Twenty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to take place from 20 to 24 February 2023

GENEVA (16 February 2023) – The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee will hold its twenty-ninth session in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber (Room XX) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 20 to 24 February 2023.

During the week-long session, the Committee’s 18 independent experts* – who serve as the Council’s think tank – will continue its work on the following mandates:

• the impact of new technologies for climate protection on the enjoyment of human rights (HRC resolution 48/14)
• the advancement of racial justice and equality (HRC resolution 48/18)

The Committee will hold discussions on these topics and continue its work on the two reports, to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fourth session in September-October 2023.

The Committee will also begin its work on two new mandates, holding discussions on these topics and setting up drafting groups:

• the impact, opportunities and challenges of neurotechnology with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights (HRC resolution 51/3)
• the human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military domain (HRC resolution 51/22)

The Committee will also hold discussions on its methods of work and continue to discuss research proposals that could be submitted to the Human Rights Council, as well as on reflection papers.  

The Committee’s plenary meetings are open to the media and will conclude with a round-up press release.

Documentation relating to the twenty-ninth session, including the agenda and programme of work, is available on the Advisory Committee’s session webpage.

Background 

The Advisory Committee is a body of 18 independent experts serving as a “think tank” to the United Nations Human Rights Council. It was established in 2008, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, to provide studies and research-based advice, as requested by the Council, and meets twice a year. The Committee’s work is implementation-oriented and follows thematic issues linked to the mandate of the Council, namely, the promotion and protection of all human rights. It interacts with States, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other civil society representatives.

* The current composition of the Advisory Committee and the term of membership of each expert are as follows: Nurah Alamro (Saudi Arabia, 2024); Noor Al Malki Al-Jehani (Qatar, 2025); Buhm-Suk Baek (Republic of Korea, 2023); Nadia Amal Bernoussi (Morocco, 2023); Rabah Boudache (Algeria, 2025); Aldo de Campos Costa (Brazil, 2025); Milena Costas Trascasas (Spain, 2025*); Sebastião Da Silva Isata (Angola, 2025); Jewell Major (Bahamas, 2025); Ajai Malhotra (India, 2023); Javier Palummo (Uruguay, 2025*); Vasilka Sancin (Slovenia, 2025); Patrycja Sasnal (Poland, 2023); Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius, 2023); Vassilis Tzevelekos (Greece, 2024); Catherine Van de Heyning (Belgium, 2023); Frans Viljoen (South Africa, 2024); and Yue Zhang (China, 2025).

[*Member serving second term]

Media contacts: Pascal Sim, HRC Public Information Officer, at simp@un.org, or Matthew Brown, HRC Public Information Officer, at matthew.brown@un.org

ENDS