Report on the 59th session of the Human Rights Council

Quick summary

• The 59th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59) started on Monday, 16 June and will be held until Wednesday, 9 July 2025. 
• On 16 June, the UN High Commissioner for human rights, Mr. Volker Türk, opened HRC59 by presenting his global update on the state of human rights followed by an interactive dialogue.
• More than 50 reports under the Council’s various agenda items were considered.
• During HRC59, 23 interactive dialogues with Special Procedures mandate-holders (17 thematic, 6 country-specific) and four interactive dialogues with investigative mechanisms (on eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel).
• The outcome reports of the UPR Working Group of the following 14 States were adopted: 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.
• Two Special Procedures mandate-holders were appointed to the following mandates:  a member from Latin American and Caribbean States to the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development; and a member from Asia-Pacific States to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
• A total of 26 texts (25 resolutions and 1 decision) were considered by the Council during its 59th session. This reflects a 4% increase compared to one year prior (HRC56), which adopted 25 texts. Of the 25 texts adopted, 19 were adopted by consensus (76%), and 6 were adopted by a recorded vote (24%). One draft resolution —proposing the discontinuation of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea— was rejected by recorded vote.
• 10 written amendments were put forward by States during the consideration of texts: three were rejected by vote and seven were withdrawn by the main sponsor.
• 11 of the 25 texts adopted by the Council had Programme Budget Implications (PBIs), representing 44% of the adopted texts.

UN High Commissioner’s briefing

On 16 June 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, addressed the Human Rights Council through his global update on the state of human rights. He began his address by delivering a warning about the deteriorating state of global peace and security and its implications for human rights, urging States to recall the values of the UN Charter.

He went on to condemn the “horrifying, unconscionable suffering” of civilians in Gaza, holding Israel responsible for the massive loss of life and the blocking of humanitarian aid. He expressed further concern about Israel’s air and drone strikes in Lebanon, which have resulted in heavy human and material losses.

Turning to other conflict situations, Mr. Türk highlighted the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine and Sudan, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of indiscriminate attacks, and called for immediate ceasefires and renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve these crises.

The High Commissioner also drew attention to the protracted crises in Haiti, Libya, Syria and Ethiopia, emphasising the need for international engagement to prevent further deterioration and ensure accountability for human rights violations.

Mr. Türk then addressed the deteriorating human rights situation in the Sahel, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where instability and violence perpetrated by extremist armed groups and government forces have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. He also reported increasing intercommunal violence in Nigeria, alongside incidents of killings, abductions, sexual violence and forced recruitment by armed groups.

The UN High Commissioner went on to raise the issue of ongoing violations of civil and political rights, citing cases of increased restrictions of civil society ahead of elections in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Peru and Uganda and urging States to maintain electoral integrity and respect for the rule of law. He also voiced concerns over the situation of journalists and independent media, notably in Somalia, Georgia, El Salvador and Hungary, as well as the detention of political opposition figures in Venezuela and Türkiye. Furthermore, Mr. Türk highlighted the growing trend of foreign funding restrictions on civil society organisations, warning of their potential to severely curtail civic space.

In his address, Mr. Türk focused heavily on the persistent inequality and discrimination faced by vulnerable groups worldwide, noting that his Office had found that “one in five people reported experiencing discrimination in the past year.”

On the subject of women’s rights, he condemned the restrictions on women’s reproductive freedom in parts of the Russian Federation and the United States, discriminatory legislation in Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and called on States to improve women’s representation in politics and leadership by introducing gender quotas. Additionally, he decried the legal restrictions, hate speech and violence faced by LGBTIQ+ people and human rights defenders supporting them. He cited several cases, including Argentina, the United States, Georgia, Hungary, Slovakia, Türkiye and Uganda, where new or proposed laws further threaten the rights and safety of LGBTIQ+ individuals.

However, on a more positive note, the UN High Commissioner highlighted the progress made in various countries in improving equality and promoting the rights of marginalised communities. He noted advancements such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand, enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples in Latin American countries, new disability rights legislation in Somalia, and Pakistan’s ban on child marriage in Islamabad. He also praised national efforts to expand access to justice, education, and anti-discrimination protections under the Human Rights 75 initiative.

