Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is a permanent United Nations body that seeks to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. It was created in 2006 to replace the previous Commission on Human Rights.

The work of the Human Rights Council includes:

• special procedures mechanisms, set up to investigate thematic human rights issues and human rights concerns in certain countries
• treaty bodies, which monitor the compliance of States Parties with international human rights treaties
• the Universal Periodic Review, a process which examines the human rights situation of all countries on a regular basis
• the Human Rights Advisory Committee, a think tank which provides expert advice on issues of specific interest to the Council.

NHRI participation

When the rules and procedures of the Human Rights Council were being established, the APF advocated strongly for the independent participation of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in all aspects of the Council’s work.

As a result, NHRIs that have been accredited as complying with the Paris Principles (‘A’ status), have been recognised with the following participation rights in the Council:

• separate accreditation status (different from States and from NGOs)
• the right to speak under all items of the Council’s agenda
• the right to make written statements for inclusion in the official record of meetings.

These participation rights were furthered increased in 2011, as part of a five-year review of the work and functioning of the Council.

At the close of its March 2011 session, the Council adopted by consensus the outcome document from by an open-ended intergovernmental working group.

The outcome document sets out a range of new opportunities for ‘A status’ NHRIs to share their independent expertise in the work of the global human rights body, including:

• taking the floor immediately after their State during the Council’s plenary discussion and adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on that country
• taking the floor immediately after their State, following the presentation of a country mission report on that State by a Special Procedures mandate-holder; and
• nominating candidates for appointment as Special Procedures mandate-holders.

‘A status’ NHRIs will also be allocated a separate section in the UPR summaries of stakeholders’ information, compiled and prepared by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Additionally, the Council will continue to explore the feasibility of using information technology, such as videoconferencing or video messaging, to enhance access and input from NHRIs in its work.

These new participation rights are the direct result of a year long advocacy campaign by the APF and the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, with support from a number of individual NHRIs, States and NGOs.