Inside Track HRC41 looks ahead at the 41st regular session of the Council, which runs from 24th June to 12th July 2019. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC41: 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.
Expected highlights at HRC41 include:
- On 24 June, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open the HRC41 with an oral update on the human rights situation around the world. This will provide the basis for an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on 25 June.
- A number of high-level dignitaries are expected to address the Council, including inter alia, H.E. Mr. Rumen Radev, President of Bulgaria; H.E. Ms. Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; H.E. Ms. Katrin Jakobsdottir, Prime Minister of Iceland; H.E. Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia; H.E. Ms. Karin Kneissl, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria; and H.E. Ms. Yoka Brandt, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
- During the session, the Council will consider country-specific reports by the High Commissioner covering human rights situations in, inter alia: the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The High Commissioner will also present oral reports on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua and on technical cooperation in Georgia.
- It will also consider High-Commissioner/UN Secretary-General reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
- child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian settings;
- national policies and human rights;
- approaches and challenges with regard to application procedures for obtaining the status of conscientious objector to military service in accordance with human rights standards;
- prevention of genocide;
- implementation and enhancement of international cooperation in the filed of human rights;
- gender-responsive climate action for the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of women;
- human rights in the response to HIV;
- operation of the Voluntary Fund for participation in the universal periodic review;
- operations of the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the implementation of the universal periodic review.
- The Council will consider regular reports (including, in some cases, country mission reports) from, and hold interactive dialogues with, 21 Special Procedures mandate-holders (four country-specific and 17 thematic). This includes those mandates dealing with: sexual orientation and gender identity; health; leprosy; migrants; peaceful assembly and association; freedom of expression; summary executions; right to education; business and human rights; violence against women; extreme poverty; racism; Belarus; Eritrea; Myanmar; and the Central African Republic.
- The Council is expected to act on around 25 draft resolutions and other texts as of the time of publication. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1PM on 4th July 2019. It is also expected that no new mandate-holders will be appointed during this session of the Council.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
Find the Spanish version of the Inside Track here.
Find the French version of the Inside Track here.