Mr. Türk expressed alarm over the human rights implications of major economies’ cuts to global development finance and recently imposed tariffs, stating that “the shockwaves of a trade war will hit Least Developed Countries with the force of a tsunami.” Small Island Developing States, Caribbean states and those with large export sectors such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, he said, faced the greatest risk. He warned that these economic shifts could undermine basic rights, particularly for women and low-income workers.

He also addressed the “unknowable consequences” of digital technologies and AI systems on the enjoyment of human rights, particularly the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. He called for global regulation grounded in human rights law, transparency and inclusivity, stressing that innovation must serve people and the planet – not just profits. He welcomed initial steps by countries such as Brazil, the Republic of Korea and members of the European Union to regulate AI, but urged much broader action, especially to support countries lacking the legal frameworks and technical capacity to engage with these rapidly evolving technologies.

Mr. Türk ended by calling for global support for the international human rights system and renewed commitment to multilateralism. He condemned attacks and funding cuts targeting human rights institutions, mechanisms and civil society organisations, warning that these actions embolden authoritarian regimes and weaken global security. At this “testing time”, he said, “we need governments and societies to stand up for human rights, in word and deed.”

The official transcript of Mr. Türk’s speech can be found here.

Panel discussions

1-2. Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women 

• Panel 1: Gender-based violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings (24 June 2025; concept note)

The first panel of the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women focused on gender-based violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings. The panel was opened by the UN High Commissioner for human rights, Mr. Volker Türk, who warned of the rising use of sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war, used deliberately to terrorise populations, displace communities and silence women’s voices in peacebuilding. He cited alarming patterns of sexual violence documented by his Office and UN Commissions of Inquiry in a range of contexts, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti. In West Darfur, he noted, gang rape and other forms of sexual violence have been used in ethnically motivated attacks, pointing to the pervasiveness of such crimes and the near-total impunity with which they are committed.

Mr. Türk reflected on the promises made twenty-five years ago through Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which affirmed the importance of women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and called for accountability for gender-based violence in armed conflict. Since then, he noted, progress has been made in the development of international legal standards and documentation efforts, and survivors have shown tremendous courage in coming forward. However, he expressed concern that these gains remain insufficient in the face of a growing rollback in rights and access to services. Trials for conflict-related sexual violence remain rare, medical and psychosocial support is limited, and civil society organisations – particularly women’s rights groups – are increasingly hampered by funding cuts and threats. The High Commissioner underscored that failure to act decisively not only deepens the suffering of survivors but also undermines long-term peace, and called for greater political will, resourcing and accountability in addressing gender-based violence in conflict settings.

Opening remarks were also delivered by Ms. Pramila Patten, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, who shared preliminary findings from the 2024 annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. She noted that over 4,500 UN-verified cases had been recorded in 21 conflict-affected countries, with women and girls comprising 91 per cent of the victims. She emphasised that these figures do not reflect the full extent of the crisis, as stigma, reprisals, and the lack of services often prevent survivors from reporting violence. Ms. Patten detailed the range of risks women face, including sexual slavery, abduction and trafficking, often in the context of displacement, livelihood activities, or efforts to flee violence. In places such as eastern DRC, she noted, women routinely carry condoms when collecting water or firewood, a reflection of the brutal normalisation of sexual violence. She also highlighted how hunger and sexual violence are interconnected, as food insecurity increases women’s vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.

Ms. Patten went on to describe the structural drivers of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly gender inequality and discrimination, which enable and perpetuate impunity. She warned that sexual violence continues to be used to assert control over territories and resources, and that armed groups often rely on the sale and forced marriage of women and girls as a means of financing operations or incentivising recruitment. She drew attention to the increasing number of attacks on health centres and humanitarian services in conflict zones, which further limit access to care for survivors. While recognising that conflict-related sexual violence is a war crime and a crime against humanity under international law, she stressed that justice and accountability remain the exception, not the norm. She outlined her Office’s efforts to support national prosecutions through technical guidance, model legislation and the UN Action network, and urged States to harmonise domestic laws with international standards and address the root causes of gender-based violence. Concluding her statement, Ms. Patten called for concerted action to break the cycle of impunity, support survivors, and ensure that international law is not an empty promise.

