Human Rights Council Adopts 14 Resolutions, Extends Mandates on Ethiopia, Burundi, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Somalia, Concludes Regular Fifty-first Session

Elects by Acclamation Nine Members of the Advisory Committee and Appoints Four Mandate Holders

The Human Rights Council this afternoon adopted 14 resolutions, extending mandates on Ethiopia, Burundi, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Somalia. It then elected by acclamation nine members of the Advisory Committee, appointed four mandate holders, and concluded its regular fifty-first session.

The Council also adopted resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic; strengthening the voluntary funds for the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council; national human rights institutions; a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up; enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of human rights; technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands; and on technical assistance and capacity building for Yemen in the field of human rights.

Concerning the situation of human rights in Ethiopia, the Council decided to renew the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia for a further period of one year.

As for the situation of human rights in Burundi, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi for a further period of one year.

On the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for a period of two years, with a view to combatting impunity and ensuring full accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims.

The Council decided to renew, for one year, the mandate of the International Team of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requested it to provide the necessary technical support to the Government in the implementation of the national strategy on transitional justice.

The Council decided to renew, for one year, the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, which was 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.

The Council decided to renew the mandate of Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia for a period of one year to assess, monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Somalia with a view to making recommendations on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights.

Concerning the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Council reiterated its call for all States, relevant United Nations bodies, international organizations and civil society to proactively focus attention on the issue of missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic.

On strengthening the voluntary funds for the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council, the Council decided to convene, at its fifty-second session, a high-level panel discussion focusing on the achievements, good practices and lessons learned by the two voluntary funds during the implementation of their mandates over the past 15 years, and reflecting on further optimisation of the use of these funds to facilitate the participation of developing States.

Concerning national human rights institutions, the Council requestedthe Office of the High Commissioner to continue and to strengthen its work with national human rights institutions, including through technical cooperation, capacity building activities and advice.

As for a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner to provide a written report, at the fifty third session, on the progress on the two-year comprehensive communications strategy, inclusive of an outreach programme to raise awareness about and mobilize global public support for racial equality.

On promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner to organize a one-day intersessional seminar in 2023 and a one-day intersessional seminar in 2024, both to be held in Geneva, to further consider the experiences and good practices shared during the five online regional consultations relating to the establishment and development of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up.

Concerning the enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of human rights, the Council decided to hold, before the fifty-third session of the Council, a half-day intersessional meeting on the theme “Technical cooperation and capacity building in the Human Rights Council: taking stock of the past for a better discharge of this mission in the future”.

The Council adopted a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, in which it requested 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, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council.

And concerning technical assistance and capacity building for Yemen in the field of human rights, the Council requested the High Commissioner 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.

The Council also elected the following nine members of the Advisory Committee by acclamation: from the Group of African States, Rabah Boudache (Algeria) and Sebastião Da Silva Isata (Angola); from the Group of Asia-Pacific States, Yue Zhang (China) and Noor Al-Malki Al-Jehani (Qatar); from the Group of Eastern European States, Vasilka Sancin (Slovenia); from the Group of Western European and other States, Milena Costas Trascasas (Spain); from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, Javier Palummo (Uruguay); and for the by-election from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, Jewel G.L. Majorand (Bahamas) and Aldo de Campos Costa (Brazil).

The Council appointed Ashwini K.P. (India) as Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Paula Gaviria (Colombia) as Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Margaret Satterthwaite (United States) as Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and Ganna Yudkivska (Ukraine), as member from the Eastern European States of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Council Vice-President and Rapporteur, Ulugbek Lapasov, introduced the draft report of the session, which he said contained a procedural description of the work of the Council, up to the morning meeting of Thursday, 6 October. The secretariat would finalise the report, adding the details of the action on draft proposals and would then circulate it for comments. Mr. Lapasov said that over the past four weeks, the Council had completed its ambitious and extensive programme of work. It had held more than 28 interactive dialogues with the special procedure mandate holders and investigative mechanisms, three interactive dialogues with the Acting High Commissioner, four enhanced interactive dialogues, and nine general debates. It had also adopted resolutions and decisions on a wide range of issues.

The report of the fifty-first session was adopted ad referendum.

In concluding remarks, Federico Villegas, President of the Human Rights Council, said 2022 was proving to be one of the most challenging years of this body, and yet the Council had been able to deliver on its three core roles. On the Universal Periodic Review, it had been able to make great strides forward to ensure that the recommendations issuing from it were felt on the ground. The Council also considered a set of specific human rights situations that deserved its attention as a body, whether through interactive dialogues or resolutions. Finally, on the implementation of international human rights law, the third role of the Council, future generations also had a seat at the table this year, and took the Council to task to live up to its responsibilities to protect their rights, in implementing new human rights norms.

Mr. Villegas also wished to express his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Bureau for their excellent support and cooperation throughout the previous weeks, as well as expressing his sincere appreciation for the support provided by the Secretariat of the Council and his staff in the Office of the President; and thanked the Division for Conference Management, including the interpreters, the Information Service, the Security Officers and also all stakeholders, Members and Observers of this Council alike, for their invaluable contribution in the work of the Council. Finally, he warmly thanked the interns who as usual have greatly supported us during the session.

The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council’s fifty-first regular session can be found here.

The fifty-second regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from 27 February to 31 March 2023.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item Four on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.18) on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted by a vote of 25 in favour, 6 against and 16 abstained adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council strongly reiterates the call of the Secretary-General for a global ceasefire; demands that all parties to the conflict comply with their applicable obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law; reiterates its call for all States, relevant United Nations bodies, international organizations and civil society to proactively focus attention on the issue of missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic; calls upon all parties to the conflict, but particularly the Syrian authorities, to cease all forms of abuse of detainees; strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and demands that all parties desist from any use or preparation of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic; urges all parties to immediately respect and protect the full enjoyment by children of all their human rights, to prevent, and to protect children from, all forms of violence; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (25): Argentina, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Czechia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Honduras, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

Against (6): Armenia, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea and Venezuela.

Abstentions (16): Brazil, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.19) on the situation of human rights in Ethiopia, adopted by a vote of 21 in favour, 19 against and 7 abstentions, the Council reiterates its call for an immediate halt to all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law by all parties to the conflict in northern Ethiopia; calls upon all parties to the conflict to facilitate full, safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and the delivery of humanitarian supplies; decides to renew the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia for a further period of one year; requests the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia to present an oral briefing to the Council at its fifty-second session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to present a written report to the Council at its fifty-fourth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to provide advice and technical assistance in order to strengthen the capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the criminal justice system, and transitional justice.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (21): Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

Against (19): Benin, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritra, Gabon, Gambia, India, Lybia, Mauritania, Namibia, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Abstentions (7): Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Qatar and Uzbekistan.

Before the Council took action on L.19 it voted on and rejected an oral amendment.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.23) on the situation of human rights in Burundi, adopted by a vote of 22 in favour, 12 against and 13 abstentions, the Council 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-third session, an oral update on the situation of human rights in Burundi, and also to submit to the Council, at its fifty-fourth session, and to the General Assembly, at its seventy-eighth session, a comprehensive report.

In favour (22): Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Czechia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Honduras, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

Against (12): Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Abstentions (13): Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Qatar, Senegal, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.41) on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, adopted by a vote of 19 in favour, 5 against and 23 abstentions, the Council requests the High Commissioner to continue to monitor, report on and provide technical cooperation with a view to improving the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including through the presentation of oral updates to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-second and fifty-fifth sessions, to be followed by interactive dialogues. Further, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as set out in Human Rights Council resolution 45/20, for a period of two years, with a view to combatting impunity and ensuring full accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims, and requests the mission to present an oral update on its work to the Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-second and fifty-fifth sessions, and to submit a report on its findings to the Council during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-fourth and fifty-seventh sessions.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (19): Brazil, Czechia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States

Against (5): Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea and Venezuela.

Abstentions (23): Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item Six on the Universal Periodic Review

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.10/Rev.1) on strengthening the voluntary funds for the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to convene, at its fifty-second session, a high-level panel discussion, fully accessible to persons with disabilities, focusing on the achievements, good practices and lessons learned by the two voluntary funds during the implementation of their mandates over the past 15 years, and reflecting on further optimisation of the use of these funds to facilitate the participation of developing States, and to support them in the implementation of recommendations emanating from the fourth cycle; requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report on the high-level panel discussion on the universal periodic review, and to submit the report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-third session; and requests the Secretary-General to further strengthen the regular budget-funded dedicated capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to implement the mandates of the two voluntary funds, including by scaling up the dedicated capacity of the Universal Periodic Review Branch in each regional office during the fourth cycle of the universal periodic review.

