Elections of members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

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General information

In accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, composed of 18 experts serving in their personal capacity and nominated by States Members of the United Nations following States’ consultations with national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, are to be elected by the Council by secret ballot from the list of candidates whose names have been submitted in accordance with the agreed requirements.

The geographic distribution of members is as follows:
(a) Five from African States;
(b) Five from Asia-Pacific States;
(c) Two from Eastern European States;
(d) Three from Latin American and Caribbean States;
(e) Three from Western European and other States.

All Member States of the United Nations may propose or endorse candidates from their own region. When selecting their candidates, States should consult their national human rights institutions and civil society organizations and, in this regard, include the names of those supporting their candidate (see paragraph 66 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1).

The technical and objective requirements for the submission of candidatures are described in the Council decision 6/102, and include:
(a) Recognized competence and experience in the field of human rights;
(b) High moral standing;
(c) Independence and impartiality.

When selecting their candidates, States are requested to apply the following guidelines on technical and objective requirements for the submission of their candidates:
(a) Competence and experience:

(i) Academic studies in the field of human rights or related areas, and/or experience with and exposure to leadership roles in the human rights field at the national, regional or international levels;
(ii) Substantial experience (at least five years) and personal contributions in the field of human rights;
(iii) Knowledge of the United Nations system and of institutional mandates and policies related to the work in the area of human rights, as well as knowledge of international human rights instruments, norms and disciplines; familiarity with different legal systems and civilizations will be preferable;
(iv) Proficiency in at least one official language of the United Nations;
(v) Availability of time to fulfil the work of the Advisory Committee in an effective manner, both to attend its sessions and to carry out mandated activities between sessions;

(b) High moral standing;
(c) Independence and impartiality: individuals holding decision-making positions in Government or any other organization or entity which might give rise to a conflict of interest with responsibilities inherent to the mandate will be excluded; elected members of the Advisory Committee will act in their personal capacity;
(d) Other considerations: the principle of non-accumulation of human rights functions at the same time is to be respected.

In electing members of the Advisory Committee, the Human Rights Council should give due consideration to gender balance and appropriate representation of different civilizations and legal systems.

The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-election once (see paragraph 74 of Council decision 6/102).

Upcoming elections

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 54th session (11 September to 13 October 2023) of the Human Rights Council

At its fifty-fourth session, the Human Rights Council elected Advisory Committee members for the seven vacant seats. Of the seven vacancies, there were two vacancies for African States, two for Asia-Pacific States, one for Eastern European States, one for Latin American and Caribbean States, and one for Western European and other States.

The number of candidates in four regional groups (Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States) corresponded to the number of seats available in each of these groups, therefore the Council elected without taking a ballot Ms. Riva Ganguly Das (India) and re-elected for a second three-year term Mr. Buhm-Suk Baek (Republic of Korea), Ms. Patrycja Sasnal (Poland), Ms. Jewel G. L. Major (Bahamas) and Ms. Catherine Van de Heyning (Belgium).

Since there were three candidates for two vacant seats for African States, the Council elected, by secret ballot, Mr. Joseph Gérard Angoh (Mauritius) and Ms. Nadia Amal Bernoussi (Morocco) (re-elected for a second three-year term) as members of the Advisory Committee from the African States.

Further details about the election, including the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General A/HRC/54/86.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 51st session (12 September to 7 October 2022) of the Human Rights Council

At its fifty-first session, the Human Rights Council elected nine members of the Advisory Committee. The Council held three elections. First, the regular election to elect seven members of the Advisory Committee to replace those whose terms were due to expire on 30 September 2022. Second, the by-election to fill a casual vacancy arising from the death of a member of the Advisory Committee in May 2022. Third, the by-election to fill a casual vacancy arising from the resignation of a member of the Advisory Committee in July 2022.

Concerning the regular election, given that the number of candidates corresponded to the number of seats available in each of the regional groups, the Council elected the following seven members without taking a ballot: Mr. Sebastião Da Silva Isata (Angola); Mr. Rabah Boudache (Algeria); Ms. Noor Al-Malki Al-Jehani (Qatar); Mr. Yue Zhang (China); Ms. Vasilka Sancin (Slovenia); Mr. Javier Palummo (Uruguay); and Ms. Milena Costas Trascasas (Spain). Mr. Palummo and Ms. Costas Trascasas were both re-elected for a second three-year term.

