UN Human Rights Council

Established in 2006, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations, currently composed of 47 nations "responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe...it was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them." The Council receives staff support from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, but the UNHCHR is a separate body. The Council replaced the earlier Commission on Human Rights.

Treaties enforced

Optional protocols will appear under the treaty article. All except the disabilities treaty have committees for their operation, and a committee is being formed for that 2008 treaty.

1. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
4. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
5. Convention against Torture
6. Convention on The Rights of the Child
7. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
8. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
9. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Advisory Committee

It has a Human Rights Council Advisory Committee composed of 18 experts to act as a think tank for the Council and work at its direction. The Advisory Committee replaces the former Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Members serve for a period of three years and are eligible for re-election once. In accordance with resolution 5/1, the staggering of terms of membership of the Advisory Committee members was determined by drawing lots immediately after the election. Hence, in the first term, one-third of the experts will serve for one year and another third for two years.

José Antonio Bengoa Cabello (Chile - 2010) Ansar Ahmed Burney (Pakistan - 2011) Shiqiu Chen (China - 2009) Chinsung Chung (Republic of Korea - 2010) Emmanuel Decaux (France - 2011) Hector Felipe Fix Fierro (Mexico - 2011) Wolfgang Stefan Heinz (Germany - 2010) Latif Huseynov (Azerbaijan - 2011) Baba Kura Kaigama (Nigeria - 2011) Vladimir Kartashkin (Russian Federation - 2010) Miguel Alfonso Martinez (Cuba - 2009) Bernards Andrews Nyamwaya Mudho (Kenya - 2010) Purificacion V. Quisumbing (Philippines - 2011) Shigeki Sakamoto (Japan - 2010) Dheerujlall Seetulsingh (Mauritius - 2011) Halima Embarek Warzazi (Morocco - 2009) Jean Ziegler (Switzerland - 2009) Mona Zulficar (Egypt - 2010) Special rapporteurs Raquel Rolnik (Brazil), Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context Olivier de Schutter (Belgium), Special Rapporteur on the right to food James Anaya (United States), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people Najat M'jid Maala (Morocco), Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Cephas Lumina (Zambia), Independent Expert on the effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights Thomas Ojea Quintana (Argentina), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Richard Falk (United States), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Maria Magdalenan Sepulveda (Chile), Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty Gulnara Shahinian (Armenia), Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences. Malick El Hadji Sow (Senegal), Aslan Abashidze (Russia]]) and Roberto Garreton (Chile) to the Working Group on arbitrary detention Jeremy Sarkin (South Africa), Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearences Milton Nettleford (Jamaica), Working Group on African Descent Shamsul Bari (Bangladesh), Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Somalia Margaret Sekaggya (Uganda), Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders.