rapporteur}}

"Special procedures"<ref>{{Cite web|title = History of the United Nations Special Procedures Mechanism|url = http://www.universal-rights.org/urg-policy-reports/history-of-the-united-nations-special-procedures-mechanism-origins-evolution-and-reform/|website = Universal Rights Group|access-date = 10 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Special Procedures: Determinants of Influence – Universal Rights Group|url = http://www.universal-rights.org/urg-policy-reports/special-procedures-determinants-of-influence/|website = Universal Rights Group|access-date = 10 February 2016}}</ref> is the general name given to the mechanisms established by the Human Rights Council to gather expert observations and advice on human rights issues in all parts of the world. Special procedures are categorized as either thematic mandates, which focus on major phenomena of human rights abuses worldwide, or country mandates, which report on human rights situations in specific countries or territories. Special procedures can be either individuals (called "[[United Nations special rapporteur|special rapporteur]]s" or "independent experts"), who are intended to be independent experts in a particular area of human rights, or working groups, usually composed of five members (one from each UN region). As of August 2017 there were 44 thematic and 12 country mandates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx |title=Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council |publisher=ohchr.org |year=2020 |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

The mandates of the special procedures are established and defined by the resolution creating them.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Policy Report: UN Human Rights Council resolutions|url = http://www.universal-rights.org/urg-policy-reports/ensuring-relevance-driving-impact-the-evolution-and-future-direction-of-the-un-human-rights-councils-resolution-system/|website = Universal Rights Group|access-date = 10 February 2016}}</ref> Various activities can be undertaken by mandate-holders, including responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing advice on technical cooperation, and engaging in promotional activities. Generally the special procedures mandate-holders report to the Council at least once a year on their findings.<ref name="IJRC-reports">"[http://www.ijrcenter.org/un-special-procedures/#Additional_Information Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council]". Section "Annual reports". International Justice Resource Center. Retrieved 29 October 2016.</ref>

====Special procedures mandate-holders====
Mandate-holders of the special procedures serve in their personal capacity, and do not receive pay for their work. The independent status of the mandate-holders is crucial to be able to fulfill their functions in all impartiality.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref> The OHCHR provides staffing and logistical support to aid each mandate-holders in carrying out their work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Council Complaint Procedure {{!}} A Conscientious Objector's Guide to the International Human Rights System |url=https://co-guide.org/mechanism/human-rights-council-complaint-procedure#:~:text=The%20Working%20Group%20on%20Situation,review%20and%20request%20further%20information. |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=co-guide.org}}</ref>

Applicants for Special Procedures mandates are reviewed by a Consultative Group of five countries, one from each region. Following interviews by the Consultative Group, the Group provides a shortlist of candidates to the UNHRC President. Following consultations with the leadership of each regional grouping, the President presents a single candidate to be approved by the Member states of the UNHRC at the session following a new mandate's creation or on the expiration of the term of an existing mandate holder.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nomination, Selection and Appointment of Mandate Holders|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Nominations.aspx|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518115049/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Nominations.aspx|archive-date=18 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Country mandates must be renewed yearly by the UNHRC; thematic mandates must be renewed every three years.<ref name="IJRC-reports"/> Mandate-holders, whether holding a thematic or country-specific mandate, are generally limited to six years of service.<ref name="IJRC">"[http://www.ijrcenter.org/un-special-procedures/#Additional_Information Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030141157/http://www.ijrcenter.org/un-special-procedures/#Additional_Information |date=30 October 2016 }}". International Justice Resource Center. Retrieved 29 October 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Introduction.aspx Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council: Introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030150525/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Introduction.aspx |date=30 October 2016 }}". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. ohchr.org. Retrieved 29 October 2016.</ref>

The list of thematic special procedures mandate-holders can be found here:
[[United Nations special rapporteur]]

====Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression====
[[File:2009 Protest at UN against China's re-election in the Human Rights Council 聯合國外抗議中國在人權委員會資格.jpg|thumb|Protest at UN against China's re-election in the Human Rights Council]]

The amendments to the duties of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, passed by the Human Rights Council on 28 March 2008, gave rise to sharp criticism from western countries and human rights NGOs. The additional duty is phrased thus:

:(d)&nbsp;To report on instances in which the abuse of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of racial or religious discrimination, taking into account articles 19 (3) and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and general comment No. 15 of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which stipulates that the prohibition of the dissemination of all ideas based upon racial superiority or hatred is compatible with the freedom of opinion and expression
(quoted from p.&nbsp;67 in the official draft record<ref name=HRC7add1>Human Rights Council: [http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/7session/A-HRC-7-L11.doc Session 7, draft report, addendum 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819201144/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/7session/A-HRC-7-L11.doc |date=19 August 2008 }} Published 2008-03-28. Retrieved 6 June 2008.</ref> of the council). The amendment was proposed by Egypt and Pakistan<ref name=DJN-08-04-01>[http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx?id=386537 US, Europeans: Islamic Nations Want To Limit Free Speech At UN] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619133036/http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx?id=386537 |date=19 June 2008 }}, ''[[Dow Jones Newswires]]'', published 2008-04-01. Retrieved 4 April 2008.</ref> and passed by 27 votes to 15 against, with three abstentions with the support of other members of the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organisation of the Islamic Conference]], China, Russia, and Cuba.<ref name=IHEU-08-03-30>[http://www.iheu.org/node/3123 "Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406003132/http://www.iheu.org/node/3123 |date=6 April 2008 }}, ''[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]'', published 2008-03-30. Retrieved 4 April 2008.</ref> As a result of the amendment over 20 of the original 53 co-sponsors of the main resolution – to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur – withdrew their support,<ref name=IHEU-08-03-30/> though the resolution was carried by 32 votes to 0, with 15 abstentions.<ref name=HRC7add1/> ''Inter alia'' the delegates from India and Canada protested that the Special Rapporteur now has as his/her duty to report not only infringements of the rights to freedom of expression, but in some cases also employment of the rights, which "turns the special rapporteur's mandate on its head".<ref name=DJN-08-04-01/>

Outside the UN, the amendment was criticised by organizations including [[Reporters Without Borders]], [[Index on Censorship]], [[Human Rights Watch]],<ref name=DJN-08-04-01/> and the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]], all of whom share the view that the amendment threatens freedom of expression.<ref name=IHEU-08-03-30/>

In terms of the finally cast votes, this was far from the most controversial of the 36 resolutions adapted by the 7th session of the Council. The highest dissents concerned combating defamation of religions, with 21 votes for, 10 against, and 14 abstentions (resolution 19, pp.&nbsp;91–97), and the continued severe condemnation of and appointment of a Special Rapporteur for North Korea, with votes 22–7 and 18 abstentions (resolution 15, pp.&nbsp;78–80).<ref name=HRC7>Human Rights Council: [http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/7session/A-HRC-7-L11.doc Session 7, draft report, A/HRC/7/L.11/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819201144/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/7session/A-HRC-7-L11.doc |date=19 August 2008 }} Published 2008-03-28. Retrieved 6 June 2008.</ref> There were also varying degrees of dissent for most of the various reports criticising Israel; while on the other hand a large number of resolutions were taken unanimously without voting, including the rather severe criticism of [[Myanmar]] (resolutions 31 and 32),<ref name=HRC7draft1>[http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/G08/123/07/PDF/G0812307.pdf?OpenElement Session 7, draft report]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=Tribe of Tiger |fix-attempted=yes }}, Published 2008-03-28. Retrieved 11 April 2008</ref> and the somewhat less severe on Sudan (resolution 16).<ref name=HRC7/>

==Israel and Palestine==
{{See also|Israel and the United Nations|Palestine and the United Nations}}
The [[United Nations special rapporteur|special rapporteur]] on the question of Palestine to the previous UNCHR, the current UNHRC and the General Assembly was. The mandate of the UNHCR's [[United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories|Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories]] is to investigate human rights violations by Israel. This is because under [[international humanitarian law]] (IHL), as applied by the UNHRC, Israel is considered the occupying power in the [[Palestinian territories|Occupied Palestinian Territories]] (OPT), and therefore has the obligation of upholding human rights throughout the territories which the special rapporteur is tasked with investigating its adherence to. This was affirmed in an October 2023 report by the UNHCR's [[United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories|s]] [[Francesca Albanese]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2023 |title='Unchilded' from birth: UN expert calls for decisive protection of Palestinian children under Israeli rule |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/unchilded-birth-un-expert-calls-decisive-protection-palestinian-children |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=UN Human Rights Council}}</ref> A July 2024 landmark opinion by the UN's top court, the [[International Court of Justice]], also reaffirmed this, while stating that Israel should dismantle settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and end its "illegal" occupation of those areas and the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICJ says Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjerjzxlpvdo |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===2006 creation of Agenda Item 7===
The Council voted on 30 June 2006 to review the "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories".<ref>[https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/0/325B5DF6ABBFBF268525734100634561 Resolution A/HRC/RES/5/1 – Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620074159/https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/0/325B5DF6ABBFBF268525734100634561 |date=20 June 2018 }}, 7 August 2007</ref>

{{blockquote|Item 7. ''Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories''
* Human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
* Right to self-determination of the Palestinian people}}

The council voted on 30 June 2006 to make a review of alleged human rights abuses by Israel a permanent feature of every council session. The Council's special rapporteur on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] is its only expert mandate with no year of expiry, due to the ongoing nature of the occupation. The resolution, which was sponsored by [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organisation of the Islamic Conference]], passed by a vote of 29 to 12 with five abstentions. 

===April 2009: Gaza report===
{{main|United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict}}

On 3 April 2009, South African Judge [[Richard Goldstone]] was named as the head of the independent United Nations Fact-Finding Mission to investigate international human rights and humanitarian law violations related to the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War]]. The Mission was established by Resolution S-9/1<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/A-HRC-S-91-L1.doc |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219083233/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/A-HRC-S-91-L1.doc |archive-date=19 February 2011 }}</ref> of the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref name="unhrc_pr">{{Cite web | publisher = [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] | title = Richard J. Goldstone Appointed to Lead Human Rights Council Fact-finding mission on Gaza Conflict | url = http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/2796E2CA43CA4D94C125758D002F8D25?opendocument | date = 3 April 2009 | access-date = 18 September 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120527162318/http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/2796E2CA43CA4D94C125758D002F8D25?opendocument | archive-date = 27 May 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref>

On 15 September 2009, the UN Fact-Finding mission released its report which found that there was evidence "indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity". The mission also found that there was evidence that "Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel".<ref>{{Cite web | title= UN Fact Finding Mission finds strong evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza conflict | url= http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/9B63490FFCBE44E5C1257632004EA67B?opendocument | date= 15 September 2009 | publisher= United Nations Human Rights Council | access-date= 15 September 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120531095843/http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/9B63490FFCBE44E5C1257632004EA67B?opendocument | archive-date= 31 May 2012 | url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf |publisher=United Nations Human Rights Council |access-date=15 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007093730/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/16/un_inquiry_finds_israel_punished_and|title=UN Inquiry Finds Israel 'Punished and Terrorized' Palestinian Civilians, Committed War Crimes During Gaza Assault|website=[[Democracy Now!]]|access-date=18 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304090136/http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/16/un_inquiry_finds_israel_punished_and|archive-date=4 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The mission called for referring either side in the conflict to the [[UN Security Council]] for prosecution at the [[International Criminal Court]] if they refuse to launch fully independent investigations by December 2009.<ref name=AIonUN>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/israel-gaza-implementation-un-fact-finding-mission-recommendations-crucial-justi |title=UN must ensure Goldstone inquiry recommendations are implemented |publisher=Amnesty International |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209001810/https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/israel-gaza-implementation-un-fact-finding-mission-recommendations-crucial-justi |archive-date=9 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Goldstone has since partially retracted the report's conclusions that Israel committed war crimes, as new evidence has shed light upon the decision making by Israeli commanders. He said, "I regret that our fact-finding mission did not have such evidence explaining the circumstances in which we said civilians in Gaza were targeted, because it probably would have influenced our findings about intentionality and war crimes."<ref name=Post>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/reconsidering-the-goldstone-report-on-israel-and-war-crimes/2011/04/01/AFg111JC_story.html|title=Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes|publisher=Amnesty International|date=2 April 2009|access-date=2 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607065437/http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/reconsidering-the-goldstone-report-on-israel-and-war-crimes/2011/04/01/AFg111JC_story.html|archive-date=7 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
===July 2015: resolution===
On 3 July 2015, UNHRC voted Resolution A/HRC/29/L.35 "ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem".<ref>[http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/29/L.35 Resolution A/HCR/29/L.35] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704135303/http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A%2FHRC%2F29%2FL.35 |date=4 July 2015 }}.</ref> It passed by 41 votes in favor including the eight sitting EU members (France, Germany, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Latvia and Estonia), one against (the United States) and five absentions (India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Paraguay and the Republic of Macedonia). India explained that its abstention was due to the reference to International Criminal Court (ICC) in the resolution whereas "India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/47933507.cms|title=India abstains in UNHRC vote against Israel|date=4 July 2015|via=The Economic Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809041417/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/47933507.cms|archive-date=9 August 2017}}</ref>

===2018 onwards===
On 9 July 2021, [[Michael Lynk]], the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, addressing a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva said that Israeli settlements in the West Bank amount to a war crime, and calling on countries to inflict a cost on Israel for its illegal occupation. Israel, which does not recognize Lynk's mandate, boycotted the session.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-settlements-amount-war-crime-un-rights-expert-2021-07-09/|title=Israeli settlements amount to war crime - U.N. rights expert|date=9 July 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-settlements-amount-to-war-crime-un-rights-official-says-1.9985923|title=Israeli settlements amount to war crime, UN rights official says|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27291&LangID=E|title=OHCHR &#124; Occupied Palestinian Territory: Israeli settlements should be classified as war crimes, says UN expert|website=www.ohchr.org}}</ref>

On 21 March 2022, Lynk submitted a report,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-20|title=Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87) (Advance Edited Version) - occupied Palestinian territory|website=ReliefWeb|date=22 March 2022 }}</ref> stating that Israel's control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip amounts to apartheid, an "institutionalised regime of systematic racial oppression and discrimination".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/un-official-israel-imposing-apartheid-palestinians|title=UN official: Israel imposing apartheid on Palestinians|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=23 March 2022|work=The New Arab}}</ref> The Israeli Foreign Ministry and other Israeli and Jewish organizations labelled Lynk as hostile to Israel and the report baseless.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-human-rights-council-report-accuses-israel-of-apartheid/|title=UN Human Rights Council report accuses Israel of apartheid|first=Lazar|last=Berman|website=The Times of Israel}}</ref>

Following the [[2021 Israel–Palestine crisis]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-689705|title=125 countries back open-ended UNHRC war crimes probe against Israel|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=24 December 2021 }}</ref> the council voted on 27 May 2021 to set up a [[United Nations fact-finding mission]] to investigate possible war crimes and other abuses committed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.<ref name = "openend">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-un-human-rights-council.html|title=U.N. Rights Council Orders Inquiry Into Israel After Gaza Strife|first=Nick|last=Cumming-Bruce|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> The [[Permanent United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Israel Palestine conflict|commission]] will report to the Human Rights Council annually from June 2022.<ref name = "Pillay">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-head-of-un-rights-council-to-lead-open-ended-probe-of-israel/|title=Former head of UN rights council to lead open-ended probe of Israel|website=The Times of Israel}}</ref> Unlike previous fact finding missions the inquiry is open ended and will examine "all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, including systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial or religious identity."<ref name="openend"/>

===Accusations of bias against Israel===
{{Multiple issues|section=Accusations of bias against Israel|
{{update section|date=December 2022}}
{{Unbalanced|section|date=December 2022}}
}}

[[Human Rights Watch]] agreed that the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be considered by the Council, and urged it to look at international human rights and humanitarian law violations committed by [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] armed groups as well, which the Council has done.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Solomon |first=Erika |date=2024-06-13 |title=The U.N. Report on Israeli and Palestinian War Crimes: What We Know |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/13/world/middleeast/gaza-war-crimes-israel-hamas.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> HRW also called on the Council to avoid the selectivity that discredited its predecessor and urged it to hold special sessions on other urgent situations, such as that in [[Darfur]].<ref>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/30/global13685.htm U.N.: Mixed Start for New Human Rights Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708051250/https://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/30/global13685.htm|date=8 July 2006}} Human Rights Watch, 30 June 2006</ref>

In 2006, [[UN Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] argued that the UNHRC should not have a "disproportionate focus on violations by Israel. Not that Israel should be given a free pass. Absolutely not. But the Council should give the same attention to grave violations committed by other states as well".<ref>{{cite web |date=8 December 2006 |title=Secretary-General Urges Human Rights Activists To 'Fill Leadership Vacuum', Hold World Leaders To Account, In Address To International Day Event |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10788.doc.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604123740/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10788.doc.htm |archive-date=4 June 2011 |access-date=26 February 2011 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref> 

On 20 June 2007, Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] issued a statement that read: "The Secretary-General is disappointed at the Council's decision to single out only one specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of human rights violations throughout the world."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretary-general urges human rights council to take responsibilities seriously, stresses importance of considering all violations equally |url=https://press.un.org/en/2007/sgsm11053.doc.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=United Nations}}</ref> Ban Ki-moon also reiterated the importance of investigating and upholding international humanitarian law with respect to the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories, stating in 2016 that "History proves that people will always resist occupation...Palestinian frustration and grievances are growing under the weight of nearly a half-century of occupation. Ignoring this won’t make it disappear. No one can deny that the everyday reality of occupation provokes anger and despair, which are major drivers of violence and extremism and undermine any hope of a negotiated two-state solution."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ki-Moon |first=Ban |date=2016-02-01 |title=Opinion {{!}} Don't Shoot the Messenger, Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/opinion/dont-shoot-the-messenger-israel.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Former president of the Council [[Doru Costea]], the [[European Union]], Canada, the United States and Britain have at various times accused the UNHRC of focusing disproportionately on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] and Israel's [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|occupation of the West Bank]].<ref name="un.org">[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10788.doc.htm Secretary-General urges human rights activists to ‘fill leadership vacuum’, hold world leaders to account, in address to international day event] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903143328/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10788.doc.htm|date=3 September 2014}}, UN Department of Public Information 8 December 2008</ref><ref name="ynetnews.com">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415619,00.html UN's Ban faults rights council over Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629235609/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415619,00.html|date=29 June 2007}}, Reuters (reprinted in Ynet News) 21 June 2007</ref><ref name="swissinfo.ch">[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/foreign_affairs/Human_Rights_Council_president_wants_reform.html?cid=6171460 Human Rights Council president wants reform] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811002555/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/foreign_affairs/Human_Rights_Council_president_wants_reform.html?cid=6171460|date=11 August 2011}}, SwissInfo 29 September 2007</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=Britain gives UNHRC six months to cease anti-Israel bias – World News – Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/International/Britain-warns-UNHRC-Stop-the-bias-or-well-vote-against-anti-Israel-560274 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927130328/https://www.jpost.com/International/Britain-warns-UNHRC-Stop-the-bias-or-well-vote-against-anti-Israel-560274 |archive-date=27 September 2019 |access-date=27 September 2019 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