Speaking at the panel were Ms. Clara Sandoval, Director of Programs at the Global Fund for Survivors; Ms. Grace Achan, Co-Founder of the Uganda Women’s Advocacy Network; and Ms. Nahla Haidar, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Ms. Sandoval underscored the importance of ensuring the right to reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. She emphasised that while reparation is grounded in human rights and humanitarian law frameworks, it remains largely inaccessible. Drawing on examples from Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she noted the long-term impacts of stigma, lack of services, and delayed responses, adding that failing to provide reparation to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence perpetuates cycles of trauma and undermines peacebuilding efforts. Ms. Sandoval stressed the need for survivor-centred, inclusive approaches and highlighted the role of interim reparative measures in supporting recovery. She called for stronger international coordination and monitoring, noting that reparation is essential to justice and sustainable peacebuilding.

Ms. Achan underscored the persistence of sexual violence in conflict settings, which she described as a weapon of war used to dominate and destabilise populations, with devastating consequences for individuals and communities. She highlighted how survivors often face long-term stigma, social exclusion, and barriers to accessing justice, healthcare, and protection. The complexity of addressing sexual violence in such contexts – due to political and security challenges – was also noted. To respond effectively, Ms. Achan stressed the need for strengthened legal frameworks, increased awareness, and survivor-centred approaches that ensure access to medical, psychological and legal support. She also underscored the importance of community engagement, gender-sensitive peacebuilding strategies, and international cooperation to hold perpetrators accountable and promote long-term prevention.

Ms. Haidar addressed the persistent and widespread nature of gender-based violence in conflict, post-conflict, and humanitarian settings, emphasising its severe impact on women and girls. She noted that sexual violence is often used as a tactic of war, while other abuses such as forced marriage, torture, and human trafficking increase in times of crisis. Ms. Haidar highlighted how these violations not only cause physical harm but also undermine women’s access to livelihoods, education, and healthcare. She drew attention to the ongoing culture of impunity that allows perpetrators to avoid justice and the critical underfunding of services for survivors. Emphasising the importance of survivor-centered approaches, she called for community engagement to reduce stigma and promote social and economic reintegration. Ms. Haidar also stressed evolving legal frameworks that recognise a broader spectrum of conflict-related sexual violence, including reproductive violence, and urged stronger enforcement of zero-tolerance policies, improved accountability, and the implementation of convention-compliant national action plans under the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.

3. Panel discussion on the realisation of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (26 June 2025; concept note)

The panel was opened by Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, who emphasised the fundamental importance of access to safe drinking water and sanitation. She highlighted that over two billion people lack safe water and 3.4 billion lack adequate sanitation, contributing to a major public health crisis that disproportionately affects low-income countries. Ms. Al-Nashif drew attention to the devastating impact of conflict, where water infrastructure is targeted and access blocked, as well as the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising costs in both developing and developed countries. She underscored the particular vulnerabilities of women, girls, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and those living in urban slums, noting the increased risks they face due to limited access. Stressing that human rights offer a pathway to solutions, she called for governments to uphold their commitments by ensuring access to sufficient, safe, accessible, and affordable water for all without discrimination. Ms. Al-Nashif also emphasised the importance of involving affected communities in water governance, protecting human rights defenders, and fostering cooperation among governments, the private sector, and civil society. She highlighted the need for reforming international financial systems to support water and sanitation investments. Finally, she shared examples of her Office’s support in Guatemala and Guinea, demonstrating inclusive approaches to water management, and concluded by affirming water as a fundamental right essential for the enjoyment of other human rights and sustainable development. 

Speaking at the panel were Mr. Ndongo Niang Ba, Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva; Mr. Pedro Arrojo Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation; and Ms. Carmela Curup, Association of Mayan Lawyers and Notaries of Guatemala.

