UN HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

The Geneva Centre closely monitored the 51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC51), held from 12 September to 7 October 2022 at Palais des Nations in Geneva.

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During the 51 session, the Council considered thematic issues including water and sanitation, unilateral coercive measures, contemporary forms of slavery, right to development, right to privacy in the digital age, truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, arbitrary detention, international order, the rights of indigenous peoples and people of African descent, mercenaries, older persons, hazardous substances and waste and enforced or involuntary disappearances.

Country-specific topics included an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan and an enhanced interactive dialogue on the human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. An interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s oral update on Ukraine were also held. Other country specific interactive dialogues were held on Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Syrian Arab Republic, Burundi, Belarus, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Cambodia, Somalia, Philippines and Central African Republic. Additionally, the Acting High Commissioner presented the report on the implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building for Cambodia, Georgia and Yemen.

Five Panel discussions were held during the session, including the Biennial Panel on the Right to Development (15 September), the Annual Discussion on Integration of a Gender Perspective (26 September), a Panel on the Right to Work in Connection to Climate Change Actions (27 September), the Annual Panel on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (28 September), and finally a Panel on the Negative Impact of Colonialism on Human Rights on 28 September.

The Council is appointed four mandate holders:

• Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Ms. Ashwini K.P. (India)
• Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Ms. Paula Gaviria (Colombia)
• Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite (United States)
• Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, member from Eastern European States, Ms. Ganna Yudkivska (Ukraine)

As well as the following members of the Advisory Committee:

• Mr. Rabah Boudache (Algeria) and Mr. Sebastião Da Silva Isata (Angola), Group of African States
• Mr. Yue Zhang (China) and Ms. Noor Al-Malki Al-Jehani (Qatar), Group of Asia-Pacific States
• Ms. Vasilka Sancin (Slovenia), Group of Eastern European States
• Ms. Milena Costas Trascasas (Spain), Group of Western European and other States
• Mr. Javier Palummo (Uruguay), Group of Latin American and Caribbean States
• Ms. Jewel G.L. Majorand (Bahamas) and Mr. Aldo de Campos Costa (Brazil), Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (by-election).

For queries or comments contact Ms. Reetta Delás Näsi: rdelas-nasi@gchragd.org

Cover photo: UN Photo / Jean Marc Ferré / Flickr