United Nations Human Rights Council facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United Nations Human Rights Council |
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| History | |
| Founded | 15 March 2006 |
| Leadership | |
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President
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 Jürg Lauber |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
African States (13)
Asia-Pacific States (13)
Eastern European States (6)
Latin American and Caribbean States (8)
Western European and Other States (7)
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| Meeting place | |
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| The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room is the meeting room of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland | |
| Website | |
| HRC at the ohchr.org | |
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a special group within the United Nations. Its main job is to help make sure that human rights are respected and protected everywhere in the world.
The Council has 47 member countries. These countries are chosen for three-year periods. They are picked from different parts of the world. The UNHRC's main office is in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Council looks into reports of human rights problems in countries that are part of the United Nations. It also works on big topics like freedom of expression, freedom of belief, women's rights, and the rights of different groups of people.
The UNHRC was started on March 15, 2006. It took over from an older group called the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Council works closely with another UN office that helps protect human rights.
How the Human Rights Council Works
The United Nations General Assembly chooses the 47 countries that become members of the Human Rights Council. Each country serves for three years. A country can be a member for two terms in a row, but then it must take a break.
Meetings and Sessions
The UNHRC holds regular meetings three times a year. These meetings happen in March, June, and September.
Sometimes, if there is a big human rights problem or emergency, the Council can hold a special meeting. This can happen if at least one-third of the member countries ask for it. As of November 2023, there have been 36 special meetings.
Who Are the Members?
The Council has 47 members. They are chosen each year by the General Assembly for three-year terms. The members are picked fairly from different regions of the world. This is done using the United Nations regional grouping system.
A country can be chosen again for one more term. After that, it must leave its seat for a while.
The 47 seats are divided among the regions like this:
- 13 seats for countries in Africa
- 13 seats for countries in Asia and the Pacific
- 6 seats for countries in Eastern Europe
- 8 seats for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
- 7 seats for countries in Western Europe and other areas
Current Members
| Term | Asia-Pacific States (13) | African States (13) | Eastern European States (6) |
Latin American & Caribbean States (8) |
Western European & Other States (7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–2027 |
 Cyprus Marshall Islands Qatar South Korea Thailand |
 Benin DR Congo Ethiopia Gambia Kenya |
 Czechia North Macedonia |
 Bolivia Colombia Mexico |
 Iceland Spain Switzerland |
| 2024–2026 |
 China Indonesia Japan Kuwait |
 Burundi Ivory Coast Ghana Malawi |
 Albania Bulgaria |
 Brazil Cuba Dominican Republic |
 France Netherlands |
| 2023–2025 |
 Bangladesh Kyrgyzstan Maldives Vietnam |
 Algeria Morocco South Africa Sudan |
 Georgia Romania |
 Chile Costa Rica |
 Belgium Germany |
Images for kids
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People protesting at the UN against China's re-election to the Human Rights Council in 2009.
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A house destroyed in Yemen in June 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas para niños
- Community of Democracies
- Human rights in cyberspace
- United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- UN Watch
- Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
