Inside Track HRC47 looks ahead at the 47th regular session of the Council, which runs from 21st June to 15th July 2021. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC47: 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.
Inside Track is produced by the Universal Rights Group with the support of the Permanent Mission of Singapore. At HRC47, Inside Track will be published only in an electronic format due to the precautionary measures being taken to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Expected highlights at HRC47 include:
- On 21st June, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open HRC47 with the presentation of her annual report on the human rights situation around the world, followed by an interactive dialogue on her report on the role of the State in responding to pandemics. The presentation of her annual report will provide the basis for an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on 21st and 22nd June.
- During the session, the Council will consider country-specific reports by the High Commissioner and the UN Secretary-General covering human rights issues in, inter alia: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), and Ukraine. Additionally, the High Commissioner will deliver oral updates on the situations in Georgia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and Ukraine.
- It will also consider High Commissioner and Secretary General reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
- Activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations system and regional organizations to support States’ efforts to promote and protect the right to education;
- Freedom of opinion and expression;
- Human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice;
- Implementation and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights;
- Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers;
- Promotion and protection of the rights of older persons in the context of climate change;
- Operations of the Voluntary Fund for participation in the universal periodic review; and
- Operations of the Voluntary Fund for financial and technical assistance in the implementation of the universal periodic review.
- The Council will consider reports from, and hold interactive dialogues with, 24 Special Procedures (five country-specific and 19 thematic), including those dealing with: adequate housing; discrimination against women and girls; arbitrary detention; education; extreme poverty; freedom of expression; right to health; internally displaced persons; international solidarity; judges and lawyers; persons with leprosy; migrants; peaceful assembly; privacy; sexual orientation and gender identity; summary executions; trafficking; transnational corporations; violence against women; Belarus; Eritrea; Central African Republic; Myanmar; and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In accordance with HRC/PRST/OS/13/1 all the Interactive Dialogues (IDs) will be individual.
- As per HRC/PRST/OS/13/1 there will be no general debates during HRC47. Therefore, the reports and oral updates of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General as well as subsidiary bodies to be presented during HRC47 will be considered during the relevant general debates at HRC48, unless they are mandated to be considered during an interactive dialogue.
- The Council is expected to act on around 23 draft resolutions and other texts. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1 PM on 2nd July 2021. Additionally, it is expected to appoint seven new mandate-holders, including the Independent Expert on foreign debt, Independent Expert on persons with albinism, Special Rapporteur on right to privacy, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, two members of the Working Group of Experts on people of African Descent (members from Asia-Pacific and Eastern European States), and one member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (member from Western European and other States). More information on the appointment process and the candidates can be found here.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
The French version of the Inside Track is available here.
