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UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is a United Nation council comprised of 47 member states that serve a 3 year term. It’s purpose is to promote and protect human rights globally. The UNHRC is a replacement to the UN Commission on Human Rights, and a subsidiary body of the General assembly. The General Assembly established the UNHRC by adopting a resolution (A/RES/60/251). The adoption of the UNHRC was in order to replace the previous Commission on Human Rights, which had been heavily criticised for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members. The HRC addresses all human rights issues in any UN member state. The council also addresses issues pertaining to other issues such as freedom of religion, women’s rights, and the rights of ethnic minorities. The UN General Assembly elects the members who occupy the UNHRC's 47 seats. The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms. The seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups as follows: 13 for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for Eastern Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), and seven for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).


 

The topics for this council will be:

 

1. Improving the Status of Stateless Persons

2. Establishing Human Rights in Post-Conflict Zones

3. Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

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United Nations Human Rights Council - Background Guide:

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