Highlights of the First Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
| Author | Bret Thiele |
| Published date | 01 September 2006 |
| Date | 01 September 2006 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/016934410602400312 |
| Subject Matter | Part C: Appendices |
PART C: APPENDICES
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
BRET THIELE*
1. INTRODUCTION
This article summarises highlights of the first session of the United Nations Human
Rights Council (Council). At this inaugural session, the Council adopted eight
resolutions, three decisions, and two statements by the President. For those readers
interested in greater detail of certain or all aspects of this session, please refer to the
footnotes which provide citations to relevant Council documents.
1
On 3 April 2006, the United Nations General Assembly established the Human
Rights Council as a replacement to the UN Commission on Human Rights
(Commission).
2
The Council is an organ of the General Assembly and based in
Geneva, Switzerland. Its mandate includes ‘promoting universal respect for the
protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction
of any kind and in a fair and equal manner’ and ‘address[ing] situations of violations
of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make[ing]
recommendations thereon’ as well as promoting ‘the effective coordination and
the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system.’
3
The Council
also serves as a venue for dialogue on human rights and for promoting human rights
obligations taken on by States. The work of the Council is ‘guided by the principles of
universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international
dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of
all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the
Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, Vol. 24/3, 529-536, 2006. 529
#Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), Printed in the Netherlands.
* Mr Thiele, who received his JD cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, is Senior
Legal Officer and Coordinator of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Litigation Programme
with the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and an independent human rights
consultant. He thanks Ms Nathalie Mivelaz, COHRE Advocacy Director and UN Liaison, for
contributions to this article.
1
Please see the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website, available
at: www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil.
2
General Assembly Resolution 60/251, UN Doc. A/RES/60/251, 3 April 2006.
3
Idem.
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