Human Rights Council Concludes Fifty-First Regular Session after Adopting 41 Texts

Appoints Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Russian Federation, Extends Mandates on Older Persons, Right to Development, Arbitrary Detention, Mercenaries, Slavery, Indigenous Peoples, Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, Afghanistan, Right to Health, Ethiopia, Burundi, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia

The Human Rights Council this evening concluded its fifty-first regular session after adopting 41 texts, appointing a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, and extending mandates on older persons, right to development, arbitrary detention, mercenaries, slavery, indigenous peoples, safe drinking water and sanitation, Afghanistan, right to health, Ethiopia, Burundi, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia.

The Council elected by acclamation nine members of the Advisory Committee and appointed four mandate holders.

It rejected a draft decision entitled debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.

In a resolution on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, the Council decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation for a period of one year, and called upon the Russian authorities to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur.

On promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, the Council urged the Government of Sri Lanka to address the marginalisation of and discrimination against persons from the Muslim community, and decided to extend the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka.

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.

The Council extended and strengthened the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan for a period of one year, asking him to include in his mandate a child’s rights perspective and the responsibility to document and preserve information relating to human rights violations and abuses.

In a resolution on 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.

On 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.

In a resolution 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.

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.

The Council decided to extend for three years the mandates of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; the Special Rapporteur on the right to development; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; 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; the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples; the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

With regard to youth and human rights, the Council decided to incorporate into its programme of work a biennial panel discussion. In a resolution on human rights and indigenous peoples, the Council decided that the theme of the panel discussion to be held during its fifty-fourth session would be the impact of certain development projects on the rights of indigenous peoples. In a resolution 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.

In addition to adopting a resolution on appropriate support for the Human Rights Council, the Council adopted a statement by the President on reports of the Advisory Committee, and resolutions on the World Programme for Human Rights Education; neurotechnology and human rights; the role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights; conscientious objection to military service; the safety of journalists; countering cyberbullying; promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; local government and human rights; the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights: rule of law and accountability; youth and human rights; human rights and indigenous peoples; human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military domain; human rights and transitional justice; and terrorism and human rights.

In a resolution on 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. In a resolution on from rhetoric to reality: 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 mobilise global public support for racial equality.

In a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, the Council 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. 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 by acclamation the following 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 State of America) 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.

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.

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-first regular session of the Human Rights Council was held in Geneva from 12 September to 7 October 2022. The fifty-second regular session is scheduled to be held in Geneva from 27 February to 31 March 2023.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item One on Organizational and Procedural Matters

In a statement by the President on reports of the Advisory Committee, the Council, recalling its resolutions 5/1 of 18 June 2007 and 16/21 of 25 March 2011, in particular section III of the annexes thereto, including on the functions of the Advisory Committee, takes note of the reports of the Advisory Committee on its twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth sessions.

In a resolution on appropriate support for the Human Rights Council, the Council requests the Secretary-General to provide the Human Rights Council with the support necessary to be able to meet not less than 14 weeks to fulfil its annual programme of work.

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 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, the Council urges the Government of Sri Lanka to address the marginalization of and discrimination against persons from the Muslim community, ensure the prompt, thorough and impartial investigation of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations; and decides to extend and reinforce the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka.

The Council rejected a draft decision on holding a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China after a roll-call vote.

In a resolution on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Council decides to extend and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan for a period of one year, and to include in his mandate a child’s rights perspective and the responsibility to document and preserve information relating to human rights violations and abuses.

Action on Texts under Agenda Item Three on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development

In a resolution on the World Programme for Human Rights Education, the Council decides to extend the World Programme for Human Rights Education beyond 2024 through the fifth phase of the World Programme.

In a resolution on neurotechnology and human rights, the Council requests its Advisory Committee to prepare a study in an accessible format, including easy-to read version, on the impact, opportunities and challenges of neurotechnology with regard to the promotion and protection of all human rights.

In a resolution on the human rights of older persons, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons for a period of three years.

