Human Rights Council Concludes Fifty-Seventh Regular Session after Adopting 37 Resolutions and One Statement by the President

Council Extends Mandates of Nine Country and One Thematic Mandate Holders

The Human Rights Council today concluded its fifty-seventh regular session after adopting 37 resolutions and one Statement by the President, in which it, among others, extended the mandates of nine country and one thematic mandate holders.

The Council extended the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka under agenda item two.

It extended for a period of one year the mandates of the independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan under agenda item two; of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, under agenda item four; and of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, the Team of International Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic under agenda item 10.

Under agenda item four, the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was extended for a period of two years.

The Council also decided to extend, for a period of three years, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.

Further resolutions adopted concerned the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; the role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights; countering cyberbullying; promotion of a democratic and equitable order; the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures; the World Programme for Human Rights Education: the plan of action for the fifth phase; and on terrorism and human rights.

Other resolutions concerned local government and human rights; the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; the human rights of migrants; human rights and indigenous peoples; promoting accessibility for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all; equal participation in political and public affairs; the elimination of domestic violence; the right to development; the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic; national human rights institutions; education as a tool to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; from rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; technical assistance and capacity-building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands; biodiversity and human rights; promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet; and youth and human rights.

Resolutions on the enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights; cooperation with Georgia; and technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights were also adopted.

The President’s Statement adopted concerned the report of the Advisory Committee on its thirty-first session.

During the session, the Council adopted the final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 States, namely those of New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Cyprus, Viet Nam, Yemen, Vanuatu, North Macedonia, Comoros, Slovakia, Eritrea, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic and Cambodia.

At the end of the session, the Council appointed four Special Procedures mandate holders: the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Nils Muižnieks (Latvia); for the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, member from Western European and other States, Isabel Mamadou (Spain); for the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, member from Asia-Pacific States, Mohammed Al-Obaidi (Iraq); and for the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, member from Latin American and Caribbean States, Andrés Macias Tolosa (Colombia).

The Council also elected four members of its Advisory Committee: Frans Viljoen (African States), Miznah O.Alomair (Asia-Pacific States), Alessandra Devulsky (Latin American and Caribbean States), and Vassilis Tzevelekos (Western Europe and other States).

Darius Staniulis, Vice-President and Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council, said over the past five weeks, the Council completed its extensive programme of work. It held 23 interactive dialogues with Special Procedures mandate holders and expert mechanisms; nine interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner, Assistant Secretary-General and other Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Representatives; five dialogues with international investigative mechanisms; five enhanced interactive dialogues; six panel discussions; and nine general debates. The Council also adopted 14 outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review. Finally, the Council completed the adoption of 37 resolutions and one President’s Statement across a wide range of issues.

The Council adopted the draft report of the fifth-seventh session ad referendum.

Omar Zniber, President of the Human Rights Council, in his concluding remarks,

extended his deepest gratitude to the members of the Bureau, the Secretariat and all other United Nations staff for their cooperation, support and dedication during the session. Mr. Zniber said the fifty-seventh session had been a success and was an example of multilateralism.

The fifty-eighth regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from 24 February to 4 April 2025.

Action on a Statement by the President Under Agenda Item One on Organizational and Procedural Matters

In a Statement by the President (A/HRC/57/L.13) on the Report of the Advisory Committee, adopted without a vote,the Council takes note of the report of the Advisory Committee on its thirty-first session.

Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Two on the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.1) on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all work requested of it by the Council in its resolution 51/1, and requests the Office to present an oral update to the Council at its fifty-eighth session and a comprehensive report on progress in reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka at its sixtieth session, to be discussed in an interactive dialogue.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.22) on Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan, adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, 12 against and 12 abstentions, the Council reiterates its call for an immediate and complete ceasefire by all parties, without preconditions, and a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the conflict on the basis of inclusive, Sudan-owned and Sudan-led dialogue; decides to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan for a period of one year; requests the fact-finding mission to provide the Council with an oral update on its work at its fifty-ninth session and a comprehensive report at its sixtieth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.24) on the Situation of human rights in Afghanistan, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan for a period of one year, and requests the Special Rapporteur to present a report to the Council at its fifty-eighth session, including a separate study on the so-called “Law on propagation of virtue and prevention of vice”, to provide an oral update to the Council at its sixtieth session and to present a report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session; requests the Special Rapporteur to prepare a report on access to justice and protection for women and girls…and to present it to the Council at its fifty-ninth session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue; and also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present, during an enhanced interactive dialogue at the sixtieth session of the Council, a comprehensive report, including a mapping of policies and practices, edicts and so-called laws by the Taliban that impair the enjoyment of human rights; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Three on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.2) on Marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted without a vote , the Council decides to convene, during the high-level segment at its fifty-eighth session, a high-level panel discussion to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women; invites the President of the Human Rights Council to consider the theme “Thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action” for the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming, to be held at the fifty-eighth session of the Council; and also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.5) on the Role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to prepare a study on the impact of artificial intelligence systems on good governance…highlighting good practices around the globe on the ways to develop, deploy, use and govern artificial intelligence systems, and to present the study to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-second session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.7) on Countering cyberbullying, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to include the topic of countering cyberbullying against persons with disabilities in the context of its next annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities, to be held at its fifty-eighth session; requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report … on countering cyberbullying against older persons, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-second session; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.9) on the Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, adopted by a vote of 27 in favour, 15 against and 5 abstentions, the Council calls upon States and the United Nations system to minimise the adverse impact of multiple interrelated global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, through the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation; requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide all the human and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate by the Independent Expert; and invites the Independent Expert to study and present concrete measures that can be adopted by States and international institutions to contribute to the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order and the transformation of the international financial architecture, in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders from all regions.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.10) on the Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 14 against and 4 abstentions, the Council urges once again all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against the threat posed by the activities of mercenaries; and requests the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination to continue the work already carried out by previous mandate holders on the strengthening of international law and the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing, arming and training of mercenaries, and to study and identify new sources and causes, emerging issues, manifestations and trends.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.17/Rev.1) on Social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a comprehensive study, with practical recommendations on human rights and the social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures, based on wide consultations with key stakeholders, and to present the study, accessible to persons with disabilities, to present to the Council at its sixtieth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.21) on the World Programme for Human Rights Education: the plan of action for the fifth phase, adopted without a vote, the Council reaffirms the continuation of the World Programme on Human Rights Education and launches its fifth phase, for the period 2025-2029; and decides to convene at its sixty-third session a high-level panel discussion to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, further decides that the discussion will be fully accessible to persons with disabilities, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report of the discussion and to submit it to the Council by its sixty-fourth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.3) on Terrorism and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council calls upon States to ensure that any measure taken to counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism complies with international law; invites the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism to pay attention to the negative effect of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to make recommendations in this regard; and decides to remain seized of this matter.