Speaking at the IDC's [[Herzliya Conference]] in Israel in January 2008, Dutch Foreign Minister [[Maxime Verhagen]] criticized the actions of the Human Rights Council actions against Israel. "At the United Nations, censuring Israel has become something of a habit, while Hamas's terror is referred to in coded language or not at all. The Netherlands believes the record should be set straight, both in New York and at the Human Rights Council in Geneva", Verhagen said.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/actueel/speeches,2008/01/Verhagen-spreekt-tijdens-Herzliya-conferentie-in-I.html |title=Verhagen spreekt tijdens Herzliya conferentie in Israel |work=MinBuza |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706165852/http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/actueel/speeches,2008/01/Verhagen-spreekt-tijdens-Herzliya-conferentie-in-I.html |archive-date=6 July 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In 2008 UNHRC released a statement calling on Israel to stop its military operations in the Gaza Strip and to open the Strip's borders to allow the entry of food, fuel and medicine. UNHRC adopted the resolution by a vote of 30 to 1, with 15 states abstaining.

"Unfortunately, neither this resolution nor the current session addressed the role of both parties. It was regretful that the current draft resolution did not condemn the [[Rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel|rocket attacks on Israeli civilians]]," said Canada's representative Terry Cormier, the lone voter against.<ref>[http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/8FDBF12E3EF5DDC4C12573D9007606C7?opendocument Human Rights Council opens special session on violations stemming from Israeli incursions in occupied Palestinian territory] UNHRC Press release, 23 January 2008.</ref>

The United States and Israel boycotted the session. U.S. ambassador [[Warren Tichenor]] said the Council's unbalanced approach had "squandered its credibility" by failing to address continued rocket attacks against Israel. "Today's actions do nothing to help the [[Palestinian people]], in whose name the supporters of this session claim to act," he said in a statement. "Supporters of a Palestinian state must avoid the kind of inflammatory rhetoric and actions that this session represents, which only stoke tensions and erode the chances for peace", he added.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCB46LeoIDiLNzQYVOkRaPwS354A Human Rights Council slams Israel over Gaza; EU abstains] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131211809/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCB46LeoIDiLNzQYVOkRaPwS354A|date=31 January 2008}} AFP, 24 January 2008.</ref> "We believe that this council should deplore the fact that innocent civilians on both sides are suffering", Slovenian Ambassador Andrej Logar said on behalf of the seven EU states on the council.

At a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon responded when asked about its special session on Gaza, that "I appreciate that the council is looking in-depth into this particular situation. And it is rightly doing so. I would also appreciate it if the council will be looking with the same level of attention and urgency at all other matters around the world. There are still many areas where human rights are abused and not properly protected", he said.<ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1201070783680&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull UNHRC slams Israel's actions in Gaza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813151626/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1201070783680&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|date=13 August 2011}} ''The Jerusalem Post'' 24 January 2008.</ref>

Dugard was succeeded in 2008 by Jewish Professor of international law [[Richard Falk]], who has compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians with the Nazis' treatment of Jews during [[the Holocaust]].<ref>After describing the Nazi horrors, [Falk] asked: "Is it an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? I think not. The recent developments in Gaza are especially disturbing because they express so vividly a deliberate intention on the part of Israel and its allies to subject an entire human community to life-endangering conditions of utmost cruelty." [http://www.forward.com/articles/13037/ U.N. Taps American Jewish Critic of Israel as Rights Expert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606003048/http://www.forward.com/articles/13037/|date=6 June 2011}} By Marc Perelman, Forward Magazine 27 March 2008, issue of 4 April 2008.</ref><ref name="franks">{{cite news |last=Franks |first=Tim |date=8 April 2008 |title=UN expert stands by Nazi comments |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7335875.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131213747/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7335875.stm |archive-date=31 January 2011 |access-date=2 March 2011 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Richard Falk |author-link=Richard Falk |title=Slouching toward a Palestinian Holocaust |url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13226 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219013704/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13226 |archive-date=19 February 2008}}</ref> After a conflict with the Palestinian Authority's [[Mahmoud Abbas]] over his decision, under US pressure, to delay a UNHCR vote on [[United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict|Richard Goldstone's report]] on violations of international humanitarian law during the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|2008-2009 Israel-Gaza war]], widely criticized among Palestinians including calls on Abbas to stand down and the PA to be dissolved, Abbas informally asked Falk to resign, accusing him of being among other things  "a partisan of Hamas". Falk disputed this and called the reasons given "essentially untrue", with the actual motivation behind his call on Abbas to cease his delaying of the UNHRC vote.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 June 2010 |title=UN expert Richard Falk: PA told me to quit &#124; Maan News Agency |url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=267176 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720052245/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=267176 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2012 |agency=Ma'an News Agency}}</ref>  The Israeli government announced it would deny Falk a visa to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, at least until the September 2008 meeting of the UNHCR.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/972974.html "Israel to bar UN official for comparing Israelis to Nazis"], ''Haaretz'', 8 April 2008.  {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309161812/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/972974.html|date=9 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="press release">{{cite web |date=26 March 2008 |title=Human Rights Council appoints Richard Falk as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in OPT |url=https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/0/0DA4BA56ADE85249852574190058D462 |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=unispal.un.org |publisher=UNISPAL}}</ref>

In July 2011, Richard Falk posted a cartoon that critics have described as [[anti-Semitic]] onto his blog. The cartoon depicted a bloodthirsty dog with the word "USA" on it wearing a kippah, or Jewish head covering.<ref name="jpostFalk">{{cite web |date=8 July 2011 |title=UN's Richard Falk under fire for 'anti-Semitic' cartoon – World News – Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/International/UNs-Richard-Falk-under-fire-for-anti-Semitic-cartoon |access-date=13 August 2019 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In response, Falk was heavily criticized by world leaders in the United States, certain European countries and Israel.<ref name="jpostFalk" /><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=229422 Pillay says Falk's cartoon was anti-Semitic, objectionable], Jerusalem Post 14 July 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=228618 US, Jewish groups demand Falk resign over blog entry], Jerusalem Post 10 July 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Robert |date=8 July 2011 |title=U.S. urges U.N. sleuth resign over blog cartoon |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE7670S520110708?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705183203/http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE7670S520110708?sp=true |archive-date=5 July 2015 |access-date=9 October 2011 |work=[[Reuters]] |location=Geneva |quote=The United States said on Friday it has called on the U.N. human rights investigator for the Palestinian territories to resign after he published a cartoon on his blog which he later withdrew as 'anti-semitic.'}}</ref>

At UNHRC's opening session in February 2011, U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] criticized the council's "structural bias" against the State of Israel: "The structural bias against Israel – including a standing agenda item for Israel, whereas all other countries are treated under a common item – is wrong. And it undermines the important work we are trying to do together."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lazaroff| first=Tovah| title=Clinton: UNHRC bias against Israel undermines its work |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=210208|access-date=21 March 2011|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=28 February 2011|quote=The United Nations Human Rights Council must abandon its bias against Israel, which undermines its work, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday in Geneva.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303125605/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=210208|archive-date=3 March 2011}}</ref>

In March 2012, the UNHRC was criticized for facilitating an event in the UN Geneva building featuring a Hamas politician. Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] castigated the UNHRC's decision stating, "He represents an organization that indiscriminately targets children and grown-ups, and women and men. Innocents – is their special favorite target". Israel's ambassador to the UN [[Ron Prosor]] denounced the speech stating that Hamas was an internationally recognized terrorist organization that targeted civilians. "Inviting a Hamas terrorist to lecture to the world about human rights is like asking [[Charles Manson]] to run the murder investigation unit at the NYPD", he said.<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite news|title=Netanyahu to UNHRC: You should be ashamed|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262512|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=19 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320091305/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262512|archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>

The United States urged UNHRC in Geneva to stop its anti-Israel bias. It took particular exception to the council's Agenda Item 7, under which at every session, Israel's human rights record is debated. No other country has a dedicated agenda item. The US Ambassador to UNHRC [[Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe]] said that the United States was deeply troubled by the "Council's biased and disproportionate focus on Israel." She said that the hypocrisy was further exposed in the [[Golan Heights]] resolution that was advocated by the Syrian regime at a time when it was murdering its own citizens.<ref>{{cite news|title=US to UNHRC: 'Stop anti-Israel bias'|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262520|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=19 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320025507/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262520|archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>