In a resolution on the role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights, the Council urges States to ensure the right of every person to have access, on equal terms, to public services using new communications technology; and requests the High Commissioner to organize, before the fifty-fourth session of the Council, a full-day panel discussion with relevant stakeholders on good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights.

In a resolution on conscientious objection to military service, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to organize a half-day intersessional workshop on good practices and recent developments in the implementation of the right to conscientious objection to military service in law and in practice, to inform the preparation of a report with recommendations on legal and policy frameworks to uphold human rights in the context of conscientious objection to military service.

In a resolution on the right to development, the Council requests the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development to submit a second revised draft convention to the Working Group at its twenty-fourth session for intergovernmental negotiation and, following that process, to submit the final draft text of the convention on the right to development to the Human Rights Council; decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, for a period of three years.

In a resolution on arbitrary detention, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for a further period of three years.

In a resolution on the safety of journalists, the Council requests the High Commissioner to organize, before the fifty-fourth session of the Human Rights Council, a one-day expert seminar on legal and economic threats to the safety of journalists, to prepare a summary report thereon, and to submit it to the Council at its fifty-fifth session.

In a resolution on countering cyberbullying, the Council decides to convene a panel discussion on cyberbullying against children at its fifty-fourth session, inviting States and other relevant stakeholders and ensuring participation of children themselves.

In a resolution on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, the Council invites the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order to study and compile good practices and experiences in the field of South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation in the context of their contribution to overcoming global challenges and the achievement of a democratic and equitable international order.

In a resolution on local government and human rights, the Council requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a one-day expert meeting prior to the fifty-fourth session of the Council on enhancing capacity-building for local governments to incorporate human rights into all their work.

In a resolution on the mandate of 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, the Council decides to extend for a period of three years the mandate of 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.

In a resolution on the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights: rule of law and accountability, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a study on the role of the rule of law and accountability on the national and international levels in the prevention of human rights violations and abuses.

In a resolution on Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, the Council renews the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, for a period of three years; and the Special Rapporteur shall, inter alia, promote the effective application of relevant international norms and standards on slavery and focus principally on aspects of contemporary forms of slavery that are not covered by existing mandates of the Human Rights Council.

In a resolution on human rights and Indigenous Peoples: mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Council decides to renew the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples for a period of three years; and formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations and abuses of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In a resolution on youth and human rights, the Council decides to incorporate into its programme of work a biennial panel discussion, fully accessible to persons with disabilities, which will be held during the September session of the Council as of its fifty-fourth session.

In a resolution on human rights and Indigenous Peoples, the Council decides that the theme of the annual half-day panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the fifty-fourth session of the Human Rights Council, will be the impact of certain development projects on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in particular the impact on indigenous women.

In a resolution on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, the Council decides to extend the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for a period of three years.

In a resolution on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for a further period of three years.

In a resolution on human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military domain, the Council requests its Advisory Committee to prepare a study examining the human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military domain, and to present the study to the Human Rights Council at its sixtieth session.

In a resolution on human rights and transitional justice, the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on lessons learned and good practices of transitional justice in the context of sustaining peace and of sustainable development, and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-eighth session during an enhanced interactive dialogue.

In a resolution on terrorism and human rights, the Council 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.

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

In a resolution on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, the Council decides to appoint a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation for a period of one year, and requests the mandate holder to make recommendations, and to present a comprehensive report to the Council at its fifty-fourth session and to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session; and calls upon the Russian authorities to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur.

In a resolution on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Council demands that all parties to the conflict comply with their applicable obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law; 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.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in Ethiopia, the Council 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.

In a resolution on situation of human rights in Burundi, 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 a resolution on situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 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.

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

In a resolution on strengthening the voluntary funds for the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council, 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.

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

In a resolution on national human rights institutions, 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; 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.

Action on Resolution under Agenda Item Nine 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 on from rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Council 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.

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

In a resolution on promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, 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.

In a resolution on enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of human rights, the Council 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.

In a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, 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 a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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 a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights in the Central African Republic, 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.

In a resolution on assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights, 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.

In a resolution on technical assistance and capacity building for Yemen in the field of human rights, the Council 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.

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