Human Rights Council Concludes Fifty-Fifth Regular Session after Adopting 32 Resolutions and Two Decisions

Council Urgently Establishes Group of Three Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Extends 11 Country and Four Thematic Mandates

The Human Rights Council today concluded its fifty-fifth regular session after adopting 32 resolutions, and two decisions. In these texts, among other things, the Council urgently established a group of three Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus, and extended 11 country and four thematic mandates.

The Council decided to urgently establish, for a renewable period of one year, a group of three Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

It extended, for a period of one year, the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in South Sudan, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, the independent international fact-finding mission on Iran, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Syria, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Ukraine, stemming from the Russian aggression, the Independent Expert appointed by the High Commissioner for monitoring the human rights situation in Haiti, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human right in Belarus.

The Council also decided to extend, for a period of three years, the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, and the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.

Further resolutions adopted concerned the right to food; foreign debt; unilateral coercive measures; support systems to ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities; the right to work; the role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation; adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living; effective national legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture; and the prevention of genocide.

Other resolutions concerned combatting discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons; the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; freedom of religion or belief; human rights and a culture of peace; technical assistance and capacity building for South Sudan; the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; realising the rights of the child and inclusive social protection; the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan; and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

The two decisions adopted concerned the postponement of the implementation of certain activities mandated by the Human Rights Council, and remote participation modalities for hybrid meetings of the Human Rights Council.

Darius Staniulis, Vice-President and Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council, said over the past six weeks, the Council had completed its extensive programme of work. They had held the high-level segment where 126 dignitaries participated; 23 interactive dialogues with Special Procedure mandate holders and expert mechanisms; two interactive dialogues with Special Representatives of the Secretary-General; eight interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner; five dialogues with international investigative mechanisms; five high-level and enhanced interactive dialogues; seven panel discussions; and nine general debates. The Council also adopted 14 outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review. Finally, the Council had just completed the adoption of 32 resolutions and two decisions across a wide range of issues.

Omar Zniber, President of the Human Rights Council, extended deep thanks to all members of the Bureau, the Secretariat and all other United Nations staff for their cooperation, support and dedication during the session. Mr. Zniber also thanked all the Members and Observers of the Council who had worked closely to achieve the Council’s mandate of the promotion of human rights. This session had been the longest Council session in history.

At the opening of the fifty-fifth session, António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, said the world was becoming less safe by the day. The Security Council’s lack of unity on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and on Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October, had severely undermined its authority. The Council needed serious reform to its composition and working methods. Mr. Guterres repeated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in Gaza.

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, also said at the opening that the Council had entered into session at a time of seismic global shocks. The pain and the slaughter of so many people in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and other places around the world were unbearable. Human rights were the only essential guarantees anchoring societies during turbulence and disarray. The United Nations was uniquely equipped to enable States to discuss and resolve pressing global issues.

The fifty-sixth regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from 18 June to 12 July 2024.

Action on Decisions under Agenda Item One on Organizational and Procedural Matters

In a decision on the Postponement of the implementation of certain activities mandated by the Human Rights Council, the Council decided to postpone the implementation of mandated activities that could not be implemented by the Office of the High Commissioner and to reschedule them in accordance with the timelines specified in the annex to the present decision.

In a decision on Remote participation modalities for hybrid meetings of the Human Rights Council, the Council decided to request the General Assembly to consider authorising the Council to continue its practice of using the modalities for remote participation for all its future formal and informal meetings.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item Two on the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

In a resolution on Advancing human rights in South Sudan, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, composed of three members, for a further period of one year.

In a resolution on the Human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice, the Council requested the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to report on both the direct and indirect transfer or sale of arms, munitions, parts, components and dual use items to Israel, the occupying power, and to present its report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item Three on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development

In a resolution on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the Council decided to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for a period of three years.

In a resolution on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy for a period of three years.

In a resolution on the Right to food,the Council requested the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide all resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and requested the Special Rapporteur to report annually on the implementation of the mandate to the Council and the General Assembly.

In a resolution on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, the Council decided to renew, for a period of three years, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

In a resolution on the Effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, the Council urged States, international financial institutions and the private sector to take urgent measures to alleviate the debt problem and to address the debt sustainability of developing countries.

In a resolution on the Negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, the Council recognised that unilateral coercive measures, inter alia in the form of economic sanctions, and secondary sanctions had far-reaching implications for the human rights of the general population of targeted States, disproportionately affecting the poor and persons in vulnerable situations.

