Inside Track HRC46 looks ahead at the 46th regular session of the Council, which runs from 22nd February to 23rd March 2021. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC46: the key issues, debates, and questions that are expected to keep delegates busy; the country situations that will require the Council’s attention; and the draft resolutions that will be negotiated and voted upon.
Expected highlights at HRC46 include:
- More than 120 high-level dignitaries and officials are expected to deliver statements during the three day High-Level Segment of HRC46 via pre-recorded video messages, including, inter alia, H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Gitanas Nauseda, President of Lithuania, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, H.E. Mr. Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, H.E. Mr. Nicolás Maduro Moros, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, H.E. Mr. Abdalla Adam Hamdok, Prime Minister of the Sudan, H.E. Ms. Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland, HE. Mr. Josaia Vorque Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry, and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Fiji, H.E. Mr. Aureilu Ciocoi, Acting Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova. So far, a total of seven heads or deputy heads of State, 11 heads or deputy heads of government and 98 ministers or vice-ministers are scheduled to address the Council. Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, will also be delivering an address at the start of the HighLevel Segment.
- On 25 February, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will give an oral update on the human rights situation around the world. This will provide the basis for an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on 25 and 26 February.
- During the session, the Council will consider country-specific reports by the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General covering human rights issues in, inter alia: Afghanistan, Belarus, Colombia, Cyprus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Occupied Palestinian Territories, occupied Syrian Golan, and Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner will deliver oral updates on the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guatemala, Honduras, Ukraine, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
- It will also consider High Commissioner and Secretary General reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
- human rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- question of the realisation in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights;
- relationship between the realisation of the right to work and the enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities;
- torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
- rights of persons with disabilities;
- rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;
- missing persons;
- human rights and climate change;
- promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and
- combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief.
- The Council will consider reports from, and hold interactive dialogues with, 19 Special Procedures (five country-specific and 14 thematic), including those dealing with: persons with disabilities; environment; adequate housing; food; torture; freedom of religion or belief; foreign debt; sale of children; albinism; cultural rights; counter terrorism; human rights defenders; privacy; minority issues; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Eritrea; Iran (Islamic Republic of); Mali; and Myanmar.
- In addition, the Council will also hold interactive dialogues with a number of investigative mechanisms, including the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen, the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, the Commission on human rights in South Sudan, the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, and the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. In accordance with HRC/PRST/ OS/13/1, all the interactive dialogues will be individual.
- The Council is expected to act on between 30 and 32 draft resolutions and other texts. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1 PM on 11 March. Additionally, it is expected to appoint six new mandate-holders: the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, two members of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (members from African and North American States), one member of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (member from African States), and one member of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (member from Asia-Pacific States). More information on the appointment process and the candidates can be found here.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
The French version of the Inside Track is available here.