On 19 June 2018, the United States pulled out of the UNHRC accusing the body of bias against Israel and a failure to hold human rights abusers accountable. [[Nikki Haley]], [[US Ambassador to the UN]], called the organisation a "cesspool of political bias".<ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=19 June 2018 |title=US leaving UN Human Rights Council – "a cesspool of political bias" |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/19/politics/haley-pompeo-human-rights-bias/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001611/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/19/politics/haley-pompeo-human-rights-bias/index.html |archive-date=20 June 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> At UNHRC's 38th Session on 2 July 2018, Western nations ''de facto'' boycotted Agenda Item 7 by not speaking to it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2018 |title=Western nations de-facto boycott condemnation of Israel at UNHRC – Israel News – Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/West-holds-de-facto-boycott-of-UNHRCs-Agenda-Item-7-debate-561397 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> Israel had been condemned in 78 resolutions by the Council since its creation in 2006—more resolutions condemning Israel than the rest of the world combined.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Report: Since Inception, UNHRC Condemned Israel More Than Rest of World's Countries Combined |url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/06/25/report-since-inception-unhrc-condemned-israel-more-than-rest-of-worlds-countries-combined/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065056/http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/06/25/report-since-inception-unhrc-condemned-israel-more-than-rest-of-worlds-countries-combined/ |archive-date=27 June 2015 |access-date=27 June 2015 |website=Algemeiner.com}}</ref>

==Other specific issues==
===Indigenous peoples (EMRIP)===
<!---Redirects target this section; if the name of the section changes, please change the redirects.--->
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) was established by the Human Rights Council, in 2007, with its mandate amended in September 2016. This body provides the HRC with expert advice on the rights of [[indigenous people]]s, and helps member states to achieve the goals of the [[United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | website=OHCHR | url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-on-indigenous-peoples | access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>

===United States and UNHRC President===
The Council's charter preserves the watchdog's right to appoint special investigators for countries whose human rights records are of particular concern, something many developing states have long opposed. A Council meeting in [[Geneva]] in 2007 caused controversy after Cuba and Belarus, both accused of abuses, were removed from a list of nine special mandates. The list, which included North Korea, Cambodia and Sudan, had been carried forward from the defunct Commission.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120156891659323879 | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=The U.N.'s Human-Rights Sham | first=Ronan | last=Farrow | date=29 January 2008}}</ref> Commenting on Cuba and Belarus, the UN statement said that Ban noted "that not having a Special Rapporteur assigned to a particular country does not absolve that country from its obligations under the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]."

The United States said a day before the UN statement that the Council deal raised serious questions about whether the new body could be unbiased. [[Alejandro Wolff]], US Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations, accused the council of "a pathological obsession with Israel" and also denounced its action on Cuba and Belarus.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415619,00.html UN's Ban faults rights council over Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629235609/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415619,00.html |date=29 June 2007 }} Ynet 21 June 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070621.wcomment0621/BNStory/International/home Why single out Israel?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725083749/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070621.wcomment0621/BNStory/International/home |date=25 July 2008 }} ''The Globe and Mail'' 21 June 2007.</ref> The UNHRC President Doru Costea said that he agreed with Wolff, saying that the functioning of the Council needed continuous improvement. He added that the Council must examine the behaviour of all parties involved in complex disputes and not place just one state under the magnifying glass.<ref name="swissinfo.ch"/><ref>Steven Edwards: [http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=88cdec73-c6c9-4858-a95c-f2e8cbfe45dc&k=11105 Controversial changes to UN rights body passes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120055850/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=88cdec73-c6c9-4858-a95c-f2e8cbfe45dc&k=11105 |date=20 November 2007 }} CanWest News Service/National Post 16 November 2007.</ref>

===Defamation of religion===
{{Main|Defamation of religions and the United Nations}}
From 1999 to 2011, the CHR and the UNHRC adopted resolutions in opposition to the "defamation of religion".

===Climate change===
{{See also|Right to environmental protection}}
The Human Rights Council has adopted the Resolution 10/4 about human rights and [[climate change]].{{when|date=November 2022}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/climatechange/docs/resolution10_4.doc |title= Data|website=ohchr.org}}</ref> At its 48th the Council in Resolution 13 (A/HRC/48/13) recognized [[the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment]].{{when|date=November 2022}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-08|title=Access to a healthy environment, declared a human right by UN rights council|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102582|access-date=2021-10-09|website=UN News|language=en}}</ref>

===Responses to crises===
====2006: Lebanon conflict====
At its Second Special Session in August 2006, the Council announced the establishment of a High-Level Commission of Inquiry charged with probing allegations that Israel systematically targeted and killed Lebanese civilians during the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]].<ref>[http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/5B9DECECFE9A68A6C12571CA0026386B?opendocument Second Special Session of Human Rights Council Decides to Establish High-level Iinquiry Commission For Lebanon] UN Press release 11 August 2006.</ref> The resolution was passed by a vote of 27 in favour to 11 against, with 8 abstentions. Before and after the vote several member states and NGOs objected that by targeting the resolution solely at Israel and failing to address [[Hezbollah]] attacks on Israeli civilians, the Council risked damaging its credibility. The members of the Commission of Inquiry, as announced on 1 September 2006, were [[Clemente Baena Soares]] of Brazil, [[Mohamed Chande Othman]] of Tanzania, and Stelios Perrakis of Greece. The Commission noted that its report on the conflict would be incomplete without fully investigating both sides, but that "the Commission is not entitled, even if it had wished, to construe [its charter] as equally authorizing the investigation of the actions by Hezbollah in Israel", as the Council had explicitly prohibited it from investigating the actions of Hezbollah.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/specialsession/A.HRC.3.2.pdf |title=Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-2/1* |last=Human Rights Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115172923/http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/specialsession/A.HRC.3.2.pdf |archive-date=15 January 2007 }}</ref>

====2015: Eritrea====
{{See also|Human rights in Eritrea}}
In June 2015, a 500-page UNHRC report accused [[Eritrea]]'s government of widespread [[Human rights in Eritrea|human rights violations]]. These were alleged to include extrajudicial executions, torture, indefinitely prolonged national service and forced labour, and widespread sexual harassment, rape and sexual servitude by state officials.<ref name= guard>{{cite news | last= Jones | first= Sam | title= Eritrea human rights abuses may be crimes against humanity, says UN | url= https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/08/human-rights-abuses-eritrea-may-be-crimes-against-humanity-un-report | access-date= 8 June 2015 | newspaper= The Guardian | date= 8 June 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150608124159/http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/08/human-rights-abuses-eritrea-may-be-crimes-against-humanity-un-report | archive-date= 8 June 2015 | url-status= live }}</ref><ref name= "UNHRC">{{cite web|url= http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIEritrea/Pages/ReportCoIEritrea.aspx|title= Report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in Eritrea|work= UNHRC website|date= 8 June 2015|access-date= 9 June 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150611034536/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIEritrea/Pages/ReportCoIEritrea.aspx|archive-date= 11 June 2015|url-status= live}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' said that the report "catalogues a litany of human rights violations by the 'totalitarian' regime of President [[Isaias Afwerki]] 'on a scope and scale seldom witnessed elsewhere{{'"}}.<ref name= guard /> The report also asserted that these serial violations might amount to crimes against humanity.<ref name= guard />

The Eritrean Foreign Ministry responded by describing the Commission's report as "wild allegations", "totally unfounded and devoid of all merit", and countercharged the UNHRC with "vile slanders and false accusations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201506100911.html |title=Eritrea: Asmara Lashes Out at UN's 'Vile Slanders' |work=AllAfrica news website |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=24 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611062509/http://allafrica.com/stories/201506100911.html |archive-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The vice chairperson of the subcommittee on human rights at the European Parliament said the report detailed "very serious human rights violations", and said that EU funding for development would not continue as at present without change in Eritrea.<ref name=DWelle>{{cite web|url= http://www.dw.com/en/human-rights-eu-should-put-more-pressure-on-eritrea/a-18535963 | title = Human rights: EU 'should put more pressure on Eritrea' | publisher= Deutsche Welle | date=23 June 2015|access-date=4 July 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150704105608/http://www.dw.com/en/human-rights-eu-should-put-more-pressure-on-eritrea/a-18535963 | archive-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

==== August 2018: Myanmar ====
In August 2018, the UNHRC released a research report concluding that six generals in Myanmar armed forces should be prosecuted for war crimes as related to the [[Rohingya genocide|genocide against the Rohingya]] Muslims.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2018/09/01/politics-this-week|title=Politics this week|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903193826/https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2018/09/01/politics-this-week|archive-date=3 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The UNHRC conducted 875 individual interviews as part of this research, confirming that the Myanmar army led a pogrom that claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Rohingyas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zakharova|first1=M. S.|last2=Gureeva|first2=A. A.|last3=Pereverzev|first3=N. A.|date=August 1975|title=[Isolation of the individual structural elements of bacteria of the genus Bordetella and a study of their properties. I. The formation of mureinoplasts and true protoplasts from B. pertussis]|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/875|journal=Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii I Immunobiologii|issue=8|pages=45–49|issn=0372-9311|pmid=875}}</ref>