Concerning the by-election to fill the casual vacancy arising from the death of a member of the Advisory Committee from the Latin American and Caribbean States, following the nomination of one candidate, the Council elected Mr. Aldo de Campos Costa (Brazil) to fill the casual vacancy, for a term expiring on 30 September 2024.

Concerning the by-election to fill a casual vacancy arising from the resignation of a member of the Advisory Committee from the Latin American and Caribbean States, the nomination of a second candidate for this by-election was withdrawn by Colombia by note verbale dated 19 August 2022. Consequently, the Council elected Ms. Jewel G.L. Major (Bahamas) to fill the casual vacancy, for a term expiring on 30 September 2023.

Further details about the election, including the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General A/HRC/51/67 and Addendum A/HRC/51/67/Add.1.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 48th session (13 September to 11 October 2021) of the Human Rights Council

At its forty-eighth session, the Human Rights Council elected, in accordance with its annual programme of work, Advisory Committee members for the four vacant seats. Of the four vacancies, there was one vacancy for African States, one for Asia-Pacific States, one for Latin American and Caribbean States, and one for Western European and other States.

Given that the number of candidates in three regional groups (the Group of African States, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Group of the Western European and other States) corresponded to the number of seats available in each of these groups, the Council elected the following three members without taking a ballot: Mr. Frans Jacobus Viljoen (South Africa), Mr. José Augusto Lindgren Alves (Brazil) (re-elected for a second three-year term); and Mr. Vassilis Tzevelekos (Greece).

Since there were two candidates for one vacant seat for Asia-Pacific States, the Council elected, by secret ballot, Ms. Nurah Maziad S. Alamro (Saudi Arabia) as member of the Advisory Committee from the Asia-Pacific States.

Further details about the election process, including the nominations received and the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General 48/84 and Addendum 48/84/Add.1.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 45th session (14 September to 7 October 2020) of the Human Rights Council

At its forty-fifth session, the Human Rights Council elected, in accordance with its annual programme of work, Advisory Committee members for the seven vacant seats. Of the seven vacancies, there were two for African States, two for Asia-Pacific States, one for Eastern European States, one for Latin American and Caribbean States, and one for Western European and other States.

The newly elected Advisory Committee members were: Ms. Nadia Amal Bernoussi (Morocco); Mr. Buhm-Suk Baek (Republic of Korea); Ms. Patrycja Anna Sasnal (Poland); and Ms. Catherine Van de Heyning (Belgium). The following three experts were re-elected for a second three-year term as members of the Advisory Committee: Mr. Dheerujlall Baramlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius); Mr. Ajai Malhotra (India); and Ms. Elizabeth S. Salmón Gárate (Peru).

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 42nd session (9 to 27 September 2019) of the Human Rights Council

At its forty-second session, the Human Rights Council elected, in accordance with its annual programme of work, Advisory Committee members for the seven vacant seats. Of the seven vacancies, there were two from African States, one from Latin American and the Caribbean States, one from Western European and other States, two from the Asian and the Pacific States, and one from East European States.

The newly elected Advisory Committee members were: Ms. Milena Costas Trascasas (Spain); Mr. Iurii Alexandrovich Kolesnikov (Russian Federation); Ms. Itsuko Nakai (Japan); and Mr. Javier Palummo (Uruguay). The following four experts were re-elected for a second term as members of the Advisory Committee: Mr. Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria); Mr. Xinsheng Liu (China); and Ms. Mona Omar Attia (Egypt).

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 39th session (10 to 28 September 2018) of the Human Rights Council

Further details about the election process, including the nominations received and the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General 39/74.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 36th session (11 to 29 September 2017) of the Human Rights Council

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 33rd session (13 to 30 September 2016) of the Human Rights Council

At its thirty-third session, the Human Rights Council elected, in accordance with its annual programme of work, Advisory Committee members for the seven vacant seats. Of the seven vacancies, there were two vacancies for African States, two for Asia-Pacific States, one for Eastern European States, one for Latin American and Caribbean States and one for Western European and other States. The newly elected Advisory Committee members were: Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria, 2019); Xinsheng Liu (China, 2019); Mona Omar (Egypt, 2019). The following four experts were re-elected for a second term as members of the Advisory Committee: Karla Hananía de Varela* (El Salvador, 2019); Mikhail Lebedev* (Russian Federation, 2019); Kaoru Obata* (Japan, 2019); and Jean Ziegler* (Switzerland, 2019).

