The Inside Track HRC59 looks ahead at the 59th regular session of the Council, which runs from 16 June to 9 July 2025. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC59: the key issues, debates, and questions that are expected to keep delegates busy; the country situations that will require the Council’s attention; and the draft resolutions that will be negotiated and voted upon.
The Inside Track is produced by the Universal Rights Group with the support of the Permanent Mission of Singapore.
- On 16th June, H.E. Mr. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open HRC59 with the presentation of his annual report on the human rights situation around the world. The presentation of his annual report will provide the basis for an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on 17th June.
- During the session, the Council will consider country-specific reports by the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General covering human rights issues in, inter alia: Afghanistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Venezuela. Additionally, the High Commissioner will deliver oral updates/presentations on the promotion and protection of human rights in Myanmar, Nicaragua, Sudan and on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.
- Other oral updates on country situations by Special Procedures mandate holders will focus on the situation of human rights in Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Myanmar.
- It will also consider High Commissioner’s and Secretary-General’s reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
- Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Report of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the activities of the United Nations trust fund in support of actions to eliminate violence against women.
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Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- The Council will hold 23 interactive dialogues with Special Procedures mandate-holders (17 thematic and 6 country-specific), including those dealing with: climate change; discrimination against women and girls (Working Group); education; extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; extreme poverty; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; health; independence of judges and lawyers; internally displaced persons; international solidarity; leprosy; migrants; racism; sexual orientation and gender identity; trafficking; transnational corporations; violence against women and girls; Afghanistan; Belarus; Burundi; Central African Republic; Eritrea and Myanmar.
- In addition, the Council will also hold interactive dialogues with four investigative mechanisms: the Fact Finding Mission on eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan; the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel.
- Pursuant to President’s statement PRST OS/18/1 of 9th December 2024, no general debates will be held at the Council’s June session. Therefore, the reports and oral updates of the High Commissioner, the Secretary-General and the subsidiary bodies to be presented during HRC59 will be considered during the relevant general debate at HRC60, unless they are mandated to be considered in the context of an interactive dialogue.
- Based on the initiatives formally announced during the HRC59 organisational meeting, the Council is expected to act on around 24 draft resolutions and other texts. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set on Friday, 27th June 2025, 1 PM.
- At the 59th session, the Council will adopt UPR outcome reports of 14 States: Angola, Bolivia (Plurinational State of)*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia*, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, San Marino and Slovenia.
- Additionally, the Human Rights Council is expected to appoint three new mandate holders during the 59th session. The President of the Council has proposed the following candidates following the Consultative Group’s recommendations and broad consultations: Ms. Mai Sato (Japan) for the position of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Ms. Lyra Jakulevičienė (Lithuania) as a member of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, representing the Eastern European States; and Ms. Joana Lopes de Deus Pereira (Portugal) as a member from the Western European and other States in 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. These appointments reflect the Council’s ongoing efforts to ensure effective mandate holders through a transparent and consultative process. More information on the upcoming appointments and the candidates can be found here.
For the full draft programme of work for HRC59, please click here.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
Find the French version of the Inside Track here.
