United Nations Human Rights Council

Why in news?

• The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a climate change and human rights resolution that was proposed by Bangladesh along with Vietnam and the Philippines.

• The resolution focused on vulnerable groups, especially the disabled and the elderly, due to the adverse effects of global warming.

On UNHRC:

• UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.

Objective:

• Strengthening promotion and protection of human rights around globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.

Composition:

• UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected for a three year term by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with specific number of seats allocated for each region of the globe.
• It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Headquarters:

• Geneva, Switzerland.

Functions:

• Investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states.
• Addresses thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association, expression, religion, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
• It works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) which supervises the UNHRC.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding United Nations Human Rights Council:
1.All members of United Nations are members of UNHRC.
2.Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question