UN Human Rights Council

  • India was elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates.
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  • India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 terms.
  • The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections here for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.
  • The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot.
  • Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council
About UNHRC
  • It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
  • It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
  • It was created by UNGA on 15 March 2006 by adopting resolution 60/251 to promote human rights globally.
  • It had replaced former UN Commission on Human Rights.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Members:
  • UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with specific number of seats allocated for each region of the globe.
  • The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms.
  • Functions:
  • Members of the council work to engage countries on improving human rights.
  • They make decisions ranging from exposing violations to recommending that UN Security Council make referral to International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • UNJRC does not have authority to take action but can exert significant pressure on violating country.
  • It can also set up special rapporteurs with mandate to investigate and report human-rights violations and abuses.
  • The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and engages the United Nations’ special procedures.
  • The General Assembly can 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.
  • The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.
Source
The Hindu,UNHRC
Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 13th Oct 2018
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