Inside Track HRC53 looks ahead at the 53rd regular session of the Council, which runs from 19th June to 14th July 2023. It aims to provide those interested in the Council’s work with an at-a-glance brief on what to expect from HRC53: 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.
Inside Track is produced by the Universal Rights Group with the support of the Permanent Mission of Singapore. At HRC53, Inside Track will be published only in an electronic format.
Expected highlights at HRC53 include:
- On 19th June, Mr. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will open HRC53 with the presentation of his annual report on the human rights situation around the world, The presentation of his annual report will provide the basis for an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on 20th and 21st June.
- 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: the Islamic Republic of Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
- Additionally, the High Commissioner will deliver oral updates on the follow-up to the resolution on cooperation with Georgia; on the promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua; and on the findings of the periodic report of OHCHR on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.
- Other oral updates on country situations by Special Procedures mandate-holders will focus on the situation of human rights in Burundi, the Central African Republic, and Myanmar.
- It will also consider High Commissioner and Secretary-General reports on a number of thematic issues, including inter alia:
- Adverse impact of climate change on the full realisation of the right to food;
- Impact of casualty recording on the promotion and protection of human rights;
- Impact of technological advances on prevention of genocide efforts and on the risks of the perpetration of genocide;
- Impact of the civilian acquisition, possession and use of firearms;
- Implementation and enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; and
- The way forward to improve technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights.
- The Council will consider reports from, and hold interactive dialogues with, 22 Special Procedures (4 country-specific and 18 thematic), including those dealing with: Afghanistan; Belarus; Eritrea; the Occupied Palestinian Territory; climate change; discrimination against women and girls; education; extreme poverty; freedom of opinion and expression; independence
of judges and lawyers; internally displaced persons; international solidarity; migrants; freedoms of peaceful assembly and association; persons with leprosy; racism; right to health; sexual orientation and gender identity; extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; trafficking; transnational corporations (two reports); and violence against women and girls. - In addition, the Council will also hold interactive dialogues with investigative mechanisms, including the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (Islamic Republic of); the Commission on Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel; and the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
- In accordance with HRC/PRST/OS/16/1, there will be no general debates during HRC53. Therefore, the reports and oral updates of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General as
well as subsidiary bodies to be presented during HRC53 will be considered during the relevant general debate at HRC54. - HRC53 is scheduled to hold 5 panel debates on the following subjects:
- Measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar;
- Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women. Panel 1: Gender-based violence against women and girls in public and political life. Panel 2: Social protection: women’s participation and leadership;
- Annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights. Theme: Adverse impact of climate change on the full realization of the right to food; and
- Panel discussion on the role of digital, media and information literacy in the promotion and enjoyment of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- The Council is expected to act on around 27 draft resolutions and other texts. The deadline for submitting draft resolutions has been set at 1 PM on 5th July 2023.
- Additionally, it is expected to appoint four new mandate-holders, including the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity; Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; Special Rapporteur on minority issues; and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. More information on the appointment process and the candidates can be found here.
- The UPR outcome reports of 13 States (Argentina, Benin, Czechia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Zambia) will be considered for adoption.
Find the English version of the Inside Track here.
The French version of the Inside Track will be available here.
