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A window onto cooperation, dialogue, leadership, and policymaking at the UN Human Rights Council

THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN 2020

LEADERSHIP, RESOLVE AND COOPERATION AT THE UN’S MAIN HUMAN RIGHTS BODY yourHRC.org

In October 2015, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Universal Rights Group (URG) launched yourHRC.org, an innovative online tool designed to contribute to international efforts to strengthen the visibility, relevance and impact of the Human Rights Council.

The yourHRC.org portal, together with a number of related reports, are designed to provide country-specific information on: cooperation with the Council and its mechanisms, participation in Council debates and dialogues, member State voting patterns, political leadership, and Council elections.

2 | 2 | Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 4 AFRICAN GROUP (AG) Overview of members 40 A window onto the work of the Principal sponsorship 41 UN’s human rights pillar… 15 Contribution to Council debates,

THE WORK, OUTPUT, AND PERFORMANCE panel discussions, and dialogues in 2020 42 OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS MECHANISMS 17 Voting analysis 43 Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 45 THE COUNCIL’S FOCUS AND OUTPUT : RESOLUTIONS AND MECHANISMS 18 ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP (APG) Overview of members 46 Number of Council texts adopted over time 18 Principal sponsorship 47 The focus of the Council’s texts by agenda Contribution to Council debates, item (2008-2020) 19 panel discussions, and dialogues in 2020 48 Financial implications of Council resolutions Voting analysis 49 (2011-2020) 20 Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 51 Evolution of Council Special Sessions since 2006 21 EASTERN EUROPEAN GROUP (EEG) Donors of the Voluntary Trust Fund to support Overview of members 52 the participation of LDCs and SIDS Principal sponsorship 53 in the Council 2020 22 Contribution to Council debates, Top themes in 2020 : panel discussions, and dialogues in 2020 53 focus of thematic resolutions 23 Voting analysis 54 State participation in Interactive Dialogues Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 55 of the Special Procedures in 2020 24 LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN Evolution of amendments to Council resolutions 25 GROUP (GRULAC) GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF THE COUNCIL Overview of members 56 Geographic focus of Council texts, special Principal sponsorship 57 sessions, and panels (2006-2020). 26 Contribution to Council debates, panel Global coverage of the UN human rights discussions, and dialogues in 2020 58 system in 2020 28 Voting analysis 59 Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 61 PART II COUNCIL MEMBER STATES : ENGAGEMENT, WESTERN-EUROPEAN AND PRINCIPAL SPONSORSHIP, COOPERATION 31 OTHERS GROUP (WEOG) Overview of members 62 MEMBERSHIP OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS Principal sponsorship 62 COUNCIL IN 2020 33 Contribution to Council debates,

COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, panel discussions, and dialogues in 2020 63 ITS REPRESENTATIVES, AND MECHANISMS Voting analysis 64 IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 65 Secretary-General’s report 34 METHODOLOGY NOTES 66

GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF COOPERATION 38

| 3 Introduction

2020 will forever be remembered as the year the guide COVID-19 response and recovery. The message is COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, causing massive clear: people and their rights must be front and centre.’4 socio-economic dislocation and, in turn, huge challenges for the enjoyment of human rights. To their credit, key The Council also outperformed most other parts of the parts of the UN human rights system, including the High UN (especially intergovernmental parts) in managing Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights to continue to fulfil its mandate during the crisis, Council (Council) and its mechanisms (especially Special notwithstanding the social distancing and hygiene Procedures), and human rights NGOs were quick to draw rules put in place by national authorities. Although the attention to the human rights dimensions of the crisis, conclusion of the February-March session had to be especially based on a twin understanding: first, that postponed until the summer, by October the UN’s principal ‘the virus may not discriminate but its social impacts body responsible for the promotion and protection of most certainly do;’1 and second, that some States were human rights had completed its three annual sessions. using the pandemic as an excuse to tighten national For that, enormous credit should be afforded to the 2020 restrictions to an excessive degree in order to reign-in President of the Council, Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger opposition, criticism and democratic scrutiny. The quick- (Austria), her team, and the wider Council bureau. Their footed response of the UN’s human rights system in turn achievement sent out two important messages to the had a telling impact on how the wider UN – and indeed wider world: first, that the UN human rights protection the wider world – perceived of and chose to confront system continues to operate; and second, that it is the health crisis, as well as on how the international possible for in person multilateral diplomacy to continue community should strive to ‘build back better.’ For during a global pandemic – providing that necessary example, in April UN Secretary-General, António precautions are taken. Guterres, launched his ‘We are all in this together’2 report. With the report, he argued that the COVID-19 pandemic A call to action ‘is a public health emergency, but it is also far more - it is an economic crisis, a social crisis, and a human crisis On 24 February, the first day of the 43rd session of that is fast becoming a human rights crisis.’3 In February, the Council (HRC43), UN Secretary-General António he noted, he had launched a ‘Call to action for human Guterres launched a new ‘Call to action for human rights.’ rights’ designed to put human dignity and the promise of Rumours of a ‘major announcement’ from the Secretary- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the core of General had been circulating since late last year, and the UN’s work. As reflected in both the call to action and were confirmed by Guterres himself in a keynote speech his report on the pandemic: ‘human rights cannot be an to the General Assembly on 22 January. In it, he identified afterthought in times of crisis [rather they] can and must four key contemporary challenges facing humanity (he