Further details about the election process, including the nominations received and the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General 33/3.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 30th session (14 September to 2 October 2015) of the Human Rights Council

On 2 October 2015, at its thirtieth session, the Council elected one new expert: Mr. Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Alsheddi (Saudi Arabia). Mr. Mario Luis Coriolano (Argentina), Ms. Katharina Pabel (Austria), and Mr. Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ehtiopia) were re-elected for a second term.

Further details about the election process, including the nominations received and the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General 30/17.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 27th session (8 to 26 September 2014) of the Human Rights Council

On 26 September 2014, at its twenty-seventh session, the Council elected three new experts: Mr. Mohamed Bennani (Morocco), Ms. Laura-Maria Crăciunean (Romania) and Mr. Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea). Ms. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France), Mr. Obiora Chinedu Okafor (Nigeria), Ms. Anantonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala) and Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan) were re-elected for a second term.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 25th session (3 to 28 March 2014) of the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council elected one new member at its twenty-fifth session in March 2014 for the vacant seat in the Advisory Committee from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States: Ms. Karla Hananía de Varela (El Salvador).

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 24th session (9 to 27 September 2013) of the Human Rights Council

The Council elected the five new members at its twenty-fourth session in September 2013:
On 26 September 2013, at its twenty-fourth session, the Council elected five new experts: Ms. Hoda Elsadda (Egypt), Mr. Alexandrovich Mikhail Lebedev (Russian Federation), Mr. Kaoru Obata (Japan), Mr. Yishan Zhang (China) and Mr. Jean Ziegler (Switzerland). Mr. Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda) was re-elected for a second term.

The new members were replacing Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile), Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea), Mr. Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany), Mr.Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation), Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan) and Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt), who had concluded their term as members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on 30 September 2013 in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and Council decision 18/121.

One seat for a member of the Committee from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States remained vacant given that no nomination had been received from the Latin American and Caribbean region. The election of the member for that group took place at the 25th session of the Council in March 2014.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 21st session (10 to 28 September 2012) of the Human Rights Council

The Council elected the four new members at its twenty-first session in September 2012: On 28 September 2012, at its twenty-first session, the Council elected four new experts: Mr. Saeed Mohamed Al Faihani (Bahrain), Mr. Mario L. Coriolano (Argentina), Ms. Katharina Pabel (Austria), and Mr. Imeru Tamrat Yigezu (Ethiopia).

The new members replaced Mr. D’Escoto Brockman (Nicaragua), Mr. Chen (China), Mrs. Warzazi (Morocco) and Mr. Ziegler who had concluded their term as members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on 30 September 2012 in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and Council decision 18/121.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 19th session (27 February to 23 March 2012) of the Human Rights Council

Following the demise of Ms. Purification Quisumbing in December 2011, the Human Rights Council elected, at its nineteenth session in March 2012, Ms. Cecilia Rachel V. Quisumbing (Philippines) as a member of the Advisory Committee to serve until the end of the term.

Further details about the election process, including the nominations received and the biographical data relating to the candidates, are contained in the Note by the Secretary-General 19/81.

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 16th session (28 February to 25 March 2011) of the Human Rights Council

On 23 March 2011, at its sixteenth session, the Council elected seven experts to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee: Ms. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (France), Mr. Latif Huseynov (Azerbaijan), Mr. Obiora Chinedu Okafor (Nigeria), Ms. Purificacion Quisumbing (Philippines), Ms. Anantonia Reyes Prado (Guatemala), Mr. Dheerujall Baramlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius), and Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi (Pakistan).

Election of Advisory Committee members at the 13th session (1 March to 26 March 2010) of the Human Rights Council

On 26 March 2010, at its thirteenth session, the Council elected seven experts to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee: Mr. José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile), Ms. Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea), Mr. Wolfang Stefan Heinz (Germany), Mr. Alfred Ntunduguru Karokora (Uganda), Mr. Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation), Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan), and Ms. Mona Zulficar (Egypt).

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