United Nations Human Rights Council

The newly established Human Rights Council was created in 2006 and it is the successor of the 60-year-old United Nations Commission of Human Rights. It works towards the protection of universal ideals of human dignity by "providing a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today's human rights challenges, and acting as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information and advocacy activities in the United Nations system". The Human Rights Council has been elevated to a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly, meaning that it responds directly to it. It is composed of 47member states responsible for upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, and who are empowered to prevent abuses, inequity and discrimination, protect the most vulnerable, and expose perpetrators.

Additional Resources:

• Human Rights Council Official Website: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/
• UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights: www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm
• International Law: www2.ohchr.org/english/law/
• HRC News Focus: www.un.org/apps/news/