1. United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres. We are all in 2. United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres. COVID-19 and this Together : Human Rights and COVID-19 Response and Recovery. human rights, we are all in this together. 23 April 2020. Available at: 23 April 2020. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-com- https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_human_ munications-team/we-are-all-together-human-rights-and-covid-19- rights_and_covid_23_april_2020.pdf response-and 3. United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres. Op.Cit.

4 | Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, President of the Human Rights Council, during the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council. 30 June 2020. UN Photo called them ‘the four horsemen’) – increased geopolitical receives around 3% of the UN’s regular budget. No recent tensions, the climate crisis, growing mistrust, and the (i.e., the past quarter century) Secretary-General, with the downsides of digital technology – and, intriguingly, exception of Kofi Annan, has seriously challenged this appeared to declare that the human rights pillar must be status quo ante; and although URG has been relatively central to the UN’s response. supportive of António Guterres’ efforts to strengthen the delivery of human rights via his development system and These developments should be seen against a backdrop security pillar reforms, wider civil society has increasingly of the UN’s historic neglect of its human rights pillar taken the view that the current Secretary-General is intent – in both a political and a financial sense. Throughout on continuing this pattern of historic neglect. its history, the UN has consistently emphasised the development and security aspects of its mandate over There was therefore a growing sense of anticipation ahead and above its human rights prerogatives (as defined by of Guterres’ opening address to the 43rd session; a hope the UN Charter). As part of that ‘downgrading’ of human that he would propose meaningful reforms and changes rights, the human rights pillar is not led by a main body in how the human rights pillar operates and delivers, how of the UN (the Commission on Human Rights and the it connects with the two other pillars of the UN, and how Council were/are both subsidiary bodies), and only it is resourced.

4. Ibid.

| 5 The ‘Call to action’5 seeks – according to its own preamble all its dimensions.’ All of this means, he noted, that human – to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to the Universal rights obligations, in effect, underpin and underwrite ‘the Declaration of Human Rights, and ‘reinvigorate our political commitments made in 2015.’ In another example, pursuit of those enduring rights and values in the context under the title ‘Rights in times of crisis,’ Guterres says of new challenges and opportunities.’6 The Secretary- that ‘human rights considerations’ are central to his General’s goal, he says, ‘is to promote a human rights prevention agenda. ‘Indeed,’ he says, ‘there is no better vision that is transformative, that provides solutions, and guarantee of prevention than for member States to meet that speaks directly to each and every human being.’7 their human rights responsibilities […] There is a well- documented correlation between a society’s enjoyment The seven key challenges/opportunities or ‘domains’ of and commitment to human rights – including non- identified by the Secretary-General are: discrimination – and its resilience to crisis.’9 A key goal of the UN human rights system must therefore be to build • Rights at the core of sustainable development. human rights capacity and resilience, thus ‘preventing • Rights in time of crises. human rights violations,’ and – where worrying patterns • Gender equality and equal rights for women. of violations do occur – to ‘respond promptly and • Public participation and civic space. effectively’ to human rights emergencies/crises. The • Rights of future generations, and climate justice. Council and its prevention mandate under paragraph 5f • Rights at the heart of collective action. of GA resolution 60/251 must, in other words, be placed • New frontiers of human rights. at the heart of the UN’s prevention agenda.

This is perfectly sensible, as far as it goes. Across the seven Family matters ‘domains,’ the Secretary-General accurately identifies many of the principal human rights issues and challenges As has become a regular occurrence at the Council over facing the world in 2020. Moreover, his critique of those the past decade, many of the most passionate arguments issues and challenges is, in large part, both insightful in 2020 centred on ‘societal’ issues, reflecting a deep and eloquent. For example, under the domain ‘Rights at ideological divide between those States (e.g., Russia, the core of sustainable development,’ Guterres correctly Egypt and – outside the Council, the United States (US)) asserts that ‘the 17 SDGs are underpinned by economic, that wish to promote a more conservative interpretation civil, cultural, political and social rights, as well as the of international human rights law, emphasising the right to development,’ and only when ‘everyone has importance of traditional family roles and hierarchies equal access to opportunity and choice, and can claim for example, and other States (especially Western and their human rights [will] no one [be] left behind.’8 This Latin American countries) determined to defend a more analysis in turn allowed the Secretary-General to touch progressive interpretation. This division played out upon one of the most important human rights concerns regularly across the calendar year, but was especially of modern times: widening socio-economic ‘inequality, in prevalent at HRC45.

