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UN HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL #HRC58

2025, February 11th|INVOLVEMENT, UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, UN HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS|

Introducing a Brand-New Monitoring and Reporting Strategy on the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (#HRC58)

#HRC58 in your hands! Stay up-to-date with extensive coverage of the most pressing thematic issues raised all along the 58th session by following the Geneva Centre on LinkedIn, X and Facebook, and joining our HRC Mailing list for in-depth objective reports and analytical takes on new developments!

From 24 to 26 February 2025, the Council had the privilege to welcome to its lofty rostrum 128 dignitaries in the framework of the High-Level Segment, which clearly reflects a vibrant and broad national commitment to human rights as well as the faith and trust States place in UN human rights mechanisms.

From 24 February to 2 April 2025, the Council’s attention will be drawn to a wide array of thematic and country-specific situations. Interactive dialogues on extremely rich thematic issues will range from core civil and political rights to economic, social and cultural rights such as the absolute prohibition of torture; freedom of religion or belief; the rights to privacy, food, and adequate housing; the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; cultural rights; the impact of foreign debt on fundamental rights; and a human-rights based approach to countering terrorism. Moreover, it is noteworthy to pay a closer look at the very first OHCHR’s report on human rights and transitional justice.

The 58th session also has a special focus on children’s rights with a spotlight on early childhood development (panel discussion), the sale of children (ID with Special Rapporteur), and children in the context of armed conflict (ID with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General). During its 58th session, the Council will also welcome on its stage the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Prof. Nicolas Levrat, alongside the Special Rapporteurs on albinism and disabilities.

Country-specific mandates will focus their attention on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Belarus, the PDRK, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela. The 58th session is also marked by extremely important country updates by High Commissioner Volker Türk on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Myanmar as well as OHCHR’s country reports and updates on Colombia, Cyprus, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Sudan.

In a remarkable array of panel discussions, the Council will touch upon the rights of children and persons with disabilities; human rights mainstreaming; early warning and genocide prevention; the rights to work and social security; and HIV response and leaving no one behind. Furthermore, the Council will commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

During the brief timespan dedicated to technical assistance and capacity-building, the Council will hold interactive dialogues touching upon the DRC, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan and Ukraine.

We are delighted to hear your comments and requests!

Please feel free reach out any time to rfranceschet@gchragd.org

Photo credits – Shutterstock

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING                 
OPENING SESSION AND HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT                    
REPORTS AND ORAL UPDATES BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER AND OHCHR                
Global Update by the High Commissioner
HC Report on the OPT
PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND COMMEMORATIONS             
Annual High-Level Panel Discussion on Human Rights Mainstreaming
INVESTIGATIVE MECHANISMS        
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC MANDATES
THEMATIC MANDATES
ADOPTION OF UPR OUTCOMES
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY-BUILDING
GENERAL DEBATES
DECISIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Agenda Item 2 – Reports of the High Commissioner, the UN Secretary-General and OHCHR
 Penholder(s) Voting Results
​​​​​​​Advancing human rights in South Sudan United Kingdom, Albania, Ireland, Norway 24 Yes – 6 No – 17 Abst. 
Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice Pakistan 27 Yes – 4 No – 16 Abst.
Agenda Item 3 – Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights Penholder(s) Voting Results
The negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights Uganda 28 Yes – 16 No – 3 Abst. 
Cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Mali, Poland, Serbia Adopted without a vote
Freedom of religion or belief Poland Adopted without a vote
Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights Portugal Adopted without a vote
Neurotechnology and human rights Greece, Chile, Singapore, Switzerland Adopted without a vote
Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the right to food Cuba Adopted without a vote
Promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity Cuba Adopted without a vote
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 Cuba 29 Yes – 12 No – 6 Abst. 
Women, diplomacy and human rights Morocco, Chile, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain Adopted without a vote
The negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and the importance of improving international cooperation Ghana 29 Yes – 15 No – 3 Abst. 
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law Romania, Morocco, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, Tunisia Adopted without a vote
The impact of anti-personnel mines on the full enjoyment of all human rights Algeria, Croatia, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa, United Kingdom, Vanuatu Adopted without a vote
Open-ended intergovernmental working group for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, Philippines, Slovenia Adopted without a vote
The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: the ocean and human rights Maldives, Costa Rica, Morocco, Slovenia Adopted without a vote
Human rights defenders and new and emerging technologies: protecting human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in the digital age Norway Adopted without a vote
Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Mexico Adopted without a vote
Agenda Item 4 – Human Rights Situations Requiring the Council’s Attention  Penholder(s) Voting Results
Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Poland Adopted without a vote
Promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua Costa Rica Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru​ 29 Yes – 4 No – 14 Abst. 
Situation of human rights in Belarus Poland 25 Yes – 5 No – 17 Abst. 
Situation of human rights in Myanmar Poland Adopted without a vote
Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Iceland, Germany, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom of Great Britain 24 Yes – 8 No – 15 Abst.
Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression Ukraine 25 Yes – 4 No – 18 Abst.
Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic United Kingdom, Albania, Ireland, Norway, France, Germany, Netherlands, Qatar, Türkiye Adopted without a vote
Agenda Item 7 – Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories Penholder(s) Voting Results
Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan Pakistan 27 Yes – 6 No – 14 Abst. 
Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination Pakistan 43 Yes – 2 No – 2 Abst. 
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan Pakistan 34 Yes – 3 No – 10 Abst. 
Agenda Item 9 – Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Forms of Intolerance Penholder(s) Voting Results
Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief Pakistan Adopted without a vote
Agenda Item 10 – Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building Penholder(s) Voting Results
Technical assistance and capacity-building in the field of human rights for Mali Ghana Adopted without a vote
Technical assistance and capacity-building for South Sudan Ghana Adopted without a vote
Technical assistance and capacity-building aimed at improving the human rights situation in Haiti, in line with the Haitian authorities’ request for coordinated and targeted international action Haiti Adopted without a vote

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