The United Nations’ top human rights body extends its mandate to Russia and Sudan

Mission of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russiaestablished by the 47-member Council in October 2022, is renewed last October. The Special Rapporteur is responsible for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the situation of domestic interests.

The current holder, Mariana Katzarova, is not a United Nations employee and operates independently of the United Nations Secretariat.

Call for ‘full participation’

Apply one resolution with one votes are recorded with a ratio of 20 in favor to 8 against, with 19 abstentions, the Council also called on the Russian authorities to engage “fully and non-selectively” with all United Nations human rights mechanisms.

This includes “constructive communication and full cooperation” with the Special Rapporteur, as well as allowing free visits to Russia and free meetings with relevant parties.

The Council also welcomed the recent report of the Special Rapporteur, presented in September.

In her report, Ms. Katzarova expressed deep concern about the human rights situation in the country, which she said is marked by “state-promoted human rights violations, legitimized by new laws or amendment,” has shut down independent political and civic arenas in Russia. .

Renewal for Sudanese investigators

Similarly on Wednesday, the Council expanded probe into alleged human rights violations and abuses in Sudanwhere rival armies have been at war since April 2023.

Twenty-three Council members voted to extend female Independent international fact-finding mission for Sudan in one year, while 12 voted against and 12 abstained.

The Council also condemned the escalation of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher as their siege of the Government-held city continues, calling on the force to withdraw troops immediately and protect civilians in accordance with international law.

The three-member Independent Fact-Finding Mission was established by Human Rights Council in October 2023 with an initial period of one year to investigate and determine the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged violations of human rights and related humanitarian law.

Its members, Mohamed Chande Othman (chairman), Joy Ngozi Ezeilo and Mona Rishmawi, serve in their individual capacities, independent of the United Nations. They are not employees of the United Nations and they do not receive salaries.

New members elected

Also on Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly in New York voted new member countries serve on the Human Rights Council for a three-year term starting on 1 January 2025.

the Newly elected members are Benin (re-elected), Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia (re-elected), Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar (re-elected) , Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.

They will join 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 Vietnam, whose term will end at the end of 2025 and 2026.

Membership of the Council is based on equitable geographical distribution.

Human Rights Council

The United Nations Human Rights Council is the peak intergovernmental body for the promotion and protection of human rights globally.

It was established in 2006, replacing the United Nations Human Rights Commission and consists of 47 member states elected for three-year terms.

The Council holds regular sessions three times a year in Geneva and can convene special sessions at the request of one-third of its members.