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

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.16/Rev.1) on national human rights institutions, adopted without a vote, the Council encourages all relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes to further enhance the participation of national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles and to allow for their contribution to these mechanisms and processes; encourages all States and national human rights institutions to continue to take appropriate steps to maintain a legislative or policy framework compliant with the Paris Principles; requeststhe Office of the High Commissioner to continue and to strengthen its work with national human rights institutions, including through technical cooperation, capacity-building activities and advice, urges the High Commissioner to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources are provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national human rights institutions, including through increased support for the work of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its regional networks, and invites Governments to contribute additional voluntary funds to that end; and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Council, at its fifty-seventh session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution that includes examples of best practices among national human rights institutions 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 Resolution under Agenda Item Nine on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance

In a resolution (A/HRC/L.28/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 32 in favour, 9 against and 6 abstentions, the Council requests the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to submit a report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session, and requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide the necessary human and financial resources to support the implementation of the mandate of the Working Group; requests the United Nations system to strengthen its awareness-raising campaigns to increase the visibility of the message of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, its follow-up mechanisms and the work of the United Nations in the fight against racism, and decides that the annual session of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts will be webcast to allow for remote participation and for greater awareness-raising among affected communities; decides that the annual session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent will be held in a hybrid format and will be webcast to allow for remote participation; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to provide a written report, at the fifty third session, on the progress on the two-year comprehensive communications strategy, inclusive of an outreach programme to raise awareness about and mobilize global public support for racial equality.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (32): Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Against (9): Czechia, France, Germany, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

Abstentions (6): Finland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Republic of Korea and Uzbekistan.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 10 on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.11) on promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to organize a one-day intersessional seminar in 2023 and a one-day intersessional seminar in 2024, both to be held in Geneva, to further consider the experiences and good practices shared during the five online regional consultations relating to the establishment and development of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, with States and other relevant stakeholders, and to present to the Council at its fifty-seventh session a summary report on the seminars, available in an Easy Read version and in an accessible format.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.15/Rev.1) on the enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council encourages States in need of technical assistance to consider requesting it from the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant United Nations agencies; decides to hold, before the fifty-third session of the Council, a half-day intersessional meeting on the theme “Technical cooperation and capacity building in the Human Rights Council: taking stock of the past for a better discharge of this mission in the future”; and requests the High Commissioner to present a report to the Council at its fifty-third session, recommending the way forward to improve technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of human rights, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.24/Rev.1) 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 determining its technical assistance and capacity building needs to pursue transitional justice in its efforts to address the nuclear legacy. The Council also 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, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-seventh session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue, with the participation of the National Nuclear Commission of the Marshall Islands.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.34) on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopted without a vote as orally revised, the Council decides to renew, for one year, the mandate of the International Team of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests it to provide the necessary technical support to the Government in the implementation of the national strategy on transitional justice; requests the International Team of Experts to present its final report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session, through an enhanced interactive dialogue, as well as an oral update at its fifty-second session; requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with technical assistance, including the necessary forensic expertise, to support the judicial authorities of the country in their investigation of allegations of human rights violations and abuses with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice and to strengthen the technical assistance team with additional forensic experts with sufficient resources to assist the Government in developing a specialised national forensic capacity; requests the High Commissioner to provide the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with technical assistance to support the process of implementation of the transitional justice mechanism; and requests the High Commissioner to make available to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo experts in transitional justice. The Council further requests the High Commissioner to provide an oral update on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Council at its fifty-second session within the framework of an enhanced interactive dialogue; and requests the High Commissioner to prepare a comprehensive report on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to present it to the Council, within the framework of an enhanced interactive dialogue, at its fifty-fourth session.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.35/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-second session, a high-level dialogue to assess human rights developments on the ground. The Council further requests the Independent Expert to provide an oral update on his report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-third session and to submit a written report to the Council at its fifty-fourth session, and to the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly.

In a resolution (A/HRC/51/L.36) on assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to renew the mandate of 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 with a view to making recommendations on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights. The Council also requests the Independent Expert to report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session and to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session; and further requests the Independent Expert to provide an update to the Human Rights 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/51/L.38) on technical assistance and capacity building for Yemen in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council expresses deep concern at the serious human rights abuses and violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Yemen committed by all parties to the conflict; welcomes the technical assistance provided by the Office of the High Commissioner to the National Commission of Inquiry; requests the High Commissioner 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 human rights violations and abuses in all parts of Yemen, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 9 of 28 September 2021. The Council further requests the High Commissioner to present a written report on the implementation of technical assistance as stipulated in the present resolution, to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session.

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