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The Importance of the Human Rights Council

The Importance of the Human Rights Council
Marta A. 

The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an intergovernmental body of 47 States within the United Nations (UN) founded in 2006 (United Nations). Since its establishment in 2006, it has been in charge of strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.   

The council serves as a platform for discussions on human rights issues, bringing together United Nations officials, experts, member states, and other participants. It creates resolutions or decisions in its regular sessions, which reflect the international community’s stance on specific human rights matters.  In times of urgent human rights crises, the organization holds special sessions, with 36 such sessions held so far (United Nations).  Furthermore, the council has implemented a Universal Periodic Review which is, according to the UN, " a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4.5 years " (United Nations).  This Universal Periodic Review examines the human rights records of all UN Member States and is part of what makes the HRC such an extensive and crucial committee. 

At this year's 30th IMUN conference, 4 agenda issues were discussed within the HRC. These consisted of the question of providing mental healthcare for youth, the question of bodily autonomy in relation to gender affirmation surgery, the question of Indigenous peoples' rights to land restitution and reparations, and, lastly, the question of press freedom in times of conflict. These issues, specifically chosen by the chairs of the conference, all hold much relevance in today’s world and cover various global issues.    

The resolutions passed in the HRC demonstrate the importance of the committee seeing that they can be used to save the lives of many and serve as guidance for human rights around the globe (Choice for Youth).   For example, in March of 2015, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution that established a forum on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law ("Resolutions"). This resolution created a new mechanism within the UN human rights system which focused on strengthening the relationships between human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law.    

Looking directly at the HRCs mission to promote and protect human rights around the world, it is clear how the HRC is needed in today’s world. Essentially, the Human Rights Council serves as an international body for addressing human rights concerns, promoting dialogue, and working towards the protection of human rights worldwide.  

 

Works Cited  

Choice for Youth. www.choiceforyouth.org/assets/CHOICE-HRC-Factsheet-1.pdf. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.  

"Resolutions." United Nations, www.ohchr.org/en/resolutions.  

United Nations Human Rights Council. www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/home.