5. United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres. The Highest As- piration a Call to Action for Human Rights. February 2020. Available at: https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/The_High- est_Asperation_A_Call_To_Action_For_Human_Right_English.pdf

6 | For example, difficult negotiations on a draft resolution on were rejected by the Council (both with 13 in favour, 6 the ‘Rights of the child,’ presented by GRULAC (led by abstentions and 27 against). The unamended draft was Uruguay) and the EU, focused on the rights of children in then adopted by consensus. the context of a healthy environment, ended with Russia tabling eight ‘hostile’ amendments to the text. Eventually Regarding women’s rights, three draft resolutions were six of these were withdrawn after the lead sponsors put forward during HRC45, one by South Africa on committed to make a number of small oral revisions. The the ‘Elimination of discrimination against women and remaining two aimed to integrate strong language on the girls in sport,’ one by Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, responsibilities and rights of parents ‘or where applicable, Finland, Iraq, Namibia, Spain and Tunisia on ‘Promoting the members of the extended family or community as and protecting the human rights of women and girls in provided for by local custom […] to provide, in a manner conflict and post-conflict situations on the occasion of consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, the twentieth anniversary of Security Council resolution appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the 1325 (2000),’ and one by Canada, Fiji, Georgia, Sweden child of his or her rights.’ If adopted, these amendments and Uruguay on ‘Promoting, protecting and respecting would have made the rights of children to express opinions women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights in or participate in decision-making conditional upon the humanitarian situations.’ permission/direction of parents and other adults. The core group for the resolution rightly opposed such notions, as The first of these was eventually withdrawn (the being incompatible with the Convention on the Rights corresponding resolution in March 2019 generated of the Child. In the end, the two written amendments considerable opposition on the part of members of the

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, 44th session of the Human Rights Council. 9 july 2020. UN Photo

6. Ibid. 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid. 9. Ibid.

| 7 OIC, on the grounds that it referred to ‘bodily autonomy’ The resolution covers all aspects of the Council’s hitherto – which is linked to sexual and reproductive health and unused prevention mandate, as provided by GA resolution rights (SRHR)). The draft resolution on the rights of 60/251 (and specifically paragraph 5f thereof), covering women and girls in humanitarian situations attracted both primary (or ‘upstream’) prevention, and secondary 15 amendments (tabled by Pakistan on behalf of the prevention (early warning and early engagement). The OIC except Albania) – all of these were subsequently resolution also strengthens the Council’s ability to withdrawn after the main sponsors committed to make connect with the other pillars of the UN (the development, oral revisions to the text. The contentious issue with and security pillars) by calling on the Secretary-General the third resolution on women’s rights – the draft on the to share relevant Council reports relevant to prevention in twentieth anniversary of UN Security Council resolution specific contexts with other UN bodies (e.g. the Security 1325 – was related to whether such resolutions (focused Council), and by inviting the head of the Peacebuilding on Security Council decisions) are a matter for the Human Commission to brief the Council on an annual basis. Rights Council. Notwithstanding these arguments, both tabled resolutions were eventually adopted by consensus. ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests, Belarus elections From reaction to prevention The Council is often criticised for the detachment between In March, pursuant to Council resolution 38/18, a its agenda and the main events and geopolitical currents group of three experts presented their report (with occurring in the ‘real world.’ It has also been criticised, in recommendations) to the 43rd session of the Council on the past, for addressing human rights violations in small- how the body might strengthen its contribution to the to-medium sized African, Asian and Latin American prevention of human rights violations and emergencies. countries, while remaining silent about worrying trends in Based on the recommendations in the report, in more powerful UN member States; and for being quick September (HRC45), Norway, Sierra Leone, Switzerland to criticise or condemn, but far slower to extend a hand and Uruguay tabled a further resolution, designed to to those countries, especially countries in transition, finally operationalise the Council’s prevention mandate. that request international support. In 2020, the Council The draft resolution was both enormously important responded to such critiques by debating, and taking and enormously ambitious, designed, in short, to move concrete steps to respond to, important human rights the Council from a predominantly reactive mindset developments in the US, Belarus and Sudan. and approach to crises, to a preventative one. The resolution was eventually adopted by vote, with 32 in On 17 June, in the context of the resumed 43rd session favour, 11 abstentions and 3 against (Bahrain, Cameroon of the Council, an urgent debate was convened (at the and Venezuela). request of the African Group) on the ‘current racially inspired human rights violations, systematic racism, police brutality against people of African descent and

8 | 44th session of the Human Rights Council. 30 June 2020. UN Photo violence against peaceful protests.’ The debate was it, she conveyed her dream, like that of Martin Luther King especially aimed at racially-aggravated police brutality Jr. that one day her granddaughter, Maya, might grow up in the US. in a world ‘where she will not be judged by the colour of her skin, but by the strength of her character.’ Concluding Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of that ‘enough is enough’, she stressed that ‘lasting peace, the UN, opened the debate by noting that although the and sustainable development can only be built on the current ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests in the US and equality, human rights and dignity of everyone’10 and elsewhere had been triggered by the extrajudicial killing of assured that the UN was fully mobilised to wage a ‘sacred George Floyd, such violence ‘spans history and borders battle’ to end the scourge of racism. alike.’ Just as the UN fought apartheid many years ago, so too must it fight the hatred, oppression and humiliation At the end of the session, member States adopted of people of African descent today. Widespread racism resolution 43/1 by consensus. With the resolution, the against Africans and people of African descent were Council ‘strongly condemn[ed] the continuing racially inextricably linked, she said, with generational cycles of discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by law inequality and poverty, unfair obstacles to the right to enforcement agencies against Africans and people of development, and a widespread failure to atone for the African descent, in particular which led to the death of most appalling manifestation of human brutality: the slave George Floyd on 25 May 2020 in Minnesota,’ and further trade. Turning to her own experience of discrimination in ‘deplore[d] the recent incidents of excessive use of force the United Kingdom (UK) and her resulting ‘numbness’ to and other human rights violations by law enforcement

10. United Nations. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamme. Re- marks to the Human Rights Council [as prepared for delivery].17 June 2020. Available at: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/dsg/ statement/2020-06-17/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-human-rights-council-prepared-for-delivery

| 9 officers against peaceful demonstrators defending the its path towards a strengthening of democracy, human rights of Africans and of people of African descent.’11 rights and rule of law. In a welcome move, States agreed to discontinue the Independent Expert mandate on In August, peaceful protests erupted throughout Belarus Sudan, and to instead focus the resolution on mobilising in response to widespread fraud in the country’s international support to assist the country with the actual presidential election. The European Union rejected the implementation of UN human rights recommendations. results of the election, saying it was ‘neither free nor The resolution also recognised the important progress fair.’ President Alexander Lukashenko responded to the made by Sudan over the past year, and praised the High protests with a violent crackdown, leading to arrests, Commissioner for Human Rights for her rapid move to disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the establish a strong OHCHR presence across the country. forced exile of opposition politicians. The country’s Internet was also shut down. Human rights in Sudan: the new test case for the Human On 18 September 2020, during HRC45, an urgent debate Rights Council was convened, at the request of the EU, in response to the serious human rights violations taking place in In December 2018, a series of demonstrations broke out Belarus. After the debate, at the end of the session, in several Sudanese cities, due in part to rising costs of the Council moved to adopt resolution 45/1 by a vote, living and deteriorating economic conditions at all levels with 23 in favour, 2 against and 22 abstentions (after of society. The protests quickly turned from demands 17 ‘hostile amendments’ had been defeated). With the for urgent economic reforms into demands for President resolution, the Council expressed ‘deep concern about Omar al-Bashir to step down. In late February 2019, al- the overall situation of human rights in Belarus’ and its Bashir declared a state of emergency and dissolved the recent deterioration, and regretted that the ‘Government national and regional governments, replacing the latter of Belarus has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the with military and intelligence service officers. On the electoral process’. 12 The Council furthermore expressed weekend of 6–7 April, there were massive protests for the serious concern ‘at credible allegations that human first time since the declaration of the state of emergency, rights violations were committed in Belarus in the run-up and during the protests soldiers were seen shielding to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath,’ as protesters from security forces. On 11 April, the military well as ‘at the credible allegations of numerous acts of removed al-Bashir from power in a coup d’état. torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by law enforcement and prison officers.’13 Following long and difficult negotiations, brokered by the African Union and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, HRC45 saw member and observer States continue military and civilian leaders eventually reached a power- their important work to extend technical assistance and sharing agreement on 17 July. The Political Agreement capacity-building support to Sudan, as it continues on was complemented by the Constitutional Declaration,

11. United Nations. Human Rights Council. Resolution 43/1. 30 June 2020 12. United Nations. Human Rights Council. Resolution 45/1. 12 Sep- tember 2020 13. Ibid.