====2018–2019: Yemen====
A 2019 report for the UNHRC has said the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] have committed [[Human rights violations during the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|war crimes]] during the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]].<ref>{{cite news |title=War Crimes Report on Yemen Accuses Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/world/middleeast/un-yemen-war-crimes.html |work=The New York Times |date=28 August 2018 |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805125520/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/world/middleeast/un-yemen-war-crimes.html |archive-date=5 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia, UAE may be guilty of war crimes in Yemen: UN experts |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4413561/uae-saudi-arabia-may-committed-war-crimes-yemen/ |work=Global News |date=30 August 2018 |access-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806135611/https://globalnews.ca/news/4413561/uae-saudi-arabia-may-committed-war-crimes-yemen/ |archive-date=6 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====November 2020: Egypt ====
The [[United Nations]] condemned the November 2020 arrest of three Egyptian human rights advocates of the [[Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights]] (EIPR). The activists were charged and detained for having a connection to terror groups. EIPR said the detention was a "clear and co-ordinated response" of their work against human rights violations in the country and the detention of the head of EIPR, Gasser Abdel-Razek, was an attempt to end the human rights work in Egypt.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55013672 |title=Egypt arrests: UN condemns detention of human rights advocates|work=BBC News|date=20 November 2020|access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref>

==== 2022: Russia's invasion of Ukraine ====
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted 32–2 on 4 March 2022, with 13 abstentions, to create the [[International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine]], an independent committee of three human rights experts with a mandate to investigate alleged violations of human rights and of [[international humanitarian law]] in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>Johnson, Heidi (4 March 2022). [https://www.jurist.org/news/2022/03/un-human-rights-council-establishes-commission-to-investigate-russian-human-rights-violations-against-ukraine/ "UN Human Rights Council establishes commission to investigate Russian human rights violations against Ukraine"]. JURIST. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/human-rights-council-establishes-independent-international-commission Human Rights Council establishes an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged violations of human rights in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine"]. United Nations Human Rights Council. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.</ref>

At its [[Eleventh emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly|eleventh emergency special session]], the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] adopted a resolution, with the required two-thirds majority of voting members, to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council over reports of gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights in the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. The measure required a two-thirds majority of the countries present and voting, not counting abstentions. The measure passed with 93 in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. After the suspension, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative, [[Gennady Kuzmin (diplomat)|Gennady Kuzmin]], announced that Russia had decided to withdraw its Human Rights Council membership altogether.<ref name="Nichols-2022-04-07">{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=2022-04-07 |title=U.N. suspends Russia from human rights body, Moscow then quits |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/un-vote-suspending-russia-human-rights-council-over-ukraine-2022-04-07/ |access-date=2022-04-07}}</ref> Doing so, Russia restored its rights as an observer to participate in the council's proceedings, while it lost the possibility to have its membership reinstated and to vote or present motions.

====November 2022: Iran====
On November 24, 2022, the council held a special session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, in particular with regard to women and children.<ref>{{cite web | title=35th special session of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially with respect to women and children - 24 November 2022 | website=OHCHR | date=24 November 2022 | url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/special-sessions/session35/35-special-session | access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>

====April 2024: Israel====
On April 5, 2024, the council held a special session on the deteriorating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, in particular with regard to genocide in Gaza. The council voted in favour of a halt in all arms sales to Israel.<ref>{{cite web | title=UN rights council demands halt of arms sales to Israel | website=[[France 24]] | date=5 April 2024 | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240405-un-rights-council-demands-halt-to-arms-sales-to-israel | access-date=}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | title=UN rights body demands Israel be held accountable for possible 'war crimes' | website=Al Jazeera English | date= 5 April 2024 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/5/un-rights-body-demands-israel-be-held-accountable-for-possible-war-crimes | access-date=}}</ref>

==Candidacy issues==
===Syria===
{{See also|Human rights in Syria}}
In July 2012, [[Syria]] announced that it would seek a UNHRC seat.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/syria-running-spot-un-human-rights-council_648140.html |title=Syria Is Running for a Spot on U.N. Human Rights Council |magazine=The Weekly Standard |date=5 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719135053/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/syria-running-spot-un-human-rights-council_648140.html |archive-date=19 July 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="unwatch1">{{cite web |first=Hillel |last=Neuer |title=UN Watch Exclusive Report: Syria Running for the U.N. Human Rights Council, Says U.S. |type=Briefing |website=UN Watch |volume=371 |date=4 July 2012 |url=http://www.unwatch.org/cms.asp?id=3280354&campaign_id=63111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814155904/http://www.unwatch.org/cms.asp?id=3280354&campaign_id=63111 |archive-date=2012-08-14 |access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref> This was while there was serious evidence (provided by numerous human rights organizations including the UN itself) that Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] had authorised and funded the slaughter of thousands of civilians, with estimates of 14,000 civilians being killed as of July 2012 during the [[Syrian civil war]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-85-syrian-soldiers-defect-turkey-16698682 |title=International News |work=ABC News |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705191453/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-85-syrian-soldiers-defect-turkey-16698682 |archive-date=5 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/07/01/14000-killed-in-syrian-uprising-activists/ |title=14,000 killed in Syrian uprising, activists &#124; World News Live from Lebanon |location=LB |publisher=Ya Libnan |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001435/http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/07/01/14000-killed-in-syrian-uprising-activists/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/syrian-rebels-reject-plan-transitional-government-deal-bar-bashar-assad-participating-article-1.1106088?localLinksEnabled=false |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171011214915/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/syrian-rebels-reject-plan-transitional-government-deal-doesn-bar-bashar-assad-participating-article-1.1106088?localLinksEnabled=false |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2017 |title=Syrian rebels reject plan for transitional government because deal doesn't bar Bashar Assad from participating |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=18 July 2012 }}</ref> According to [[UN Watch]], Syria's candidacy was virtually assured under the prevailing election system.<ref name="unwatch1"/> Syria would have been responsible for promoting human rights if elected. In response, the United States and [[European Union]] drafted a resolution to oppose the move.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/July-4-strong-Syria-Res1.pdf |title=Resolution |website=blog.unwatch.org |access-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710113429/http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/July-4-strong-Syria-Res1.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the end, Syria was not on the ballot for the 12 November 2012 election to UNHRC.<ref name=election>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/67/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |title=Elections and Appointments: Election of the Human Rights Council |website=67th Session of the UN General Assembly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617230929/http://www.un.org/en/ga/67/meetings/elections/hrc.shtml |archive-date=17 June 2017  |access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref>

===Sudan and Ethiopia===
{{See also|Human rights in Sudan|Human rights in Ethiopia}}
In July 2012, it was reported that [[Sudan]] and [[Ethiopia]] were nominated for a UNHRC seat, despite being accused by human rights organizations of grave human rights violations. [[UN Watch]] condemned the move to nominate Sudan, pointing out that Sudan's President [[Omar Al-Bashir]] was indicted for genocide by the [[International Criminal Court]]. According to UN Watch, Sudan was virtually assured of securing a seat.<ref name="UN Watch">{{cite web|title=Outrage: Sudan's Al-Bashir, Indicted for Genocide|url=http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1316871&ct=12008107&notoc=1|publisher=UN Watch|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> A joint letter of 18 African and international civil society organizations urged foreign ministers of the [[African Union]] to reverse its endorsement of Ethiopia and Sudan for a seat, accusing them of serious human rights violations and listing examples of such violations, and stating that they should not be rewarded with a seat.<ref name="All Africa">{{cite news|title=Africa: Joint Letter On the AU's Endorsement of Candidates to the UN Human Rights Council|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201207120218.html|access-date=12 July 2012|date=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=HRW>{{cite web|title=AU: Don't endorse Sudan, Ethiopia for Rights Council|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/13/au-don-t-endorse-sudan-ethiopia-rights-council|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> Sudan was not on the ballot for the 12 November 2012 election to UNHRC, but Ethiopia was elected.<ref name=election/>

===Saudi Arabia===
{{See also|Human rights in Saudi Arabia}}
[[File:Destroyed house in the south of Sanaa 12-6-2015-3.jpg|thumb|Saudi Arabian-led airstrikes in [[Yemen]], June 2015. Saudi Arabia is operating [[War of aggression|without a UN mandate]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21708725-bombing-funeral-sanaa-draws-attention-forgotten-war-west-should-help-saudi|title=The West should help Saudi Arabia limit its war in Yemen|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref>]]