Mr. Ndongo Niang Ba, Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Senegal, highlighted the fundamental importance of access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right essential to dignity, health, and social justice. He noted that despite international recognition and the central role of water and sanitation in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, over 2 billion people worldwide remain without access. Mr. Ba reiterated Senegal’s commitment to equitable access through targeted policies such as social tariff structures in urban areas and community-led sanitation programmes in rural regions, aimed at reaching the most vulnerable populations. He also stressed Senegal’s role as co-host of the 2026 UN Water Conference and the country’s focus on integrating human rights into the preparatory process, advocating for inclusive dialogue and strong political will to ensure the conference delivers transformative and impactful outcomes.

Mr. Arrojo Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water highlighted his dual mandate to integrate human rights into the agenda and outcomes of the 2026 UN Water Conference and to promote inclusive civil society participation. Reflecting on the 2023 Conference, he noted progress in engaging social movements and indigenous groups but also challenges, including limited inclusion of rights-holders in key sessions and weak emphasis on human rights language. Looking ahead to 2026, Mr. Arrojo Agudo called for greater recognition of rights-holders who face criminalisation when claiming their water and sanitation rights, stressing the need for their meaningful participation. He commended Senegal and the UAE as co-hosts and the broad coalition of civil society actors prepared to contribute to the Conference. He emphasised the importance of institutionalising the Water Conference as a regular UN-led event to ensure that water governance is not dominated by private interests. He concluded by urging all stakeholders to listen to and engage with those most affected by water challenges to achieve progress towards SDG6 and the realisation of human rights.

Ms. Curup, representing the Maya people of Guatemala, delivered a statement emphasising the profound spiritual and cultural connection between Indigenous communities and water, rooted in their ancestral cosmology. She described water as a living, sacred entity central to life and the universe, outlining traditional governance structures and communal practices for its stewardship, including the role of Indigenous authorities and women guardians. Ms Curup stressed the importance of respecting Indigenous worldviews that recognise water as a rights-bearing being, citing examples from Latin American countries that have legally acknowledged rivers and water sources as living entities. She shared practical community initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, reforestation around watersheds, irrigation management, and environmental clean-up as good practices. Ms Curup also raised concerns about the ongoing criminalisation and forced displacement of Indigenous peoples in Guatemala, which threaten their cultural survival and access to water and land rights. She concluded by highlighting the necessity of dialogue and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems as essential to achieving harmony between people and nature, and to advancing human rights related to water and sanitation.

4. Annual discussion on the adverse impact of climate change on human rights (30 June 2025; concept note)

The panel was opened by Mr. Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, who underscored that the climate crisis is, fundamentally, a human rights crisis. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and environmental degradation are placing core rights, including the right to health and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, at risk. Mr. Türk stressed the urgent need for a just transition that reimagines economies and societies in equitable and sustainable ways. He warned that, if not grounded in human rights, the transition to greener systems risks deepening existing inequalities, benefiting a rich and powerful minority while leaving the most vulnerable behind. 

Highlighting the impact of the transition on the world of work, the High Commissioner noted that while millions of jobs are expected in green industries, many others, notably in the fossil fuel sector, are at risk, often without adequate protection. He called for universal social protection systems that help workers adapt and thrive throughout this transition. He also underscored the rights of Indigenous peoples, whose lands are disproportionately impacted by extractive projects, and pointed to recent court rulings that reinforce States’ obligations to tackle climate change and protect the environment to ensure the enjoyment of human rights by all.   

Turning to specific areas of concern, Mr. Türk highlighted several key areas where human rights must guide just transitions: fair and grant-based climate financing to prevent deepening debt burdens in developing countries; addressing gender inequality in green employment; ensuring accountability for extractive industries and fossil fuel corporations; and promoting community-led resource governance. He called on States to redirect fossil fuel subsidies towards renewable energy, conduct human rights impact assessments of climate and energy policies and adopt regulatory frameworks that reduce discrimination and environmental harm. In closing, he urged international cooperation, solidarity and financial support to ensure that transitions are inclusive, rights-based and able to secure a sustainable future for all. 

Speaking at the panel were H.E. Tovar da Silva Nunes, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations in Geneva; Mr. Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Director of the Priority Action Programme on Just Transitions towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies at the International Labour Organization; Ms. Andrea Carmen, Executive Director of the International Indian Treaty Council; and Ms. Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.

