UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC)

About:

• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
  
  
• It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
  
  
• Functions:
  • It investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states.
    
    
  • It also addresses important thematic human rights issues such as freedom of expression, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
    
    
  • The UNHRC works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
    
    
  
  
  
• Establishment: It was founded in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) that had been strongly criticised for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members.
  
  
• Membership:
  • The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly. The Council's Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution.
    
    
  • Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
    
    
  • In June 2018, the United States announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) terming it “hypocritical and self-serving.”
    
    
  
  
  

Recent elections for new members:

• The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections here for new members to the UNHRC. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot.
  
  
• India had previously been elected to the UNHRC for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 terms.