The 51st session of the Human Rights Council concluded in Geneva on the evening of Friday, 7 October 2022, after 20 days of morning and evening deliberations.
Adoption of resolutions:
The Council adopted 39 resolutions, 28 without a vote and 11 by vote. The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China was rejected by a vote of 17 in favour, 19 against and 11 abstentions.
Resolutions adopted without a vote (28):
(1) World Programme for Human Rights Education
(2) Neurotechnology and human rights
(3) Older persons' human rights
(4) The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
(5) The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights
(6) Conscientious objection to military service
(7) Strengthening the voluntary funds for the Human Rights Council's universal periodic review mechanism
(8) Enhanced international cooperation in support of national implementation, reporting and follow-up mechanisms
(9) Anti-cyberbullying
(10) Human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military field
(11) The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights: rule of law and accountability
(12) Terrorism and human rights
(13) Arbitrary detention
(14) The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation
(15) Human rights and transitional justice
(16) Human rights and indigenous peoples
(17) Youth and human rights
(18) Protection of journalists
(19) Local government and human rights
(20) National human rights institutions
(21) Extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of indigenous peoples
(22) Extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
(23) Strengthening technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights
(24) Yemen's technical and cooperation
(25) Technical and technical cooperation for Somalia
(26) Technical and technical cooperation for Central Africa
(27) Technical and technical cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(28) Marshall Islands technical and technical cooperation
Resolutions adopted by vote 11:
(1) Human rights situation in Sri Lanka
(2) Human rights situation in Russia
(3) Human rights situation in Azerbaijan
(4) Human rights situation in Syria
(5) Human rights situation in Afghanistan
(6) Human rights situation in Ethiopia
(7) Human rights situation in Burundi
(8) Situation of human rights in Venezuela
(9) Establishment of a democratic and equitable international order
10 Mandate of the Working Group on the Question of the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination
(11) From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Decisions:
The Council adopted two decisions: the first on the adoption of reports submitted under item VI of the universal periodic review mechanism and the second on the Human Rights Council's support.
New appointments:
To continue the Council's approach this year to women's empowerment, three women have been appointed to three thematic mandates:
(a) Ms. Ashwini K.P (India) Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; This post was suddenly vacant owing to the resignation of the current mandate holder;
(b) Ms. Paula Gaviria (Colombia) Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons;
(c) Ms. Margaret SATTERTHWAITE (United States of America) Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers;
Historical Session:
(1) For the first time in the history of the United Nations since its establishment in 1945, the Human Rights Council in Geneva has adopted a decision to appoint a Special Rapporteur under the item "Special procedures for the control and monitoring of violations of human rights" to one of the permanent members of the Security Council (Russian Federation), thereby reporting to the Human Rights Council at its 54th session and to the General Assembly at its 78th session.
(2) During this session, China used the "no-action" motion procedure for the first time within the Human Rights Council established in 2006, which was already used by China in 2004 in the former Commission on Human Rights.
Geneva 8 October 2022
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