United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The headquarters of the Council are at the United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland.
| Formation | 15 March 2006 |
|---|---|
| Type | Subsidiary organ |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
President | Omar Zniber |
Parent organization | United Nations General Assembly |
| Website | www.ohchr.org |
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African States (13) Asia-Pacific States (13) Eastern European States (6) Latin American and Caribbean States (8) Western European and Other States (7) | |
"All victims of human rights abuses should be able to look to the Human Rights Council as a forum and a springboard for action." — Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, 2007
The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in United Nations member states and addresses thematic human rights issues like freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
The Council was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 to replace the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR). The Council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations special procedures. The Council has been strongly criticized for including member countries that engage in human rights abuses.