Among the Committees at METiMUN 2011 will be the Human Rights Council (HRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In this section you can find any FAQs about the HRC:
What is the Human Rights council?
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. . The Council is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. It was created by the UN General Assembly in 2006 with the overall objective of addressing human rights violations.
History of the Human Rights Council
One year after holding its first meeting, on 18 June 2007, the Council adopted its “Institution-building package” providing elements to guide it in its future work. Among the elements is the new Universal Periodic Review mechanism which will assess the human rights situations in all 192 UN Member States. Other features include a new Advisory Committee which serves as the Council’s “think tank” providing it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues and the revised Complaints Procedure mechanism which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council. The Human Rights Council also continues to work closely with the UN Special Procedures established by the former Commission on Human Rights and assumed by the Council.
How are members elected?
Council members are elected by the 192 member states of the UN General Assembly. Any UN member state can be elected to the Council if it receives an absolute majority of votes. The 47 Council seats are designed to ensure equitable geographical representation: 13 members are elected from the African Group; 13 from the Asian Group; 6 from the Eastern European Group; 8 from the Latin American and Caribbean Group; and 7 from the Western European and Other States Group.
The first members of the Human Rights Council were elected on 9 May 2006. The last Council elections were held on 12 May 2009, and the next elections will be held in 2012. Members are elected for three-year terms. They are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive
What are the expectations of the members to the Council?
When voting for members of the Council, member states take into consideration a candidates' contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Upon election, members commit themselves to cooperating with the Council and to upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. Candidates to the Council also submit voluntary pledges and commitments with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Can a Member have its rights and privileges suspended in the Council?
The General Assembly has the right to suspend the rights and privileges of any Council Member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership. This process of suspension requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.
What is the difference between the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Rights Council consists of member states or governments, and is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, directly accountable to the full membership of the United Nations. The High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office (OHCHR) are part of the Secretariat structure, reporting to the UN Secretary-General. The OHCHR works closely with governments and civil society partners around the world to ensure that international standards of human rights are implemented on the ground, and to promote human rights education and international law. Although OHCHR is a completely distinct entity from the Council, it supports the Council’s work, as well as that of the treaty-monitoring bodies which review states’ compliance with the international human rights treaties they have signed on to.
What does the Human Rights Council do?
The Council serves as the main United Nations forum for intergovernmental cooperation and dialogue on human rights issues. Its focus is to help member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogue, capacity building, and technical assistance. The Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly for further development of international law in the field of human rights. Through what is called a “Universal Periodic Review,” the Council assesses the situation of human rights in all 192 UN member states. It also has an Advisory Committee, which provides expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues which pertain to all parts of the world. Another element of its work is a “Complaints Procedure,” which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council.The Council addresses specific country situations or thematic issues through a system called ‘special procedures.’ Currently, there are 33 thematic and 8 country mandates.
The Human Rights Council and the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Rights Council was established by the General Assembly as the key United Nations intergovernmental body responsible for human rights. Decisions and actions by the Council, which consists of State representatives, are the result of negotiations among Member States.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a part of the United Nations Secretariat, has a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights. It is headed the High Commissioner for Human Rights whose independent role as the principal United Nations human rights official comes from a separate mandate of the UN General Assembly. OHCHR provides logistical, administrative and substantive support to the work of the United Nations human rights mechanisms, such as the Human Rights Council and the core treaty bodies. The Human Rights Council, consisting of State representatives and reporting directly to the General Assembly, is apolitical body with a comprehensive human rights mandate and a distinct entity from OHCHR. The Council addresses violations, promotes human rights assistance and education, reviews States’ human rights records, works to prevent human rights abuses, responds to emergencies, and serves as an international forum for human rights dialogue. To implement its comprehensive mandate, OHCHR employs some 850 staff, deployed in 11 country offices, seven regional and sub-regional offices, and human rights units in 17 peacekeeping missions. OHCHR offers leadership, works objectively, educates and takes action to empower individuals and assist States in upholding human rights. Through its unique access, OHCHR works with and provides assistance to Governments, such as expertise and technical trainings in the areas of administration of justice, legislative reform, and electoral process, to help promote and implement human rights worldwide. It also assists those with responsibility to fulfil their human rights obligations and individuals to realize their rights, and speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations. It provides a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today’s human rights challenges, and acts as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and human rights advocacy activities in the United Nations system. OHCHR also works to ensure the enforcement of universally recognized human rights norms, including through promoting both the universal ratification and implementation of the major human rights treaties and respect for the rule of law . OHCHR’s priorities
The year 2006 marked the beginning of a new chapter for OHCHR and for the United Nations human rights programme. In the 2006-2007 Strategic Management Plan (SMP), High Commissioner Louise Arbour, set out her office’s priorities and reforms designed to strengthen the Office and reinforce human rights as a key pillar of the United Nations system, alongside security and development.
These priorities include greater country engagement, working closely with OHCHR partners at the country and local levels in order to ensure that international human rights standards are implemented on the ground; a stronger leadership role for the High Commissioner; and closer partnerships with civil society and United Nations agencies.
