Level 8 of 10: The UN and global treaty bodies

United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)

The UN Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body of 47 UN member states based in Geneva. The General Assembly created it by resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 to replace the Commission on Human Rights, as a subsidiary organ of the Assembly. The resolution makes it responsible for promoting universal respect for human rights, addressing violations including gross and systematic violations, and carrying out a Universal Periodic Review of every UN member state. Members are elected directly by secret ballot of the General Assembly for three-year terms on a regional allocation of seats, and cannot be immediately re-elected after two consecutive terms. The Assembly can suspend a member that commits gross and systematic violations by a two-thirds majority, as it did with Russia in April 2022.

Who leads it

• President of the Human Rights Council (2026): Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro (Indonesia) (since 2026-01-08) (news.un.org)
• Vice-President (Latin American and Caribbean Group, 2026): Ambassador Marcelo Vazquez Bermudez (Ecuador) (since 2026-01) (news.un.org)

The UK and the HRC

The UK is a UN member state and so eligible to stand for election, as membership is open to all UN members (resolution 60/251). This research could not open the Council's own member list, so check the UN's pages for whether the UK currently holds a seat.

Key figures

What it decides

• Promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms (resolution 60/251, paragraph 2).
• Address situations of human rights violations, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations on them.
• Carry out the Universal Periodic Review of each state's fulfilment of its human rights obligations, a cooperative mechanism based on interactive dialogue.
• Maintain a system of special procedures, expert advice and a complaint procedure inherited from the Commission on Human Rights.
• Make recommendations to the General Assembly on developing international law in the field of human rights.
• Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic human rights issues and promote human rights education and technical assistance.
• Hold special sessions when a member requests one with the support of a third of the membership.
• Submit an annual report to the General Assembly.

Timeline

• 2006-03-15: The General Assembly adopts resolution 60/251 creating the Council in place of the Commission on Human Rights. (documents.un.org)
• 2006-06-16: Resolution 60/251 recommends that the Commission on Human Rights be abolished on this date. (documents.un.org)
• 2022-04-07: The General Assembly suspends Russia's membership rights by 93 votes to 24. (news.un.org)
• 2026-01-08: Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro of Indonesia is elected President for 2026. (news.un.org)
• 2026-10-13: The General Assembly holds its election of Council members at its 20th plenary meeting. (media.un.org)

How it is held to account

• The Council is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, which was to review its status within five years (resolution 60/251).
• The Council submits an annual report to the General Assembly.
• The General Assembly can suspend a member that commits gross and systematic violations by a two-thirds majority (resolution 60/251; used in April 2022).
• Members must uphold the highest standards in human rights, cooperate fully with the Council, and be reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review during their term.
• Candidates' contributions and voluntary pledges are to be taken into account by the Assembly when electing members.
• The resolution requires the Council's methods of work to be transparent, fair and impartial.

Records you can check

• General Assembly resolution 60/251
  The founding text: mandate, membership, election and suspension rules
• General Assembly page on Council elections
  Seat allocation, voting rules and term limits
• UN News: President elected for 2026
  The 2026 Presidency and the Council's sessions
• UN photo record of the 13 October 2026 election
  Date of the General Assembly election of Council members
• UN News: Russia suspended from the Council
  Vote counts and the suspension rule applied in 2022

Common questions

What is the UN Human Rights Council?

The Council is a body of 47 UN member states, based in Geneva, created by the General Assembly in March 2006 to replace the Commission on Human Rights. Resolution 60/251 makes it responsible for promoting respect for human rights and addressing violations, including through the Universal Periodic Review.

How are Human Rights Council members chosen?

The General Assembly elects them directly and individually by secret ballot, according to the UN, needing an absolute majority of 97 votes. Seats are allocated by region and terms last three years. Members cannot be immediately re-elected after two consecutive terms.

Can a country be removed from the Human Rights Council?

Resolution 60/251 lets the General Assembly suspend the membership rights of a Council member that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. The Assembly did this to Russia on 7 April 2022, by 93 votes to 24 with 58 abstentions.

How often does the Human Rights Council meet?

The resolution requires at least three sessions a year, totalling no less than ten weeks, with special sessions possible when a member asks with the support of one third of the membership. UN News reports regular sessions begin in late February, June and September.

What is the Universal Periodic Review?

Resolution 60/251 describes it as a review, based on objective and reliable information, of how each state fulfils its human rights obligations and commitments. It is a cooperative mechanism based on interactive dialogue with the state concerned, and the resolution says members are reviewed during their term.

Who is the President of the Human Rights Council?

Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro of Indonesia was elected President for 2026 on 8 January 2026, according to UN News. He was the sole candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group and succeeded Jurg Lauber of Switzerland. Presidents serve one-year terms, and UN News says it is the first time Indonesia has held the post.

Is the UK on the Human Rights Council?

Membership is open to all UN member states under resolution 60/251, and the UK is a UN member, so it can stand for election by the General Assembly. Members serve three years and cannot be immediately re-elected after two consecutive terms. The Council's own member list should be checked for the current position, as this research could not open it.

Other bodies at level 8

• Commonwealth of Nations
• International Court of Justice
• International Criminal Court
• International Labour Organization
• Interpol
• NATO
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council)
• United Nations Children's Fund
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• United Nations Security Council
• World Food Programme
• World Health Organization
• World Trade Organization

Sources

• General Assembly resolution 60/251: Human Rights Council, read 23 October 2026
• UN General Assembly: Human Rights Council elections FAQ, read 23 October 2026
• Human Rights Council elects Indonesian candidate President for 2026 (UN News), read 23 October 2026
• General Assembly elections of members of the Human Rights Council (UN Photo), read 23 October 2026
• UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council (UN News), read 23 October 2026