In September 2015, Faisal bin Hassan Trad, [[Saudi Arabia]]'s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, was elected Chair of the UNHRC Advisory Committee, the panel that appoints independent experts.<ref>"[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/uk-and-saudi-arabia-made-secret-deal-to-exchange-votes-for-human-rights-council-seats-leaked-a6673491.html UK helped Saudi Arabia get UN human rights role through 'secret deal' to exchange votes, leaked documents suggest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903013447/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/uk-and-saudi-arabia-made-secret-deal-to-exchange-votes-for-human-rights-council-seats-leaked-a6673491.html |date=3 September 2017 }}". ''[[The Independent]]''. 30 September 2015.</ref><ref>"[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/09/saudi-arabia-beheading-crucifixion-nimr/407221/ When Beheading Won’t Do the Job, the Saudis Resort to Crucifixion ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002041531/http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/09/saudi-arabia-beheading-crucifixion-nimr/407221/ |date=2 October 2015 }}". ''[[The Atlantic]]''. 24 September 2015.</ref> UN Watch executive director [[Hillel Neuer]] said: "It is scandalous that the UN chose a country that has beheaded more people this year [2015] than [[ISIS]] to be head of a key human rights panel. Petro-dollars and politics have trumped human rights."<ref>"[https://news.yahoo.com/u-n-watchdog-slams-scandalous-160650242.html U.N. Watchdog Slams 'Scandalous' Choice of Saudi Arabia to Head Human Rights Panel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055130/http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-watchdog-slams-scandalous-160650242.html |date=4 March 2016 }}". Yahoo News. 21 September 2015.</ref> Saudi Arabia also shut down criticism, during the UN meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakI_sn30xg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/CakI_sn30xg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Saudi Arabia Tries to Silence Center for Inquiry at UN Human Rights Council – 6/23/14|last=Center for Inquiry|date=23 June 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executed the prominent Shia cleric [[Sheikh Nimr]] who had called for free elections in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Saudi execution of Shia cleric sparks outrage in Middle East | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-execution-of-shia-cleric-sparks-outrage-in-middle-east | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=2 January 2016 | access-date=13 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108162024/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/02/saudi-execution-of-shia-cleric-sparks-outrage-in-middle-east | archive-date=8 January 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 October 2020, Saudi Arabia lost its bid to win a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council. Saudi Arabia and China were competing for membership in a five-way race for four spots with Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal. China received 139 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Pakistan 169 votes, and Saudi Arabia came in fifth with 90 votes, beaten by Nepal with 150 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/saudi-arabia-fails-to-join-un-human-rights-council-but-russia-and-china-elected|title= Saudi Arabia fails to join UN human rights council but Russia and China elected|access-date=13 October 2020|website=The Guardian|date= 13 October 2020}}</ref> Human Rights Watch condemned the candidacy filed by China and Saudi Arabia, calling them "two of the world's most abusive governments".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/08/un-deny-rights-council-seats-major-violators|title= UN: Deny Rights Council Seats to Major Violators|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Human Rights Watch|date= 8 October 2020}}</ref>

===Venezuela===
{{See also|Human rights in Venezuela}}
When the [[UN General Assembly]] voted to add [[Venezuela#Nicolás Maduro: 2013–present|Venezuela]] to the UN Human Rights Council in October 2019, US Ambassador to the United Nations [[Kelly Craft]] wrote: "I am personally aggrieved that 105 countries voted in favor of this affront to human life and dignity. It provides ironclad proof that the Human Rights Council is broken, and reinforces why the United States withdrew."<ref name="auto6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/world/americas/venezuela-united-nations-human-rights-council.html|title=Venezuela to Join U.N. Human Rights Council, Despite Track Record|first=Alexandria|last=Symonds|date=October 17, 2019|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Venezuela had been accused of withholding from the Venezuelan people [[humanitarian aid]] delivered from other nations, and of manipulating its voters in exchange for food and medical care.<ref name="auto6"/> The council had been criticized regularly for admitting members who were themselves suspected of human rights violations.<ref name="auto6"/>

==Country positions==

===Sri Lanka===
{{over-quotation|section=yes|lengthy=yes|date=February 2020}}
{{summarize section|date=February 2020}}
Sri Lanka came under increasing scrutiny in early 2012 after a presentation of a draft UNHRC resolution addressing their accountability with regard to their reconciliation activities,<ref name = UNWatch20120308>{{cite web | date = 8 March 2012 | title = States debate Sri Lanka resolution text | newspaper = UNWatch.org | location = Geneva, CH | publisher = [[United Nations Watch]] | url = http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2012/03/08/1803/ | access-date = 5 February 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120513170126/http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2012/03/08/1803/ | archive-date = 13 May 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> a resolution which was subsequently tabled by the United States.<ref>{{cite news | date = 8 March 2012 | title = US moves UN against [Sri] Lanka | work = [[News Today]] | location = Chennai, IN | publisher = NewsTodayNet.com | url=http://www.newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=28119%20&%20section=8 |access-date=4 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816031921/http://www.newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=28119%20&%20section=8 |archive-date=16 August 2012  }}</ref> The original draft resolution from the United States noted the UNHRC "concern that the [[LLRC]] [Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission] report [did] not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law".<ref name=SriLankaDraftResText>{{cite web | title = Draft Resolution: Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka | date = 6 March 2012 | work = UNWatch.org | location = New York, NY | publisher = United Nations Human Rights Council | url = http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Sri-Lanka-draft-res.pdf | access-date = 4 February 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120323214138/http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Sri-Lanka-draft-res.pdf | archive-date = 23 March 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> The UNHRC resolution then:<ref name=SriLankaDraftResText/>
::"1. Calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations in the LLRC report and take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,
::2. Requests that the Government of Sri Lanka present a comprehensive action plan as expeditiously as possible detailing the steps the Government has taken and will take to implement the LLRC recommendations and also to address alleged violations of international law,
::3. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures to provide, and the Government of Sri Lanka to accept, advice and technical assistance on implementing those steps and requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report to the Council on the provision of such assistance at its twenty-second session."

Sri Lankan Ambassador in Geneva [[Tamara Kunanayakam]] pointed out that 80% of the UNHRC's funding requirements are supplied by powerful nations such as the United States and its allies. Also, key positions in the UNHRC are mostly held by those who have served in the foreign services of such countries.<ref name="dailyMirrorA">{{cite news|author=Bandara, Kelum | date=22 February 2012 | title = SL, Cuba and Pakistan seek Resolution on Transparency at UNHRC | work = [[Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]  | location = Colombo, LK | publisher = Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.| url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/16998-sl-cuba-and-pakistan-seek-resolution-on-transparency-at-unhrc.html|access-date=5 February 2020 }}</ref> Sri Lanka's position is that this fact is significantly detrimental to the impartiality of the UNHRC activities, especially when dealing with the developing world. As a result, Sri Lanka, along with Cuba and Pakistan, sponsored a resolution seeking transparency in funding and staffing the UNHRC, during its 19th session starting in February 2012.<ref name="dailyMirrorA" /> The resolution was adopted on 4 April 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adopting Resolution 2071 (2012), Security Council Demands That Armed Groups Cease Human Rights Abuses, Humanitarian Violations in Northern Mali {{!}} UN Press |url=https://press.un.org/en/2012/sc10789.doc.htm |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=press.un.org}}</ref>

The original US UNHRC draft resolution that prompted the Sri Lankan, Cuban, and Pakistani transparency initiative was thereafter significantly modified, and passed in 2013. Narayan Lakshman, writing from Washington, D.C. for ''[[The Hindu]]'', said the United States "watered down" the resolution,<ref name = LakshmanTH20130320>{{cite news | author = Lakshman, Narayan | date = 20 March 2013 | title = Has U.S. Watered Down Sri Lanka UNHRC Resolution? | newspaper = [[The Hindu]] | location = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IN | publisher = The Hindu Group | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/has-us-watered-down-sri-lanka-unhrc-resolution/article4526539.ece | access-date = 5 February 2020}}</ref><ref name = UNHRC20130319>{{cite web | date = 19 March 2013 | title = <nowiki>Human Rights Council, Twenty-second session, Agenda item 2, Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General—Austria, Belgium*, Bulgaria*, Canada∗, Croatia*, Denmark*, Estonia, Finland*, France*, Georgia*, Germany, Greece*, Hungary*, Iceland*, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania*, Malta*, Monaco*, Montenegro, Norway*, Poland, Portugal*, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis*, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Spain, Sweden*, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*, United States of America: draft resolution 22/… Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka</nowiki> | work = <nowiki>United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)</nowiki> | location = New York, NY | publisher = United Nations | via = UNWatch.org | url = http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Sri-Lanka.doc | access-date = 5 February 2020 | quote = The Human Rights Council, / Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, / Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments... [912 word resolution] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140824201345/http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Sri-Lanka.doc | archive-date = 24 August 2014 | url-status = live }}</ref> while [[UN Watch]] described the revised resolution as "toned down".<ref name = UNWatch20130321>{{cite web | date = 21 March 2013 | title = <nowiki>Highlights, Resolutions & Voting Results of HRC 22nd Session—§Non-Condemnatory Country-Specific Resolutions: Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/22/L.1/Rev.1)</nowiki> | newspaper = UNWatch.org | location = Geneva, CH | publisher = [[United Nations Watch]] | url = http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2013/03/21/resolutions-voting-results-of-hrc-22nd-session/#more-3443 | access-date = 5 February 2020 | quote = Vote Result: Adopted March 21, 2013 by a vote of 25 in favor (USA, EU, South Korea), 13 against (Qatar, UAE, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Congo, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mauritania, Maldives, Kuwait, Thailand, and Uganda), 8 abstentions (Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Botswana, and Angola), 1 absent (Gabon). The text of the resolution was toned down compared to the draft initially tabled. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170211065111/http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2013/03/21/resolutions-voting-results-of-hrc-22nd-session/#more-3443 | archive-date = 11 February 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> Lakshman noted that "an entire paragraph calling for 'unfettered access'... by a host of external observers and specialists was deleted", and the reworded resolution's demand for international investigation into "alleged human rights violations" was elevated but then "veer[ed] off towards an apparent preference for Sri Lanka to conduct its own internal investigation". He noted that in general "weaker language has been inserted in place of more condemnatory tone".<ref name = LakshmanTH20130320/> The revised resolution remained entitled "Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka" and was assigned UN code "A/HRC/22/L.1/Rev.1".<ref name = UNWatch20130321/> As finally submitted, the U.S. resolution was co-sponsored by 33 countries, including three other members of the U.N. Security council at that time (the UK, France, and Germany), and four other European nations (Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland).<ref name = UNWatch20130321/> By a vote of 25 in favor—which included the resolution sponsors and other EU countries, as well as South Korea—and 13 against, the resolution was adopted on 21 March 2013 (with nine countries abstaining or absent).<ref name = UNWatch20130321/>

===United States===
The 43rd U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] declared that the United States would not seek a seat on the Council, saying it would be more effective from the outside. He did pledge, however, to support the Council financially. [[United States Department of State|State Department]] spokesman [[Sean McCormack]] said, "We will work closely with partners in the international community to encourage the council to address serious cases of human rights abuse in countries such as Iran, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Burma, Sudan, and North Korea".

