The mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, established by the 47-member Council in October 2022, was extended last October. The Particular Rapporteur is tasked with monitoring, assessing and reporting on the rights scenario within the nation.
The present mandate holder, Mariana Katzarova, will not be a UN workers member and serves independently from the UN Secretariat.
Name for ‘full engagement’
Adopting a resolution with a recorded vote of 20 in favour to eight towards, with 19 abstentions, the Council additionally urged Russian authorities to have interaction “absolutely and non-selectively” with all UN human rights mechanisms.
This contains “constructive communication and full cooperation” with the Particular Rapporteur, in addition to granting unhindered entry to go to Russia and to fulfill freely with related stakeholders.
The Council additionally welcomed the Particular Rapporteur’s latest report, introduced in September.
In her report Ms. Katzarova expressed deep concern over the rights scenario within the nation, which she mentioned was marked by “State-driven human rights violations, legalized by new or amended laws”, which have shut down impartial civic and political arenas in Russia.
Extension for Sudan investigators
Equally on Wednesday, the Council prolonged its probe into alleged human rights violations and abuses in Sudan, the place rival militaries have been at warfare since April 2023.
Twenty-three of the Council’s members voted to extend the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan for one 12 months, whereas 12 voted towards, and 12 abstained.
The Council additionally condemned the escalation of assaults by the Speedy Help Forces (RSF) in El Fasher as their siege of the Authorities-held metropolis continues, calling for its instant withdrawal and safety of civilians in accordance with worldwide legislation.
The three-member Impartial Reality-Discovering Mission was established by the Human Rights Council in October 2023 for an preliminary period of 1 12 months to research and set up the information, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights and humanitarian law-related violations.
Its members, Mohamed Chande Othman (chair), Pleasure Ngozi Ezeilo and Mona Rishmawi, serve of their particular person capacities, impartial of the United Nations. They aren’t UN workers, they usually obtain no wage.
New members elected
Additionally on Wednesday, the UN Common Meeting, in New York elected new Member States to serve on the Human Rights Council for three-year phrases beginning 1 January 2025.
The newly elected members are Benin (re-elected), Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia (re-elected), Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar (re-elected), Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand.
They’ll be a part of Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Sudan, and Viet Nam, whose terms will end on the finish of 2025 and 2026.
The Council’s membership relies on equitable geographical distribution.
Human Rights Council
The UN Human Rights Council is the best intergovernmental physique for selling and defending human rights globally.
It was established in 2006, changing the UN Fee on Human Rights, and consists of 47 member states elected for three-year phrases.
The Council holds common classes thrice a 12 months in Geneva and might convene particular classes upon request from one-third of its members.