United Nations Human Rights Council

• 1. The 2006 Creation

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  On the 15th of March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish a new body called the Human Rights Council. This decision replaced the previous Commission on Human Rights, which had lost credibility due to its inconsistent record and political maneuvering. The new council was designed with 47 member states elected for staggered three-year terms. These seats are distributed across five regional groups: African States, Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and Other States. Each group receives a specific number of seats based on population and geographic representation. The headquarters of this new organization sits at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. Members must be elected by the General Assembly through a majority vote of those present and voting. No country can hold a seat for more than two consecutive terms before stepping down.

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• 2. Review And Complaints

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  The Universal Periodic Review mechanism examines every one of the 193 UN member states over a four-year cycle. During the first cycle between 2008 and 2011, each country received a three-and-a-half-hour debate where their human rights record was scrutinized. A separate complaint procedure established on the 18th of June 2007 allows individuals or NGOs to report consistent patterns of gross violations. Two working groups screen these communications: one determines admissibility while another examines situations already under consideration. The process remains confidential to encourage dialogue rather than public shaming. Between 2010 and 2011, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights received between 11,000 and 15,000 communications annually. Only about 1,451 out of 18,000 complaints were submitted for further action during that period. Most situations considered eventually get discontinued due to lack of evidence or political constraints.

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• 3. Crisis Investigations

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  In August 2006, the Council launched an inquiry into Lebanon following allegations that Israel systematically targeted civilians during the conflict. A commission composed of experts from Brazil, Tanzania, and Greece investigated but could not examine Hezbollah actions due to its limited mandate. By June 2015, a massive 500-page report accused Eritrea's government of extrajudicial executions, torture, and forced labor under President Isaias Afwerki. In August 2018, research confirmed that six Myanmar generals should face prosecution for war crimes related to the genocide against Rohingya Muslims. Interviews with 875 individuals supported findings that over 10,000 Rohingyas died in the pogrom. The Council also addressed Yemen in 2019, concluding that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates committed war crimes during their intervention. On the 4th of March 2022, it voted 32-2 to create an International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine investigating Russian violations. Later that year, Russia withdrew from the council after being suspended by the General Assembly.

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• 4. Abusive Memberships

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  The election process has frequently placed countries with poor human rights records onto the council. Syria announced its candidacy in July 2012 while evidence existed that President Bashar al-Assad had authorized the killing of thousands of civilians. Sudan and Ethiopia were nominated despite accusations of grave violations including genocide charges against Omar Al-Bashir. Saudi Arabia won a seat in September 2015 even as it executed prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr who called for free elections. The country later lost its bid in October 2020 when Nepal defeated it in a five-way race. Venezuela joined the council in October 2019 despite allegations of withholding humanitarian aid and manipulating voters with food. China entered the council in April 2020 while facing international condemnation over Xinjiang policies targeting Uyghur minorities. These memberships have led critics to label the body broken or hypocritical since abusers sit alongside those claiming to protect rights.

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• 5. Israel And Palestine

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  On the 30th of June 2006, the Council voted to make reviewing Israel's human rights record a permanent agenda item known as Agenda Item 7. No other country receives such dedicated attention during every session. In April 2009, South African Judge Richard Goldstone led an independent mission investigating Gaza War violations. His report found evidence suggesting both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes. Later, Goldstone partially retracted conclusions about intentional civilian targeting after new evidence emerged. By July 2015, Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk stated that Israeli settlements in the West Bank amounted to a war crime. He submitted another report in March 2022 describing Israel's control as apartheid. The United States withdrew from the council in June 2018 accusing it of structural bias against Israel. Secretary Nikki Haley called the organization a cesspool of political bias before leaving. Despite criticism, the mandate for the special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories remains active without expiration dates due to ongoing occupation issues.

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• 6. Great Power Dynamics

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  The United States initially refused to seek membership under President George W. Bush, arguing the body lacked credibility. It withdrew observer status entirely by June 2008 but rejoined in March 2009 under Barack Obama. American commentators began viewing the council as increasingly relevant once Washington took a leading role. However, Donald Trump pulled out again in June 2018 citing chronic anti-Israel bias. Joe Biden reversed this policy in February 2021 when Antony Blinken announced reengagement. Yet President Trump reinstituted withdrawal policies in February 2025 claiming consistent bias against Israel. China joined the council in April 2020 while facing global scrutiny over Xinjiang internment camps. Russia became only the second permanent Security Council member suspended from any UN body after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These fluctuations highlight how major powers use the council strategically rather than consistently supporting human rights principles globally.

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