H.E. Tovar da Silva Nunes, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations in Geneva began his speech by reaffirming Brazil’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and environmental protection. Underscoring the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable and marginalised groups, he highlighted Brazil’s efforts to address environmental racism and climate justice. He also drew attention to Brazil’s initiative to protect environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs), especially Indigenous peoples, who play a vital role in protecting biodiversity and advancing sustainable development. Ambassador da Silva Nunes also pointed out that Brazil is considering ratifying the Escazú Agreement and aims to support the autonomy and traditions of Indigenous peoples, and called for inclusive, rights-based transitions that create decent work and reduce inequalities worldwide. Looking ahead to COP30 in Belém, he expressed Brazil’s aim to foster inclusive dialogue and implement climate finance commitments. He also announced Brazil’s proposal for a “Global Ethical Stocktake”, a collective reflection on the moral imperative to act. 

Mr. Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Director of the Priority Action Programme on Just Transitions towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies at the International Labour Organization spoke about the threats posed by climate change to the right to decent work. As rising temperatures and extreme weather increasingly disrupts jobs and livelihoods, he warned that without strong protections in place, millions will be pushed into poverty or forced migration. He went on to highlight the importance of universal social protection, particularly in countries vulnerable to climate impacts where coverage remains alarmingly low. While the transition to low-carbon and circular economies offers real potential for job creation, Mr. Gueye stressed that these opportunities must be inclusive, gender-responsive and accompanied by efforts to reskill workers and support those whose jobs are displaced. A just transition, he concluded, must centre human rights and social justice to ensure that no-one is left behind in the shift to sustainable economies.   

Ms. Andrea Carmen, Executive Director of the International Indian Treaty Council, stressed the importance of including Indigenous peoples as partners in the global response to climate change, and called for the adoption of a human rights framework protecting the collective rights of Indigenous peoples. She criticised the removal of human rights language from Just Transitions texts at COP29, and urged States to reinstate it at COP30, acknowledging the leadership of countries like Colombia, Panama and Mexico in this regard. Without clear protections, she warned, the transition away from fossil fuels risks repeating patterns of dispossession, citing the example of lithium mining in Mexico’s Sonora Desert and in Nevada, that proceed without the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of affected Indigenous communities, leading to groundwater contamination and depletion. Ms. Carmen concluded with a call for just transition policies to move beyond business-as-usual and prioritise Indigenous rights and survival, not profit, as the world charts a new path forward.

Ms. Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, underscored that human rights norms and obligations must guide all just transition efforts, both nationally and through international cooperation. She emphasised that this includes mandatory due diligence for businesses across transnational value chains and the alignment of economic models with the rights to development and a healthy environment. Ms. Morgera stressed that addressing climate change requires tackling systemic inequalities, shifting away from overconsumption, and ensuring meaningful participation by those most affected, including Indigenous Peoples, workers, women, and other marginalised groups. She warned that a just transition cannot succeed by simply swapping energy sources without rethinking current economic structures: States must assess energy needs in a way that prioritises equity, intergenerational justice, and environmental integrity. International investment law, she argued, must also be fundamentally reformed, as current treaties allow fossil fuel companies to sue states for enacting climate policies, which undermines climate action and diverts funds from renewable investments and social protection. She concluded by stating that a truly just transition must place people, ecosystems, and future generations at its core, reshaping governance to ensure equity, accountability, and resilience.

 

5. Annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building (4 July 2025; concept note)

Theme: Technical cooperation supporting national human rights institutions and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up

The panel was opened by Mr. Mahamane Cissé-Gouro, Director of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who highlighted the importance of technical cooperation in supporting National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRFs). He emphasised that this cooperation allows national institutions to work more effectively in the protection and the fulfilment of human rights. The speaker established a distinction between the two mechanisms: on the one hand, he explained, NHRIs serve as human rights watchdogs, while NMIRFs are governmental structures that ensure the implementation of international human rights recommendations. He stressed that although these bodies are distinct, they are mutually reinforcing and, together, create a strong national framework for human rights protection.  