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. . The Council is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. It was created by the UN General Assembly in 2006 with the overall objective of addressing human rights violations.
History of the Human Rights Council
One year after holding its first meeting, on 18 June 2007, the Council adopted its “Institution-building package” providing elements to guide it in its future work. Among the elements is the new Universal Periodic Review mechanism which will assess the human rights situations in all 192 UN Member States. Other features include a new Advisory Committee which serves as the Council’s “think tank” providing it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues and the revised Complaints Procedure mechanism which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council. The Human Rights Council also continues to work closely with the UN Special Procedures established by the former Commission on Human Rights and assumed by the Council.
How are members elected?
Council members are elected by the 192 member states of the UN General Assembly. Any UN member state can be elected to the Council if it receives an absolute majority of votes. The 47 Council seats are designed to ensure equitable geographical representation: 13 members are elected from the African Group; 13 from the Asian Group; 6 from the Eastern European Group; 8 from the Latin American and Caribbean Group; and 7 from the Western European and Other States Group.
The first members of the Human Rights Council were elected on 9 May 2006. The last Council elections were held on 12 May 2009, and the next elections will be held in 2012. Members are elected for three-year terms. They are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive
What are the expectations of the members to the Council?
When voting for members of the Council, member states take into consideration a candidates' contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Upon election, members commit themselves to cooperating with the Council and to upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. Candidates to the Council also submit voluntary pledges and commitments with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Can a Member have its rights and privileges suspended in the Council?
The General Assembly has the right to suspend the rights and privileges of any Council Member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership. This process of suspension requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.
What is the difference between the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Rights Council consists of member states or governments, and is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, directly accountable to the full membership of the United Nations. The High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office (OHCHR) are part of the Secretariat structure, reporting to the UN Secretary-General. The OHCHR works closely with governments and civil society partners around the world to ensure that international standards of human rights are implemented on the ground, and to promote human rights education and international law. Although OHCHR is a completely distinct entity from the Council, it supports the Council’s work, as well as that of the treaty-monitoring bodies which review states’ compliance with the international human rights treaties they have signed on to.
What does the Human Rights Council do?
The Council serves as the main United Nations forum for intergovernmental cooperation and dialogue on human rights issues. Its focus is to help member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogue, capacity building, and technical assistance. The Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly for further development of international law in the field of human rights. Through what is called a “Universal Periodic Review,” the Council assesses the situation of human rights in all 192 UN member states. It also has an Advisory Committee, which provides expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues which pertain to all parts of the world. Another element of its work is a “Complaints Procedure,” which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council.The Council addresses specific country situations or thematic issues through a system called ‘special procedures.’ Currently, there are 33 thematic and 8 country mandates.
The Human Rights Council and the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Human Rights Council was established by the General Assembly as the key United Nations intergovernmental body responsible for human rights. Decisions and actions by the Council, which consists of State representatives, are the result of negotiations among Member States.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a part of the United Nations Secretariat, has a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights. It is headed the High Commissioner for Human Rights whose independent role as the principal United Nations human rights official comes from a separate mandate of the UN General Assembly. OHCHR provides logistical, administrative and substantive support to the work of the United Nations human rights mechanisms, such as the Human Rights Council and the core treaty bodies. The Human Rights Council, consisting of State representatives and reporting directly to the General Assembly, is apolitical body with a comprehensive human rights mandate and a distinct entity from OHCHR. The Council addresses violations, promotes human rights assistance and education, reviews States’ human rights records, works to prevent human rights abuses, responds to emergencies, and serves as an international forum for human rights dialogue. To implement its comprehensive mandate, OHCHR employs some 850 staff, deployed in 11 country offices, seven regional and sub-regional offices, and human rights units in 17 peacekeeping missions. OHCHR offers leadership, works objectively, educates and takes action to empower individuals and assist States in upholding human rights. Through its unique access, OHCHR works with and provides assistance to Governments, such as expertise and technical trainings in the areas of administration of justice, legislative reform, and electoral process, to help promote and implement human rights worldwide. It also assists those with responsibility to fulfil their human rights obligations and individuals to realize their rights, and speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations. It provides a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today’s human rights challenges, and acts as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and human rights advocacy activities in the United Nations system. OHCHR also works to ensure the enforcement of universally recognized human rights norms, including through promoting both the universal ratification and implementation of the major human rights treaties and respect for the rule of law . OHCHR’s priorities
The year 2006 marked the beginning of a new chapter for OHCHR and for the United Nations human rights programme. In the 2006-2007 Strategic Management Plan (SMP), High Commissioner Louise Arbour, set out her office’s priorities and reforms designed to strengthen the Office and reinforce human rights as a key pillar of the United Nations system, alongside security and development.
These priorities include greater country engagement, working closely with OHCHR partners at the country and local levels in order to ensure that international human rights standards are implemented on the ground; a stronger leadership role for the High Commissioner; and closer partnerships with civil society and United Nations agencies.