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.6) on Local government and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a one-day panel discussion … prior to the sixtieth session of the Council, to exchange and review the best practices of States, local governments and other relevant stakeholders in overcoming the various challenges that local governments face in promoting and protecting human rights; also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report … in which it compiles and analyses the best practices of States, local governments and other relevant stakeholders in overcoming the various challenges that local governments face in promoting and protecting human rights, taking into account the results of the panel, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-third session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.23/Rev.1) on the Human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to convene, at its fifty-ninth session, a panel discussion on the realisation of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, and also decides that the discussion shall be fully accessible to persons with disabilities, including through the provision of hybrid modalities; and requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion and to present it to the Council at its sixty-first session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.27) on the Human rights of migrants, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a study on human rights monitoring in the context of migration, including at international borders, in consultation with States and other relevant stakeholders, and to submit the study to the Council before its sixtieth session; to convene a one-day intersessional panel discussion, accessible to persons with disabilities, and with appropriate gender representation, on measures to prevent, counter and address dehumanising and harmful narratives about migrants and migration, hate speech, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance against migrants; to ensure the meaningful participation of migrants and their family members; and to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion and the recommendations resulting from it, and to submit the report to the Council at its sixty-second session and to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.29/Rev.1) on Human rights and Indigenous Peoples, adopted without a vote, the Council decides that the theme of the annual half-day panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the sixtieth session of the Council, will be the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of a just transition to sustainable energy systems, including in relation to critical minerals, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to encourage and facilitate the participation of Indigenous women and youth in the panel, to make the discussion fully accessible to and inclusive for persons with disabilities, and to prepare a summary report on the discussion for submission to the Council prior to its sixty-second session; and invites the General Assembly to consider holding a high-level plenary meeting on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, during its eighty-second session, and to evaluate the implementation of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.33) on Promoting accessibility for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council invites the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to States upon their request in developing and implementing policies and programmes on accessibility, to continue to share its expertise with the relevant intergovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and to assist the relevant special procedure mandate holders and treaty bodies to integrate the view of accessibility for all from the perspective of the full enjoyment of all human rights by all into their work in close consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.34) on the Equal participation in political and public affairs, adopted without a vote, the Council calls upon all States to enhance the political participation of all women, and to address violence against women participating in political and public affairs; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue its dissemination and promotion of the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs … and to prepare, in consultation with States and all other relevant stakeholders, a follow-up report on good practices and challenges that States face when using the guidelines, with a particular focus on participation in elections, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-third session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.35/Rev.1) on the Elimination of domestic violence, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council decides to convene an intersessional panel discussion on the intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate domestic violence, before its sixty-first session, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise the panel discussion … and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a comprehensive report … on how to address structural and underlying causes and risk factors to prevent domestic violence, in consultation with States and all relevant stakeholders, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-second session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.19) on the Right to development, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 14 against and 4 abstentions, the Council requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to submit to the Council an annual report on the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner, including on inter-agency coordination within the United Nations system that has direct relevance to the realisation of the right to development; requests the Special Rapporteur and the members of the Expert Mechanism to participate in relevant international dialogues and policy forums relating to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; requests the Office of the High Commissioner to organise the next biennial panel discussion on the right to development, to be held at its sixty-third session, in a format that is fully accessible to persons with disabilities, including sign language interpretation; and also requests the Office to prepare a report on the panel discussion and to submit it to the Council at its sixty-sixth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.26) on Biodiversity and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a global analytical study on the implementation of a human-rights based approach into the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to be submitted to the Council at its sixty-first session; and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to cooperate with other relevant United Nations organizations and bodies, as well as with Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent and groups in vulnerable situations on advancing human rights-based biodiversity action.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.28) on the Promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council calls upon all States to accelerate efforts to bridge digital divides, including the gender digital divide, and to take the necessary and appropriate measures to promote free, open, interoperable, reliable, accessible and secure access to the Internet; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on a human rights approach to meaningful connectivity and to overcoming digital divides, including by addressing threats to individuals’ access to the Internet, and to present it to the Council at its sixty-second session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.30) on Youth and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides that the theme of the next biennial panel discussion, to be held during the sixtieth session of the Council, will be the role of youth in fostering peaceful societies and creating an enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights by all, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to organise the panel discussion following consultations with youth and youth-led organizations and to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion for consideration by the Council at its sixty-first session; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner, in consultation with States and relevant stakeholders, to conduct a detailed study on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people and to submit the study to the Council for consideration prior to its sixty-third session.

