Making Complaints, UN Human Rights Council And Its Subsidiary Bodies
July 11, 2012
By S. V. Kirupaharan -
S. V. Kirupaharan
In March 2006, the international intergovernmental body, the UN Human Rights Council – UNHRC/HRC was established by General Assembly – GA resolution 60/251 to replace the Commission on Human Rights. The 1stsession of the HRC took place in June 2006. Its members review and consider thematic and country-specific human rights issues.
Since the creation of the HRC there have been 20 regular sessions. Special sessions can be called at any time with the support of one-third (16) members of the HRC. So far 15 special sessions have been convened. These have addressed emergencies – Worsening world food situation; and the Global economic crisis – and urgent situations in the following states – Darfur Sudan; Myanmar; Occupied Palestinian territory (3 sessions); Democratic Republic of Congo; Sri Lanka; Haiti (earthquake); Ivory Coast; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Syrian Arab Republic (3 sessions).
The HRC is composed of 47 member States, elected by majority vote in the GA. No country may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. They are not eligible for immediate re-election after the six years, without taking a break of at least one year. The Council’s Membership distribution is as follows:
Africa - 13 States
Asia – 13 -do-
Latin America andCaribbean – 8 -do-
Western Europeand other – 7 -do-
Eastern Europe – 6 -do-
Since the beginning of the HRC – Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Jordan, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and Uruguay have been members for six consecutive years and so they are not qualified to contest for re-membership immediately.
