Inside Track: HRC51

by Geneva Human rights institutions and mechanisms BORRAR

Inside Track: HRC51

Inside Track HRC51 looks ahead at the 51st regular session of the Council, which runs from 12th September to 7th October 2022. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC51: 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 HRC51, Inside Track will be published only in an electronic format.

Expected highlights at HRC51 include:

  • On 12th September, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open HRC51 with an oral update on the human rights situation around the world, which will provide the basis for for the general debate under Item 2 on 13th and 14th September.
  • 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: Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Nicaragua, Philippines and Yemen. Additionally, the Deputy High Commissioner will also deliver an oral update on Belarus, Myanmar and Ukraine.
  • It will also consider High Commissioner and Secretary-General reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
    • Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society.
    • Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.
    • Human rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people.
    • Local government and human rights.
    • National human rights institutions.
    • Negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and the importance of improving international cooperation.
    • Promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • 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.
    • Question of the death penalty.
    • Right to development.
    • Rights of indigenous peoples.
    • Safety of journalists and the issue of impunity.
  • The Council will consider reports from, and hold interactive dialogues with, 20 Special Procedures (6 country-specific and 14 thematic), including those dealing with: arbitrary detention; enforced disappearances; hazardous substances and wastes; international order; mercenaries; older persons; people of African Descent; right to development (Special Rapporteur and Expert Mechanism); rights of indigenous peoples; slavery; truth, justice and reparation; unilateral coercive measures; water and sanitation; Afghanistan; Burundi; Cambodia; Central African Republic; Myanmar (oral progress report); and Somalia.
  • In addition, the Council will also hold 4 interactive dialogues with a number of investigative mechanisms, including the International Commission of Human Experts on Ethiopia, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the Commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, and the Fact-finding mission on Venezuela.
  • The Council will also hold 4 enhanced interactive dialogues: with the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement, on the human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, on report of the High Commissioner and experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo, and on the High Commissioner’s report on the Philippines.
  • In accordance with HRC/PRST/OS/13/1 all the Interactive Dialogues will be individual.
  • The Council is expected to act on around 35 draft resolutions and other texts. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1 PM on 18th September 2022. Moreover, the President of the Human Rights Council will present a Presidential draft decision during the 51st session on appropriate support to the Council providing it with the adequate resources to be able to carry out its work.
  • Additionally, it is expected to appoint four new mandate-holders, including the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons,  the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and one member of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (member to be elected from Eastern European States). More information on the appointment process and the candidates can be found here.
  • Three elections will be held to elect nine members of the Advisory Committee at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. The regular election to elect seven members of the Advisory Committee, to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 30 September 2022 (two members from the African Group, two members from the Asia Pacific Group, one member from the Eastern European Group, one member from the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and one member from the Western European and Others Group). Furthermore, two by-elections will be held to fill two casual vacancies.
  • At the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, no UPR outcome report will be considered for adoption. The fourth cycle of the UPR is expected to commence in October/November 2022.

Find the English version of the Inside Track here

Find the French version of the Inside Track here