Mr. Mahamane went on to state some of the OHCHR’s recent achievements: he noted that in the past year, the Office established NHRIs in 18 countries, bringing the total number of A-status NHRIs to 89, compared to 78 in 2018. Furthermore, he added, the Office provided technical assistance to NMIRFs in over 30 countries. To illustrate his statement, he cited examples of several countries where the Office had established or strengthened the capacity of NHRIs and NMIRFs to support states in fulfilling their human rights obligations, including North Macedonia, Morocco, Iraq and the Republic of Korea. On a regional level, the Office established a regional NMIRF platform; in Central Asia, it also enforced the cooperation of NHRIs with  Human Rights Mechanisms (HRMs), resulting in several States submitting alternative reports to UN Treaty Bodies for the first time. Lastly, the Office partnered with the network of African NHRIs (NANHRI), to facilitate peer-to-peer learning on working with NMIRFs.

Speaking at the panel were H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva; H.E. Mr. Mario Raúl Cano Ricciardi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the United Nations in Geneva; Ms. Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco and Chairperson of Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions; and Ms. Sara Ágoas, Head of the Human Rights Unit in the International Political Organizations Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.

H.E. Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, highlighted  the importance of the cooperation, particularly in reinforcing the national human rights architecture through strengthening national human rights institutions and mechanisms. She also points out the effectiveness of certain tools, such as technical cooperation and capacity building, in transforming normative commitments into concrete actions. She demonstrated how these principles allowed the Ministry of Justice of Thailand to protect the human rights of their citizens through Thailand’s NMIRF. For example, this NMIRF allowed Thailand to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years old, implemented following a UPR recommendation. Finally, she raised concerns about the liquidity crisis that supports these programmes, stressing the importance of ensuring that resources for technical cooperation are not overlooked and deprioritised. She therefore encouraged States to invest in  triangular cooperation. 

H.E. Mr. Mario Raúl Cano Ricciardi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the United Nations in Geneva, spoke about the key role of multilateralism and international solidarity, which are central to  Paraguay’s foreign policy, that enables the successful work of NHRIs and NMIRFs. He also highlighted the effectiveness of peer-to-peer exchanges in establishing and strengthening NHRIs and NMIRFs, pointing to recent OHCHR initiatives and recommendations demonstrating this. Against the backdrop of the current liquidity crisis, he called for enhanced efforts by States and UN bodies to integrate human rights into technical cooperation programmes and to boost voluntary contributions to fund capacity-building initiatives. Drawing on the example of Paraguay’s SIMORE Plus mechanism that has benefited from technical cooperation from UN bodies, he illustrated how this model can serve as an example for other States that are looking to strengthen their own Human Rights mechanisms. 

Ms. Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco and Chairperson of Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), emphasised the importance of cooperation between NHRIs and NMIRFs to ensure the strength, continuity and legitimacy of human rights protection. She highlighted the multiple challenges that these human rights systems face, from the decline of multilateralism to budgetary restrictions and rising geopolitical tensions. Highlighting the findings of a recent GANHRI study, she outlined four categories of NMIRFs and questioned the effectiveness of different models. Ms. Bouayach stressed the need for structured, sustained dialogue between NHRIs and NMIRFs, advocating for clear mandates, shared governance and inclusive, participatory approaches to ensure that international human rights recommendations are translated into concrete policies, which remains a major challenge. She ended by stating that  human rights are not optional in this context, but the foundation of just and resilient societies that must be protected and strengthened.

Ms. Sara Ágoas, Head of the Human Rights Unit in the International Political Organizations Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, highlighted the crucial role of NMIRFs in translating human rights commitments into concrete national policies. She highlighted the success of Portugal’s NMIRF that has been operating for the last 15 years, emphasising the progress it has made on coordination, engagement with civil society, and adoption of flexible working structures. Ms. Ágoas also shared some of the NMIRFs successes, including the adoption of digital tools such as the National Recommendations Tracking Database (which has enhanced coordination, transparency and accountability), as well as legislative reforms raising of the minimum legal age for marriage from 16 to 18 years old. She underscored the importance of peer learning, technical cooperation, and international networks in strengthening NMIRFs on a global scale. 

Trust Fund for SIDS/LDCs

The Trust Fund to support the participation of LDCs and SIDS in the work of the Council, set up in 2012, funded the participation of 10 government officials at HRC59, from Bangladesh, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Malawi, and Maldives,

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Council Members, Guyana, Maldives, Mali, Somalia, Suriname and Vanuatu. A large proportion of delegates (80%) come from States that are currently members of the Council.