Before the resolution was adopted, the Council took action on and rejected amendment L.39.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.31/Rev.1) on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council decides to extend for a period of three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change under the same terms as provided for by the Council in its resolution 48/14; and requests the Special Rapporteur to report annually on the implementation of the mandate to the Council and the General Assembly in accordance with their programmes of work.

Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Four on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.4) on the Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, adopted by a vote of 20 in favour, 8 against and 19 abstentions, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation as defined by the Council in its resolution 54/23 for a period of one year, and requests the mandate holder to … present a comprehensive report to the Council at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its eightieth session; and calls upon the Russian authorities to establish full and non-selective engagement with all United Nations human rights mechanisms, and to refrain from all forms of intimidation and reprisal against persons and associations for their cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.11) on the Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted by a vote of 26 in favour, 4 against and 17 abstentions, the Council demands that all parties to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic immediately comply with their respective obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and emphasises the need to ensure that all those responsible for such violations and abuses are held to account and that civilians are protected; and demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the Council and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic by granting the Commission immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the Syrian Arab Republic; demands that all parties to the conflict maintain rapid, unhindered, safe and sustainable humanitarian access and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches its intended recipients.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.12) on the Situation of human rights in Burundi, adopted by a vote of 22 in favour, 10 against and 15 abstentions, the Council strongly condemns all human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi; decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi for a further period of one year; and requests the Special Rapporteur to present to the Human Rights Council, at its fifty-ninth session, an oral update on the situation of human rights in Burundi, and also to submit to the Council, at its sixtieth session, and to the General Assembly, at its eightieth session, a comprehensive report.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.8) on the Situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, 6 against and 18 abstentions (as orally revised), the Council decides to extend for a period of two years the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to enable the mission to continue to investigate gross violations of human rights committed since 2014, with a particular focus on the situation of human rights in the lead-up to, during and after the 2024 presidential elections, and on the violence by armed individuals known as colectivos; and urges the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to resume cooperation in a full manner with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the fact-finding mission.

Before the resolution was adopted, the Council took action on and rejected amendments L.40, L.41, L.42, L.43 and an oral amendment.

Action on a Resolution Under Agenda Item Eight on Follow-up and Implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.16) on National human rights institutions, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the financial and human resources necessary for the servicing of the sessions of the Subcommittee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions; and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Council, at its sixty-third session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution … and a report on the activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles.

Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item 9 on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.25) on Education as a tool to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council urges States, in particular, to adopt and implement laws, policies and programmes that prohibit and combat discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, at all levels of education, both formal and non-formal; and requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit to the Council at its sixty-third session a comprehensive report, accessible to persons with disabilities, including in an accessible and easy to read format, analysing relevant education-related practices and measures to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with input from all relevant stakeholders.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.36/Rev.1) on From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, adopted by a vote of 30 in favour, 5 against and 12 abstentions, the Council decides that the Chair-Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination may request that the annual session of the Ad Hoc Committee be split into two full one-week segments; requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to facilitate the interactive participation of six legal experts in one of the two full one-week segments of the fifteenth and sixteenth sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee, to be held in 2025 and 2026 respectively; requests the Chair-Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee to present in person a progress report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session, and to participate in the interactive dialogue and carry out consultations to continue progress in the elaboration of complementary standards to the Convention; reiterates its decision to request the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to report annually on its session and activities to the Council, and that its report will be also transmitted and presented to the General Assembly, and in this regard requests the Chair of the Group to engage in an interactive dialogue with the Assembly under the agenda item entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”; and encourages the General Assembly to proclaim a second International Decade for People of African Descent commencing in 2025.

Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item 10 on Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.14) on Technical assistance and capacity-building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to cooperate with the Government of the Marshall Islands in the field of human rights and to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to the National Nuclear Commission of the Marshall Islands in advancing its national strategy for nuclear justice and pursuing transitional justice in its efforts to address the nuclear legacy; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on addressing the challenges and barriers to the full realisation and enjoyment of the human rights of the people of the Marshall Islands, stemming from the State’s nuclear legacy, and to submit it to the Council at its sixty-third session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.15) on Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, under agenda item 10, for a period of one year, to assess, monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Somalia; requests the Independent Expert to report to the Council at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its eightieth session; and also requests the Independent Expert to provide an update to the Council in her report on progress on the implementation of the benchmarks and indicators in the transition plan to inform future action by the Council.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.18) on the Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides … that the theme of the annual thematic panel discussion under agenda item 10, to be held at its fifty-ninth session, will be “The role of technical cooperation and capacity-building in strengthening national structures which play a role in promoting and safeguarding human rights, particularly national human rights institutions and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up”; and also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-ninth session, to serve as a basis for the panel discussion, on the role of technical cooperation and capacity-building among States, the Office and other relevant stakeholders, to support States’ efforts to strengthen national structures which play a role in promoting and safeguarding human rights.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.20) on Cooperation with Georgia, adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 3 against and 20 abstentions, the Council demands that immediate and unimpeded access be given to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international and regional human rights mechanisms to Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia; requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present to the Council an oral update on the follow-up to the present resolution at its fifty-eighth session and to present a report on developments relating to and the implementation of the present resolution at its fifty-ninth session; and also requests the High Commissioner to continue to provide technical assistance through the Office of the High Commissioner in Tbilisi.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.37) on Technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to renew, for one year, the mandate of the team of international experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests the team to provide the necessary technical support to the Government in implementing effectively its National Transitional Justice Policy, in particular by taking account of the cross-border nature of conflict and insecurity in the Great Lakes, identifying the causes of conflict and preventing their recurrence, and designing and implementing mechanisms for transitional justice and the fight against impunity, and encourages it to support the Government in this regard; requests the team of international experts to submit its final report to the Council, in the framework of an enhanced interactive dialogue, at its sixtieth session and to present it with an oral update at its fifty-eighth session; requests the High Commissioner to present the Council with an oral update on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the framework of an enhanced dialogue, at its fifty-eighth session; also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a comprehensive report on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to submit it to the Council, in the framework of an enhanced interactive dialogue, at its sixtieth session; and decides to remain seized of the matter until its sixtieth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.38/Rev.1) on Technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights in the Central African Republic, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to renew, for one year, the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, which is to assess, monitor and report on the situation with a view to making recommendations relating to technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights; requests the Independent Expert to pay particular attention to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law alleged to have been committed by all parties to the conflict; decides to convene, at its fifty-eighth session, a high-level dialogue to enable it to assess human rights developments on the ground...; requests the Independent Expert to provide an oral update on his report on technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights in the Central African Republic to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-ninth session and to submit a written report to the Council at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its eightieth session; and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Independent Expert with all the necessary technical, human and financial resources to enable him to carry out fully his mandate.

In a resolution (A/HRC/57/L.32) on Technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide substantive capacity-building and technical assistance to the Government of Yemen and all requisite technical and logistical support to the National Commission of Inquiry, to enable it to continue to investigate allegations of violations and abuses committed by all parties to the conflict in Yemen and to submit its comprehensive report on alleged violations and abuses of human rights in all parts of Yemen as soon as it is available; and requests the High Commissioner to present a report on the implementation of technical assistance, as stipulated in the present resolution, to the Council at its sixtieth session.

Other Matters

The Council appointed four Special Procedures mandate holders: the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Nils Muižnieks (Latvia); for the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, member from Western European and other States, Isabel Mamadou (Spain); for the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, member from Asia-Pacific States, Mohammed Al-Obaidi (Iraq); and for the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, member from Latin American and Caribbean States, Andrés Macias Tolosa (Colombia).

The Council elected four members of its Advisory Committee: Frans Viljoen (African States), Miznah O.Alomair (Asia-Pacific States), Alessandra Devulsky (Latin American and Caribbean States), and Vassilis Tzevelekos (Western Europe and other States).

The Council also adopted its draft report for the fifty-seventh session ad referendum.

Bureau of the Council

The President of the Council is Omar Zniber of Morocco. The four Vice-Presidents are Febrian Ruddyard (Indonesia); Darius Staniulis (Lithuania); Marcela Maria Arias Moncada (Honduras); and Heidi Schroderus-Fox (Finland). Mr. Staniulis also served as Rapporteur.

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