10 | which paves the way for a transition to an elected civilian mutilation. In November 2019, the Government also government by 2022. repealed the Public Order Law, which had been used by the former regime to target women and restrict individual Significantly, the Constitutional Declaration contains a freedoms. Moreover, the Government established a Rights and Freedoms Charter, including provisions on the Legal Reform Commission to review all national laws right to equality before the law, women’s rights, freedom in accordance with human rights obligations. These of expression and of the press, freedom of assembly changes respond to recommendations made in Council and organisation, and freedom of religious belief and Resolution 42/35, particularly with regard to women’s worship. By overturning repressive laws and making rights, women’s participation in the peace process, and bold commitments to human rights, the transitional freedom of religion or belief. Government has regularly demonstrated its determination to keep equal citizenship at the forefront of the The new Sudanese Government has regularly political transition. demonstrated its eagerness to cooperate with international actors in guiding and supporting the In the framework of its reform and national reconciliation country’s transition to democracy, including by process, and in line with its Constitutional Declaration, strengthening the promotion and protection of human the Government has abolished apostasy as a criminal rights. For instance, it is significant to note that the new offence, abolished the death penalty for children, made Constitutional Declaration called on State agencies to amendments to male guardianship laws, introduced a new facilitate the establishment of an OHCHR mission in policy on press freedom, and criminalised female genital Sudan during the transitional period.

The representative of Sudan speaks during the 43rd session Human Rights Council Urgent Debate on Police Brutality, Racism, People of African Descent. 17 June 2020. UN Photo

| 11 This paved the way, in September 2019, for the UN High appoint an ‘Independent Expert’ (a Special Procedures Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to mandate focused on capacity-building) with a mandate sign an agreement with the Government of Sudan to to assess a country’s technical assistance and capacity- open a UN Human Rights Office in Khartoum, as well building needs. Unfortunately, such mechanisms usually as field offices in Darfur, Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan produce broad and unimplementable recommendations, and East Sudan. Bachelet and Sudan’s newly appointed mainly to the State itself rather than the international Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asma Mohamed Abdalla, community, and rarely lead to the provision of useful signed the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister technical assistance or capacity-building support. Abdalla Hamdok in New York, where they are attending the UN General Assembly. Unfortunately, all these problems have been evident in the conduct and work of the Independent Expert on For its part, the Council was largely absent from the Sudan, who presented his most recent report at HRC45. historic developments in Sudan. The report offered 23 recommendations, 17 of which are directed towards the State (only five are addressed Notwithstanding, it is vital for the future of Sudan, and for to the international community). Moreover, most of the the credibility of the Council, that it does not remain on recommendations were so broad as to lack any utility – a the side-lines as a new country emerges from decades point raised by the Sudanese delegation to the Council. of misrule. On the contrary, the Council must work hand- in-hand with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Based on the Independent Expert’s report and and – most importantly – with Sudan itself, to help build recommendations, and the comments of Sudan, on a strong, democratic, inclusive and resilient Sudan, built 6 October 2020 the Council adopted a resolution on upon the foundations of human rights and sustainable ‘Technical assistance and capacity-building to further development while ‘leaving no one behind.’ improve human rights in the Sudan.’14 Fortunately, the resolution represents a marked departure from the So, will the Council seize this historic opportunity and Council’s usual ‘item 10’ (capacity-building) resolutions. play its part? Most importantly, as well as recognising the important progress achieved by Sudan since the revolution, the At the moment, there are both reasons for concern and resolution recognises that in order to improve further, reasons for cautious optimism. On the negative side of international ‘technical assistance and capacity-

the ledger, the Council’s track record in transitioning from building will nevertheless continue to be needed.’ 15 an approach premised on criticising and condemning Importantly, in order to secure those improvements, the States to one premised on recognising progress and resolution carefully balances calls for accountability for helping them move forward, is lamentable. Where it has past violations with international support for long-term done anything at all, the Council’s usual strategy is to efforts to build the human rights capacity and resilience

14. United Nations. Human Rights Council. Resolution 45/25. 14 Oc- tober 2020. 15. Ibid. 16. Ibid.

12 | of Sudan, including through the implementation of recommendations received from the UN human rights mechanisms (e.g., UPR). Regarding the delivery of international support, the resolution ‘urges Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to continue to support the efforts of the Government of the Sudan to further improve the situation of human rights in the country, including by responding to the Government’s requests for technical assistance and capacity-building,’ and ‘requests the Secretary-General to provide all the resources necessary to enable the country office of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Sudan and its field presences to fulfil their mandates.’ Finally, and perhaps unsurprisingly, with the resolution the Council decided to ‘end the mandate of the Independent Expert.’ 16

These assertions and decisions by the Council, together with the High Commissioner’s rapid response to the situation in Sudan, especially her decision to establish a strong, country-wide presence, suggest that the UN’s human rights pillar may have learnt the lessons of its past mistakes, and be ready to rise to the challenge posed by this important new test of its effectiveness and delivery.

| 13 14 | A window onto the work of the UN’s human rights pillar…

Members of the Human Rights Council (Council) hold the main responsibility for pursuing and fulfilling the body’s important mandate and thereby ‘promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all’ (GA resolution 60/251).

When establishing the Council, the UN General Assembly (GA) decided that it would consist of 47 member States, elected by a majority of its members. In making their choice, members of the GA would take into account the contribution of the candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments.

The GA, furthermore, decided that elected members should uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and fully cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms. Moreover, it was agreed that the Council’s methods of work would be transparent, fair, and impartial, enable genuine dialogue, be results- oriented, allow for subsequent follow-up discussions to recommendations and their implementation, and allow for substantive interaction with Special Procedures and other mechanisms. yourHRC.org aims to promote transparency around the degree to which the Council and its members are delivering on this crucial mandate, passed to them by the GA and, ultimately, entrusted to them by ‘the Peoples of the United Nations’ described in the UN Charter.

| 15 16 | PART I 2020 THE WORK, OUTPUT AND PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS MECHANISMS

| 17 THE COUNCIL’S FOCUS AND OUTPUT : RESOLUTIONS AND MECHANISMS

Number of Council texts adopted over time

50 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th37th 38th 39th40th 41th 42th43th 44th 45th Number of Council texts adopted over time

Number of Voted resolutions (during the year) March session triennial resolutions 23 Presidential statements June session Substantive Decisions* September session Number of Resolutions biennial resolutions 54

Number of Resolutions voted in 2020 32

Data source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (‘OHCHR’) website / URG Resolutions Portal.

• 2020 saw the highest number of texts (43) adopted during a March session since the creation of the Council in 2006. • The overall number of texts adopted in the calendar year (103), a number that had been decreasing over the past two years, began to rise again in 2020. This represents a setback for efforts to improve the Council’s efficiency. • 2020 saw the highest number of Council decisions (4) adopted since 2014. Three of these decisions were approved during the March session and were related to procedural changes necessary to keep the Council operating during the COVID-19 health pandemic.

18 | The focus of the Council’s

ITEM 1 ITEM 2 texts by agenda item 3.2% 3.3% ITEM 9 ITEM 8 4.2% 1.3% (2008-2020)

ITEM 6 0.5% Percentage of texts adopted under ITEM 5 each of the Council's agenda items 3.9% between 2008 - 2020

ITEM 7 ITEM 3 20 0

2 5.2% 57.2% -

8 0 113 0 112 2 ITEM 4 107 8.5% 105 104 103

ITEM 10 98 95 12.7% 92 57 69 86 51

79 79 76 70 65 55 45

52 57 49 51

48 46 Agenda items NUMBER OF TEXTS

14 15 17 10 13 17 17

13 6 12 10 10 4 10 10 8 8 5 8 11 6 5 5 11 10 4 3 5 6 5 5 6 5 10 5 6 5 5 5 5 7 4 4 3 5 7 3 4 3 5 2 4 4 5 5 6 8 2 4 4 5 5 8 2 0 2 3 1 5 4 2 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 9 6 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Data Source: Council texts (resolutions, decisions and presidential statements) adopted between 2008-2020, available on the OHCHR extranet and via the URG Resolutions Portal.

• As in every other year since the Council’s creation, the majority of resolutions (57 out of 103) generated by the Council in 2020 were thematic texts adopted under agenda item 3 (the ‘Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to development’). • The number of resolutions (6) adopted under agenda item 1 (‘organisational and procedural matters’), was the second highest in the history of the Council (after 2011 when 8 of such texts were adopted) – mainly reflecting the impacts of COVID-19. Four of these were purely procedural, one addressed a country-specific situation (the situation in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath) and one addressed a theme (the rights of Africans and of people of African descent in the context of police brutality). • The number of resolutions (5) adopted under agenda item 9 (racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia) was the second highest in six years, after 2017 when 8 were adopted.

| 19 Financial implications of Council resolutions (2011-2020) Number of texts adopted 42.3% 31.7% 26.0%

2011 104 US$ 13,091,600

44 33 27

56.1% 18.4% 25.5%

2012 98 US$ 9,561,900

55 18 25

40.2% 22.4% 37.4%

2013 107 US$ 10,945,900

43 24 40

40.2% 21.4% 38.4%

2014 112 US$ 21,451,600

45 24 43

41.1% 14.7% 44.2%

2015 95 US$ 15,969,250

39 14 42

34.3% 20% 45.7%

2016 105 US$ 20,001,300

36 21 48

31.0% 26.5% 42.5%

2017 113 US$ 32,990,296

35 30 48

36.0% 14.0% 50%

2018 86 US$ 37,794,699

31 12 43

41.5% 16.0% 42.6%

2019 94 US$ 26,371,300

39 15 40

20.4% 25.2% 54.4%

2020 103 US$ 34,856,000

21 26 56

Texts with PBI (with no extra-budgetary appropriations) Texts without PBI Texts with PBI (requiring extra-budgetary appropriations)

Data Source: Programme Budget Implications (PBIs) arising from each resolution (2012-2020) available on the OHCHR extranet and via the URG Resolutions Portal.