The U.S. State Department said on 5 March 2007 that, for the second year in a row, the United States had decided not to seek a seat on the Human Rights Council, asserting the body had lost its credibility with repeated attacks on Israel and a failure to confront other rights abusers.<ref>US Department of State: [https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/mar/81471.htm Daily Press Briefing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117155705/https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/mar/81471.htm |date=17 November 2017 }} 6 March</ref> Spokesman [[Sean McCormack]] said the council had had a "singular focus" on Israel, while countries such as Cuba, [[Myanmar]] and North Korea had been spared scrutiny. He said that though the United States will have only an observer role, it will continue to shine a spotlight on human rights issues. The most senior [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]] of the U.S. House of Representatives, [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]], supported the administration decision. "Rather than standing as a strong defender of fundamental human rights, the Human Rights Council has faltered as a weak voice subject to gross political manipulation," she said.

Upon passage of UNHRC's June 2007 institution-building package, the U.S. restated its condemnation of bias in the institution's agenda. Spokesman Sean McCormack again criticised the Commission for focusing on Israel in light of many more pressing human rights issues around the world, such as Sudan or Myanmar, and went on to criticise the termination of [[United Nations special rapporteur|special rapporteur]]s to Cuba and Belarus, as well as procedural irregularities that prevented member-states from voting on the issues; a similar critique was issued by the Canadian representative.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813077343&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709081324/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813077343&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2012 |title=US slams UNHRC's singling out of Israel |author1=Tovah Lazaroff|author2=AP Staff |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=20 June 2007 }}</ref> In September 2007, the US Senate voted to cut off funding to the council.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200572487688&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708181622/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200572487688&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=Ban Ki-moon: End Gaza violence, blockades  |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=26 February 2011 }}</ref>

The United States joined with Australia, Canada, Israel, and three other countries in opposing the UNHRC's draft resolution on working rules citing continuing misplaced focus on Israel at the expense of action against countries with poor human-rights records. The resolution passed 154–7 in a rare vote forced by Israel including the support of France, the United Kingdom, and China, although it is usually approved through consensus. United States Ambassador to the United Nations, [[Zalmay Khalilzad]], spoke about the "council's relentless focus during the year on a single country – Israel," contrasting that with failure "to address serious human rights violations taking place in other countries such as Zimbabwe, DPRK (North Korea), Iran, Belarus and Cuba." Khalilzad said that aside from condemnation of the crackdown of the [[2007 Burmese anti-government protests|Burmese anti-government protests]], the council's past year was "very bad" and it "had failed to fulfill our hopes".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1195127524546&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull| title=US attacks UN Human Rights Council| agency=Associated Press| newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]| date=17 November 2007| access-date=18 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=Tribe of Tiger |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 6 June 2008, ''Human Rights Tribune'' announced that the United States had withdrawn entirely from the UNHRC,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/US-quits-Human-Rights-Council,3184|title=US quits Human Rights Council|author=Carole Vann/Juan Gasparini/Human Rights Tribune|work=[[Human Rights Tribune]]|date=6 June 2008|access-date=7 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608095853/http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/US-quits-Human-Rights-Council,3184|archive-date=8 June 2008}}</ref> and had withdrawn its observer status.

The United States boycotted the Council during the [[George W. Bush administration]], but reversed its position on it during the [[Obama administration]].<ref name="Lynch"/> Beginning in 2009 however, with the United States taking a leading role in the organization, American commentators began to argue that the UNHRC was becoming increasingly relevant.<ref name="Patrick"/><ref name="Traub"/>

On 31 March 2009, the administration of [[Barack Obama]] announced that it would reverse the country's previous position and would join the UNHRC;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033102782.html?hpid=topnews|title=US to join Human Rights Council|author=Colum Lynch|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=31 May 2009|access-date=31 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029120836/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033102782.html?hpid=topnews|archive-date=29 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> New Zealand indicated its willingness not to seek election to the council to make room for the United States to run unopposed, along with Belgium and Norway for the [[WEOG]] seats.

On 19 June 2018, U.S. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations [[Nikki Haley]] announced that the United States, under President [[Donald Trump]], was pulling out of the United Nations Human Rights Council, accusing the council being "hypocritical and self-serving"; in the past, Haley had accused it of "chronic anti-Israel bias".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/44537372|title=US quits 'biased' UN human rights council|work=BBC News|date=19 June 2018|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619194046/https://www.bbc.com/news/44537372|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> "When the Human Rights Council treats Israel worse than [[North Korea]], [[Iran]], and [[Syria]], it is the Council itself that is foolish and unworthy of its name. It is time for the countries who know better to demand changes," Haley said in a statement at the time, pointing to the council's adoption of five resolutions condemning Israel. "The United States continues to evaluate our membership in the Human Rights Council. Our patience is not unlimited."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/u-s-withdraw-u-n-human-rights-council-n884751 |first1=Abigail |last1=Williams |agency=Associated Press |title=U.S. withdraws from U.N. Human Rights Council|date=20 June 2018 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620150913/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/u-s-withdraw-u-n-human-rights-council-n884751|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2020, [[US Ambassador to the United Nations]] [[Kelly Craft]] said that the UN Human Rights Council was "a haven for despots and dictators, hostile to Israel, and ineffectual on true human rights crises".<ref name="auto13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/event/virtual-event-how-fix-the-broken-un-human-rights-council-conversation |date=December 14, 2020 |first1=Kelly |last1=Craft |first2=Danielle |last2=Pletka |first3=Brett D. |last3=Schaefer |title=VIRTUAL EVENT: How to Fix the Broken U.N. Human Rights Council: A Conversation with Ambassador Kelly Craft|website=The Heritage Foundation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713011515/https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/event/virtual-event-how-fix-the-broken-un-human-rights-council-conversation |archive-date= Jul 13, 2023 }}</ref>

On 8 February 2021, following the election of [[Joe Biden]], Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] announced that the [[Biden administration]] would reengage{{clarify|date=September 2023|reason=Vague words are not factual - what is the intended meaning of 'reengage' here? If the real meaning is not clear in the full source, then use [[scare quotes]] to clarify that we don't know the meaning.}} with the UN Human Rights Council.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Jennifer Hansler|title=Biden administration will reengage with UN Human Rights Council|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/08/politics/us-reengagement-un-human-rights-council/index.html|access-date=2021-02-19|website=CNN|date=8 February 2021}}</ref>

===China===
On 1 April 2020, China joined the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=China's win-win at the UN Human Rights Council: Just not for human rights|url=https://sinopsis.cz/en/worden-win-win/|last=Andréa Worden|date=2020-05-28|website=Sinopsis|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

====China's Xinjiang policies====
{{Main|Persecution of Uyghurs in China}}
In July 2019, UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, and Japan, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC condemning China's mistreatment of the [[Uyghurs]] and other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the [[Xinjiang internment camps]].<ref name="diplomat">{{cite news |title=Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |work=[[The Diplomat]] |date=15 July 2019 |access-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160658/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |archive-date=16 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=More than 20 ambassadors condemn China's treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang  |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |website=The Guardian |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714102532/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In response, UN ambassadors from 50 countries including Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, UAE, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Angola, Algeria, and Myanmar signed a joint letter to the UNHRC praising China's "remarkable achievements in Xinjiang" and opposing the practice of "politicizing human rights issues".<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|title=Letter to UNHRC|url=https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/240/77/PDF/G1924077.pdf?OpenElement|access-date=2020-08-12|website=United Nations Human Rights Council|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926012225/https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/240/77/PDF/G1924077.pdf?OpenElement|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="diplomat" />

In August 2019, Qatar told the UNHRC president that it had decided to withdraw from the response letter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/21/qatar-retracts-support-chinas-detention-uighur-muslims/|title=Qatar retracts support for China's detention of Uighur Muslims|last=Sanchez|first=Raf|date=21 August 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=22 August 2019|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105133319/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/21/qatar-retracts-support-chinas-detention-uighur-muslims/|archive-date=5 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Human rights activists praised Qatar's decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/activists-hail-qatar-withdrawal-pro-china-text-uighurs-190821164017456.html|title=Activists hail Qatar withdrawal from pro-China text over Uighurs|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>

