The Human Rights Council (HRC) is currently holding its 54th meeting at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. We are now in the middle of this five-week gathering (September 11 – October 13) of the global community of academics, human rights experts and advocates, NGO representatives, advocates and delegations of the Member States. A wide range of human rights issues have so far taken center stage in the Council’s various sessions, hearings, bodies and committees, including on climate change, Ukraine and Myanmar.
Speaking at the opening session, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reported how people everywhere want – and are entitled to – a decent standard of living, food on the table, affordable medical care, education and equal opportunities for themselves and their children: “But time and time again, I see people deprived of these rights, and crushed by development that is neither respectful nor fair. Injustice, poverty, exploitation and repression are the cause of grievances that fuel tension, conflict, displacement and even more misery – again and again.
Climate change is a “growing human rights emergency in many countries”
The High Commissioner warned of the risks of a policy of deception, aided by new technologies, mass-produced lies and disinformation to sow chaos, sow confusion and ultimately deny reality and ensure that no no action is taken which could endanger the interests. well-established elites. The most obvious case is climate change, he added.
“I am also attentive to the need to fight against the impunity of people and companies who seriously pillage our environment. The inclusion of the international crime of ecocide in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was proposed by a number of states and civil society groups. I welcome the consideration of this and other measures aimed at expanding liability for environmental damage, both domestically and internationally,” Mr Türk said.
“Systematic and widespread” use of torture: UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
The Human Rights Council works, among other things, with so-called “special procedures”. Special procedures are independent experts appointed by the Council with mandates as special rapporteurs, independent experts, special representatives or members of working groups. They monitor, review, advise and report publicly on thematic issues or human rights situations in specific countries.
Much anticipated was the presentation by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry into Ukraine and the investigators’ latest update to the UN Human Rights Council. expressed his concern on “continuing evidence of war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine.”
The use of torture by the Russian armed forces is “systematic and widespread”, said the Commissioner. Pablo de Greiff, who added that this appears to be “common practice,” particularly in places of detention that are under Russian control for extended periods.
Independent UN-appointed investigators have also expressed concern over allegations of genocide in Ukraine. “We are investigating these issues further,” said Commission President Erik Møse. The Commission also recalled the need for the Ukrainian authorities to investigate “rapidly and thoroughly” the few cases of violations committed by their own forces.
Burma: “Gross violations of human rights“continue to be inflicted
Highly awaited by many, the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights before the Geneva Council, which covers the period from April 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023, and reveals how the Myanmar army has further expanded its attacks against the civilian population, While the armed conflict has significantly intensified, leading independent rights experts appointed by the UN remain at the HRC.
“Given the continuing seriousness of the situation and the impunity on the ground, I reiterate my call to the UN Security Council to refer this situation to the International Criminal Court,” High Commissioner Türk said.
Wide range of topics
Beyond country-specific investigations and hearings, the Human Rights Council more generally has also heard on transnational topics, such as the rights of indigenous peoples, right to developmenton the means to combat the cyberbullying of children, or on the prioritization of participation of young people in climate and environmental processes.
The Committee on Enforced Disappearances addressed issues such as cases of disappearances in Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Rwanda, Eritrea, the Philippines and elsewhere, cases of refoulement of migrants in Europe, particularly in the Western Balkans and Greece.
THE The Human Rights Council held a hearing on arbitrary detention, homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Obokato, said that according to the most recent global estimates, 50 million people were subjected to these practices every day in 2021, an increase of 10 million people since 2016 .
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights open its seventy-fourth session during which it is planned to examine the reports of Chad, the State of Palestine, Brazil, France, Qatar and Armenia.
75th birthday
The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year provided an opportunity to confirm the virtue that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Although the Declaration has stood the test of time, the world order in which it was developed has changed dramatically 75 years later. However, the search for universal equality and dignity persists, OHCHR in Geneva has repeatedly emphasized.
The 54th session of the Human Rights Council will continue and end on October 13. Webcast of Human Rights Council meetings available here. All meeting summaries are available here. Documents and reports relating to the fifty-fourth regular session of the Human Rights Council can be consulted here.
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General information about the UN Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world, addressing situations of human rights violations man and to make recommendations on them.
Human Rights Council mechanisms include universal periodic reviewwhich is used to assess the human rights situation in all United Nations member states.
THE Consultative Committee serves as a “think tank” for the Council, providing expertise and advice on thematic issues related to human rights. THE complaints procedure allows individuals and organizations to bring human rights violations to the attention of the Council.
The Human Rights Council-appointed, UN-appointed mechanism of independent human rights experts intends to use evidence to facilitate justice and accountability before willing courts and tribunals and capable of pursuing these matters.
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