Since the Human Rights Council was established there has been a huge increase in the number of resolutions adopted by the body (from around 30 in 2006 to over 100 in 2012). This represents a significant drain on resources and yet, no prior analysis had been undertaken of what this trend means, whether it has resulted in better human rights protection on the ground, whether it is sustainable, and what steps can be taken to make UN human rights resolutions more effective. This project therefore looked to record and analyse trends vis-à-vis Council resolutions, make sense of those trends and predict future changes. It analysed the different models of resolutions, what tools they use to promote human rights (e.g. commissioning OHCHR reports, convening panel debates in the Council) and whether different resolutions were designed to have an impact on the ground.
The outcome report of this URG study seeks to provide policy advice for making the development of Council resolutions more sustainable and more effective in the future.
Policy Report
Ensuring Relevance, Driving Impact: The evolution and future direction of the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution system
By Subhas Gujadhur (URG), Toby Lamarque (URG)News and resources
URG Human Rights Council Resolutions Portal (provides information on all resolutions ever passed by the Human Rights Council)
URG HRC Voting Portal (allows users to access the voting records of all states who have been members of the Human Rights Council)
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