20 | Evolution of Council Special Sessions since 2006

Number of special sessions

Number of special sessions 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

4 Total 3 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Number of Total special4 sessions3 Total 3 25 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 3 2 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 4 Total Total 3 Number of 25 special sessions 2 Number 3 1 Total of Special Sessions 25 Number of

2 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Number special sessions 1 0 4 Total of Special28 Country speci c Sessions 3 Number 1 Thematic of Special 2011 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 3 28 4 Total Total Sessions Country speci c 0 Thematic 3 25 28 2 Country speci c 3 Thematic Total Number 1 25 2 of Special Sessions

0 Number 28 1 Country speci c of Special Thematic Sessions 0 28 | 21 Country speci c Thematic Donors of the Voluntary Trust Fund to support the participation of LDCs and SIDS in the Council 2020

Number Donors to the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund of donors 20 18 18 New donors 18 Recurrent donors 16 15 Total donors 14 14

6 5 5

4 3 2 2

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 DONORS New donors (2013-2020)

22 | Top themes in 2020 : focus of thematic resolutions

l and ups in foc ocia cu ro us , s ltu G ic ra Persons with Water and sanitation l disabilities m r o i Education Extreme g Indigenous Peoples n h o poverty t c Business s Women's rights E Social Forum Right to work (incl. SC Res. 1325) Cultural rights Foreign debt Right to food People of African descent Right to Adequate Rights of the child health housing Migrants Minorities Olympic ideal Human rights defenders

total:12 total:13 nd political r il a igh iv Journalists ts -cuttin C Police brutality ross g/o C Terrorism th Trafficking er Freedom of Firearms opinion and Mercenaries Disappearances expression International solidarity Justice (incl. Peaceful protest transitional) and cooperation, Birth registration international order and Prevention regional arrangements (incl. HRC mandate) Executions Freedom of religion Unilateral coercive measures R2P and belief UN Charter COVID-19 & Good governance Genocide pandemics and local Development governments Equality and non and 2030 Agenda discrimination, Torture Technical assistance Incl. racism and capacity building Climate change and environment NHRIs total:17 total:26 New initiatives

The size of each bubble and word/phrase within the bubble relates to the number of resolutions adopted with that focus/theme in 2020. Data source : Council resolutions available on the OHCHR extranet and via the URG Resolutions Portal.

• 2020 saw more than twice as many on civil and political rights (CPR) texts as there were economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) concerns – for the first time since the body’s establishment in 2006. Almost all of these were adopted by consensus. • For CPR resolutions, the most popular theme was equality and non-discrimination. Within this theme, racism was the most prevalent subtopic. • Turning to groups in focus, Council resolutions once again displayed a strong focus on women’s and girls’ rights. • Another notable trend was the continued emergence of initiatives designed to ‘bridge’ the Geneva- New York divide. For example, three new resolutions were tabled on: promoting and protecting the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); the fifteenth anniversary of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as enshrined in the World Summit Outcome of 2005; and the contribution of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms to achieving the purposes and upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

| 23 State participation in Interactive Dialogues of the Special Procedures in 2020

ID with the SR on Eritrea 20 ID with the SR on torture 39 ID with the SR on disabilities 33 ID with SR on environment 73 ID with IE on foreign debt 16 ID with the SR on freedom of religion 56 ID with the SR on the sale of children 53 ID with the IE on albinism 16 ID with the SR on food 29 ID with the SR on cultural rights 32 ID with the SR on human rights defenders 62 AG

HRC 43 ID with the SR on counter-terrorism 39 APG ID with the SR on privacy 24 EEG 35 ID with the SR on housing GRULAC ID with the SR on DPRK 26 WEOG ID with the SR on Iran 28 ID with the SR on Myanmar 44 Other 34 Group ID with the SR on minority issues statements ID with the IE on Mali 25 ID with the IE on Central African Republic 16 CPRs

ID with the SR on Eritrea 30 ESCR s ID with the SR on trafficking 51 Cross-cutting 55 ID with the SR on education Counrty speci c ID with SR on health 41 Groups in focus ID with WG on discrimination against women 56 Mixed ID with the SR on migrants 45 ID with the SR on leprosy 16 ID with the SR on extreme poverty 40 ID with the SR on violence against women 55 ID with the IE on sexual orientation 34 ID with the SR on Internally Displaced Persons 36