Universal Periodic Review

Adoption of the UPR Working Group outcome reports

The Council adopted the UPR outcome reports of Angola, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, El Salvador, Gambia (The), Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, San Marino, and Slovenia.

A total of 3,720 recommendations were made to these fourteen States, out of which 2,870 were supported, 814 were noted, and 36 were partially supported/noted.

Special Procedures

Interactive Dialogues

The Council 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.

Appointment of new mandate-holders

On the final day of the session, the following two mandate-holders were appointed to fill positions on existing mandates:

1. Ms. Juana María IBÁÑEZ RIVAS (Peru) was appointed as a member from Latin American and Caribbean States to the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development.
2. Mr. Hee-Seok SHIN (Republic of Korea) was appointed as a member from Asia-Pacific States to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Adopted texts

The 59th session of the Human Rights Council concluded with the consideration of 26 texts (25 resolutions and 1 decision), representing one more than the number of texts (25) adopted during the 56th session in 2024. Of the 26 texts considered:

• 18 resolutions and one decision (73%) were adopted by consensus;

• 6 resolutions (23%) were adopted by vote; and

• 1 resolution (4%) — the draft resolution on the discontinuation of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea — was rejected by vote.

Resolutions and decisions listed in order of L numbers

Agenda item	Title	Sponsors	PBI	Additional Total	Means of adoption
1	Implementation of activities mandated by the Human Rights Council in the context of the United Nations liquidity and financial crisis	President of the Human Rights Council			Adopted by consensus
2	Discontinuation of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea	Eritrea		N/A	Rejected by vote (4-18-25)
2	Situation of human rights in Eritrea	Poland (on behalf of the European Union)	✓	$16,400	Adopted by vote (23-20-4)
2	Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar	Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation)	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	Mandate of Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity	Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico	✗		Adopted by vote (29-3-15)
3	Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights	Uganda (on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries)	✗		Adopted by vote (30-1-16)
3	The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association	Czechia, Chile, Iceland, Indonesia, Lithuania, Maldives	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights	Morocco, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Poland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland			Adopted by consensus
3	Access to medicines, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health	Brazil, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand	✓	$289,900	Adopted by vote (32-15-0)
3	Human rights and international solidarity	Cuba	✓	$87,100	Adopted by vote (27-4-16)
3	The Social Forum	Cuba	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	The right to education	Portugal			Adopted by consensus
3	The contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights	China, Cameroon, Pakistan	✓	$156,200	Adopted by consensus
3	Civil society space	Ireland, Chile, Japan, Sierra Leone, Tunisia	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	New and emerging digital technologies and human rights	Republic of Korea, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Morocco, Singapore	✓	$280,000	Adopted by consensus
3	Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons	Austria, Honduras, Uganda	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	Impact of arms transfers on human rights	Ecuador, Peru		$242,200	Adopted by consensus
3	Human rights and climate change	Bangladesh, Philippines, Viet Nam		$245,300	Adopted by consensus
3	Mandate of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls	Mexico, Chile	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	The safety of journalists	Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia		$256,900	Adopted by consensus
3	Elimination of female genital mutilation	Ghana (on behalf of the Group of African States)		$94,600	Adopted by consensus
3	Empowering women and girls in and through sport	Qatar, Indonesia, Morocco	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: prevention through the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights	Canada	✗		Adopted by consensus
3	Accelerating efforts to achieve women’s economic empowerment	Kyrgyzstan, Dominican Republic, Republic of Moldova, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	✓	$111,900	Adopted by consensus
10	Cooperation with and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights		✓	$30,000	Adopted by recorded vote (28-17-2)
10	Enhancing international cooperation, technical assistance and capacity-building to strengthen national frameworks for the protection and empowerment of children in the digital space	Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Viet Nam			Adopted by recorded vote (30-1-16)
10	Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights in Colombia to implement the recommendations of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition	Colombia	✗		Adopted by consensus

 

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Featured picture: Human Rights Council – 14th Session. UN Photo/Jess Hoffman.