In a resolution on Support systems to ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities, the Council requested the Secretary-General to prepare and submit to the Council, at its fifty-ninth session, a study defining the administrative procedures and budget required to make all Council resolutions accessible, in consultation with and ensuring the active engagement and participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, as well as relevant United Nations entities and other stakeholders.

In a resolution on the Right to work, the Council decided to organise during its fifty-eighth session a panel discussion on the realisation of the rights to work and to social security in the informal economy, in the context of sustainable and inclusive economies, and invites relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and other stakeholders to contribute actively to the panel discussion.

In a resolution on the Role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realisation of human rights, the Council requested the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to conduct a study and to prepare a report on the impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realisation of human rights, and to present it to the Council at its sixty-first session.

In a resolution on Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context, the Council called on States to prohibit all forms of discrimination, including against persons with disabilities, in the context of the right to adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living by public and private entities.

In a resolution on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: effective national legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture, the Council urged States to consider establishing, appointing, maintaining or enhancing independent and effective mechanisms to undertake monitoring visits to places of detention and other places under State jurisdiction and control where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty.

In a resolution on the Prevention of genocide, the Council decided to convene, at its fifty-eighth session, a panel discussion on early warning and genocide prevention and requested the Office of the High Commissioner to liaise with stakeholders with a view to encouraging their participation at the meeting.

In a resolution on Combatting Discrimination, Violence and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons, the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report, to be presented at its sixtieth session, examining discriminatory laws and policies, acts of violence and harmful practices against persons with innate variations in sex characteristics.

In a resolution on the Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, the Council called upon States to undertake initiatives to ensure that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities were able to exercise their rights as set out in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and in other international human rights commitments.

In a resolution on Freedom of religion or belief, the Council urged States to step up their efforts to promote and protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief.

In a resolution on Human rights and a culture of peace, the Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise two half-day workshops in Geneva, on human rights and a culture of peace.

In a resolution on the Mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism for a period of three years.

In a resolution on the Rights of the child: realising the rights of the child and inclusive social protection, the Council requested the High Commissioner to prepare a report on child rights mainstreaming across the United Nations, including on the implementation of the Guidance Note of the Secretary-General and to present the report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item Four on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran for a further period of one year. The Council also decided to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran for a further period of one year.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar for a further period of one year.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, for a period of one year.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic for a period of one year and requested the Commission of Inquiry to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue at its fifty-sixth session.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine for a further period of one year.

In a resolution on the Situation of human rights in Belarus, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus for a period of one year, effective from the end of its fifty-sixth session. The Council also decided to urgently establish, for a renewable period of one year, a group of three Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item Seven on the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other Occupied Palestinian Territories

In a resolution on the Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the Council urged all States to adopt measures as required to promote the realisation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

In a resolution on Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, requested the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations organs, specialised agencies, international and regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations, to disseminate it as widely as possible and to report on this matter to the Council at its fifty-eighth session.

In a resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, the Council requested the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to prepare a report on the identities of settlers, that had engaged in acts of terror, violence or intimidation against Palestinian civilians and the actions taken by Israel and by third States, and to present the report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session.

Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item 10 on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

In a resolution on Technical assistance and capacity building to improve the situation of human rights in Haiti, in connection with a request from the authorities of Haiti for coordinated and targeted international action, the Council decided to extend, for a renewable period of one year, the mandate of the independent human rights expert appointed by the High Commissioner.

In a resolution on Technical assistance and capacity building for Mali in the field of human rights, the Council; decided to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali for a period of one year.

In a resolution on Technical assistance and capacity building for South Sudan, the Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to enhance the technical assistance provided to the Government of South Sudan to continue to assist South Sudan in addressing human rights challenges in the post-conflict transition.

Appointment of Special Procedure Mandate Holders

The Council appointed 14 mandate holders: the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño (Mexico); the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, Elisa Morgera (Italy); the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, member from Africa, Ojot Miru Ojulu (Ethiopia); the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, member from North America, Sheryl Lightfoot (Canada); the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, George Katrougalos (Greece); the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, Eduardo Gonzalez (Peru); the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of nonrecurrence, Bernard Duhaime (Canada); the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Paola Romero Rodriguez (Colombia); the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from African States, Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile (Nigeria); the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from Asia-Pacific States, Shalmali Guttal (India); the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from Eastern European States, Davit Hakobyan (Armenia); the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from Latin American and Caribbean States, Carlos Duarte (Colombia); the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, member from Western European and other States, Geneviève Savigny (France); and the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, member from African States, Michelle René Small (South Africa).