In October 2022, 17 countries voted in favor, 19 were against, and 11 abstained in a vote to hold a debate on Xinjiang at its next session, rejecting a Western bid to debate China’s Xinjiang abuses.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keaten |first1=Jamey |title=UN Human Rights Council Rejects Western Bid to Debate China's Xinjiang Abuses |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/10/un-human-rights-council-rejects-western-bid-to-debate-chinas-xinjiang-abuses/ |website=The DIPLOMAT}}</ref>

===Indonesia===
In March 2017, at the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, [[Vanuatu]] made a joint statement on behalf of [[Tonga]], [[Nauru]], [[Palau]], [[Tuvalu]], the [[Solomon Islands]] and [[Marshall Islands]] raising human rights violations in the [[Western New Guinea]], declared which has been occupied by Indonesia since 1963,<ref>{{cite news |title=Freedom of the press in Indonesian-occupied West Papua |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/22/freedom-of-the-press-in-indonesian-occupied-west-papua |work=The Guardian |date=22 July 2019 |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725001246/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/22/freedom-of-the-press-in-indonesian-occupied-west-papua |archive-date=25 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a report.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Liam|title=Pacific nations call for UN investigations into alleged Indonesian rights abuses in West Papua|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-02/pacific-nations-call-for-un-investigations-into-west-papua/8320194|work=ABC News|date=2 March 2017|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031203404/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-02/pacific-nations-call-for-un-investigations-into-west-papua/8320194|archive-date=31 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SBSMar17">{{cite news|title=Pacific nations want UN to investigate Indonesia on West Papua|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/02/pacific-nations-want-un-investigate-indonesia-west-papua|work=SBS News|date=7 March 2017|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107034058/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/02/pacific-nations-want-un-investigate-indonesia-west-papua|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Indonesia rejected Vanuatu's allegations.<ref name="SBSMar17" /> Also, a joint NGO statement was made.<ref>{{cite news|title=NGOs deliver statement about the situation of indigenous Papuans at Human Rights Council|url=http://humanrightspapua.org/news/23-2017/222-ngos-deliver-statement-about-the-situation-of-indigenous-papuans-at-human-rights-council-session|work=The International Coalition for Papua: Human Rights and Peace for Papua|date=23 March 2017|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809183736/http://humanrightspapua.org/news/23-2017/222-ngos-deliver-statement-about-the-situation-of-indigenous-papuans-at-human-rights-council-session|url-status=dead}}</ref> More than 100,000 Papuans have died during a 50-year [[Papua conflict]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Goodbye Indonesia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2013/01/201313018313632585.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730063457/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2013/01/201313018313632585.html |archive-date=30 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The UNHRC expressed grave concern over ongoing human rights violations against the Papuan people in Indonesia, citing a lack of accountability and transparency in investigations, hindering reparations for victims. Recommendations were made to intensify efforts to combat impunity and prioritize investigations and reparations for victims.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 March 2024 |title=UN Human Rights Committee concerned over Indonesia human rights violations against Papua people|newspaper=Jurist Org |url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/03/un-human-rights-committee-concerned-over-indonesia-human-rights-violations-against-papua-people/ |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

==Criticism==
The United States opposed the creation of the UNHRC during the [[George W. Bush administration]] to protest the repressive states among its membership.<ref name="Lynch">{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033104115.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=U.S. to Seek Seat on U.N. Human Rights Council | first=Colum | last=Lynch | date=1 April 2009 | access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?193556-1/un-ambassador-nomination-hearing| title=U.N. Ambassador Re-Nomination Hearing |website=C-SPAN |date=27 July 2006}}</ref> In March 2009 the [[Obama administration]] reversed that position and decided to "reengage" and seek a seat on the UNHRC.<ref name="Lynch"/> With the United States taking a leading role in the organization, American commentators began to argue that the UNHRC was becoming increasingly relevant.<ref name="Patrick">{{cite web|last=Patrick|first=Stewart|title=The Human Rights Council: Give Credit Where Credit is Due|url=http://blogs.cfr.org/patrick/2012/06/01/the-human-rights-council-give-credit-where-credit-is-due/|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="Traub">{{cite web|last=Traub|first=James|title=U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Actual Human Rights Abusers!|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/01/not_just_for_israel_anymore|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref>

The UNHRC has been criticised for the repressive states among its membership.<ref name="Lynch"/> Countries with questionable human rights records that have served on the UNHRC include Pakistan, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, and Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australia-presses-for-human-rights-council-seat-despite-un-criticism-20141011-114rmo.html|title=Australia presses for Human Rights Council seat despite UN criticism|first=Matthew Knott, Sarah|last=Whyte|date=11 October 2014|website=The Age}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/indonesia|title=World Report 2019: Rights Trends in Indonesia|chapter=Indonesia: Events of 2018|date=28 December 2018|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729201030/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/indonesia|archive-date=29 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 12 October 2021, the [[Human Rights Watch]] criticised UNHRC elections and stated that UN member countries should refrain from voting for [[Cameroon]], [[Eritrea]], [[United Arab Emirates]], and other candidates as they hold abysmal rights records. These countries were alleged not to meet the qualifications for membership on the board. The UN director at Human Rights Watch, Louis Charbonneau said that electing such serious rights abusers sends a terrible message that the UN member states do not take the council's fundamental mission to protect human rights seriously.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UN: Noncompetitive Rights Council Election Aids Abusers|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/10/12/un-noncompetitive-rights-council-election-aids-abusers|website=Human Rights Watch|date=12 October 2021|access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>

===Bloc voting===
A Reuters report in 2008 said that independent human rights groups say that UNHRC is being controlled by some Middle East and African nations, supported by China, Russia and Cuba, which protect each other from criticism.<ref name=reuters>[https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BB67820081212 "U.N. chief tells rights body drop rhetoric, blocs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307043220/http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BB67820081212 |date=7 March 2009 }}, Reuters, 12 December 2008.</ref> This drew criticism from the UN Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]] at the ineffectiveness of UNHRC, saying it had fallen short of its obligations. He urged countries to "drop rhetoric" and rise above "partisan posturing and regional divides"<ref name=xinhua>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/13/content_10497366.htm "UN chief urges rights council to rise above "partisan posturing""] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302023209/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/13/content_10497366.htm |date=2 March 2009 }}, Xinhua, 12 December 2008.</ref> and get on with defending people around the world.<ref name=reuters/>

Of the 53 countries which defended China's imposition of the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong National Security Law]] following the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests|2019–2020 Hong Kong protests]], at least 43 were participants in the [[Belt and Road Initiative|Chinese Belt and Road Initiative]], with one [[Axios (website)|Axios]] reporter noting that "Beijing has effectively leveraged the UN Human Rights Council to endorse the very activities it was created to oppose."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.axios.com/countries-supporting-china-hong-kong-law-0ec9bc6c-3aeb-4af0-8031-aa0f01a46a7c.html | work=Axios | title=The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong | date=3 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725001632/https://www.axios.com/countries-supporting-china-hong-kong-law-0ec9bc6c-3aeb-4af0-8031-aa0f01a46a7c.html | access-date=25 July 2020| archive-date=25 July 2020 }}</ref>

Ban Ki-moon also appealed for the United States to fully join the council and play a more active role.<ref name=xinhua/>

The UNHRC was criticized in 2009 for adopting a resolution submitted by Sri Lanka praising its conduct in [[Vanni (Sri Lanka)|Vanni]] that year, ignoring pleas for an international war crimes investigation.<ref name=timestam>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6375044.ece "Sri Lanka forces West to retreat over ‘war crimes’ with victory at UN"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826173447/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6375044.ece |date=26 August 2009 }}, Times, 28 May 2009</ref>

===Accountability programme===
On 18 June 2007, one year after holding its first meeting, the UNHRC adopted its ''Institution-building package'', to guide it in its future work. Among its elements was the [[United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review|Universal Periodic Review]], which assesses the human rights situations in all 193 UN member states. Another element is an [[#Advisory Committee|''Advisory Committee'']], which serves as the UNHRC's ''think tank'' and provides it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues. A further element is a [[#Complaint procedure|''Complaint procedure'']], which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the council.

==See also==
{{Portal|Politics|Switzerland}}
* {{section link|OIC|Human rights}}
* [[Community of Democracies]]
* [[Human rights in cyberspace]]
* [[United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights]]
* [[UN Watch]]
* [[Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|United Nations Human Rights Council}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Home.aspx UN Human Rights Council] – official homepage on the [[OHCHR]] website

{{International human rights organizations}}
{{United Nations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:United Nations Human Rights Council| ]]
[[Category:United Nations General Assembly subsidiary organs]]
[[Category:Intergovernmental human rights organizations]]
[[Category:United Nations organizations based in Geneva]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2006]]
[[Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the United Nations]]
[[Category:United Nations organs]]

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Module:CountryData/cacheC (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:CountryData/cacheD (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Module:CountryData/cacheE (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Module:CountryData/cacheF (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
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Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
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Module:Lang/data/iana variants (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/langx (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
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Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/rfd (view source) (protected)
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Module:Portal/images/p (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal/images/s (view source) (template editor protected)
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Module:Side box (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Side box/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Time ago (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data/scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
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Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/nolinks (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/titleformats (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

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