The Inside Track HRC63 looks ahead at the 63rd regular session of the Council, which runs from 7 September to 7 October 2026. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC63: 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.
The Inside Track is produced by the Universal Rights Group with the support of the Permanent Mission of Singapore.
On 7 September, H.E. Mr. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open HRC63 with the presentation of his annual report on the human rights situation around the world. The presentation of his annual report will provide the basis for an enhanced interactive dialogue on 7 September. During the session, the Council will consider country-specific reports by the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General coveringhuman rights issues in, inter alia: the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; Myanmar; Nicaragua; the Marshall Islands; Yemen; Somalia; Cambodia; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Additionally, the High Commissioner will deliver oral updates on the situation of human rights in El Obeid (North Kordofan, Sudan) and in Haiti.
It will also consider High Commissioner’s and Secretary-General’s reports on a number of thematic issues.
The Council will hold 19 interactive dialogues with Special Procedures mandate-holders, including 14 thematic ones dealing with: a democratic and equitable international order; unilateral coercive measures; the human rights of older persons; contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons; the right to development; toxics; the rights to water and sanitation; mercenaries; enforced or involuntary disappearances; arbitrary detention; truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; the rights of peasants; the rights of Indigenous Peoples; and People of African descent; as well as 5 country-specific mandate holders on Afghanistan; Russian Federation; Burundi; Central African Republic; and Cambodia.
In addition, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with eight investigative mechanisms: the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan; the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar; the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; the Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus; the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran; and the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua.
Based on the HRC63 organisational meeting, the Council is expected to act on around 31 draft resolutions. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1 PM on Thursday 24 September.
The Council will adopt UPR outcome reports of 15 States: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Paraguay, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, and Somalia.
For the full draft programme of work for HRC63, please click here.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
Find the French version of the Inside Track here.