HRC 44 ID with the SR on summary executions 23 ID with SR on freedom of assembly 42 ID with IE on internationl solidarity 24 ID with WG on transnational corporations 21 ID with SR on freedom of expression 57 ID with SR on independence of judges and lawyers 39 ID with SR on Belarus 16 ID with SR on Myanmar 31 ID with SR on OPTs 46 ID with SR on racism 55

ID with the SR on slavery 35 ID with the SR on right to development 43 ID with the SR on water and sanitation 39 ID with WG on mercenaries 9 ID with the SR on truth and justice 36 ID with WG on arbitrary detention 32 ID with IE on older persons 48 ID with IE on international order 10 ID with WG involuntary disappearances 38 ID with the SR on hazardous substances 26 ID with the SR on unilateral coercive measures 29

HRC 45 ID with the SR on Myanmar 32 ID with the SR on Indigenous Peoples 26 ID with the WG on African Descent 22 ID with the SR on Cambodia 27 ID with the IE on the Central African Republic 19 ID with the IE on Sudan 42 ID with the IE on Somalia 25

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Data source: OHCHR extranet. Note: For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

24 | 54 VotedEvolution amendments of amendments to Council resolutions 42 Passed 40 54 Voted amendments Defeated 29 30 42 40 Passed Withdrawn 22 19 21 20 15 17 18 Defeated # Total 29 30 13 10 11 11 11 22 21 7 5 8 7 7 7 Withdrawn 3 4 19 20 1 2 15 17 1 1 1 18 2 2 1 # Total 0 0 0 0 0 013 0 0 0 0 0 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 1110th 12th 13th 14th 1115th1116th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 1124th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th session session session session s7ession session session5session sessio8n session session session session session session session session sessio7n session session session sess7ion se7ssion session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 2 2 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 11 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session sessionSsessionession sess iofon s theession Humansession sess iRonightssession sCessouncilion session session 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 Session of the Human Rights Council

54 Voted amendments 42 Passed 54 40 Voted amendments Defeated 29 42 30 Passed 40 Withdrawn 22 19 21 20 Defeated 15 17 29 18 30 # Total 13 22 11 11 21 11 Withdrawn 7 8 10 19 7 7 7 20 5 15 17 18 1 2 3 4 # Total 1 1 1 2 2 13 1 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 11 11 11 7 5 8 7Voted amendments 7 7 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12t3h 134th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th session session session session session session session session s1ession2session session session session session session session 1session session session1sessio1n session session se2ssion se2ssion session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 1session session session 42 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 20 0 0 8 0 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 10 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 3 0 02 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 40 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39Passedth 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th 54 session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0S 9ession of the2 0 1 Human0 Rights2 0 1 1 Council 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6Voted amendments2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 Defeated2 0 1 9 2 0 20 29 30 54 42 Session of the Human Rights Council 40 Voted amendments Passed Withdrawn 22 19 21 20 15 17 54 18 Defeated # Total 42 29 13 5430 40 Passed 10 11 11 11 Voted amendments 7 5 8 7 7 7 Voted amendments Withdrawn 3 4 22 21 Defeated 1 2 1 1 1 2 17 2 19 29 30 18 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 150 0 0 42 40 # Total 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd1324th 25th 26th 27th 28th1129th1130th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 1139th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th PassedWithdrawn session session session session session session session session session session session session session sessi22on session session session session session session session session session session session session session session21session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 40 Passed 19 7 8 10 20 7 7 7 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 172 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 25 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 418 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 3 4 15 # Total 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 13 11 11 29 11 1 30 Defeated 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Session of the10 Human Rights Council 29 30 Defeated 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 187 th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 238rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 337rd 34th 35th 36th 377th 38th7 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session s5ession session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 Withdrawn0 0 2 0 0 06 0 02 0 0 7 0 02 0 0 8 02 0 0 90 2 0 1 00 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 422 2 0 191 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 21 20 1st 2Withdrawnnd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30t17h 31st 32nd 33rd 34t19h 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th 18 20 session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session sessiSonessionsession sofess theion se Humanssion sessio nRsightsession s15Cessouncilion session sessio17n session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 18 Data source: OHCHR extranet. 15 13 # 2 0Total 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 13 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 112 0 2011 11 Note: For comprehensive information on data sources,# Total timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote. 10 11 11 11 Session of the Human Rights Council 7 8 10 7 7 7 7 5 8 7 7 7 1 2 3 4 1 |1 25 1 2 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 10st 2nd 3rd 40th 50th 6th 7th 80th 90th 100th 11th 120th 130th 14th 15th 160th 170th 18th 19th 200th 210st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41th 42th 43th 44th 45th se1ssiton s2esndsion se3srsdion se4stshion se5stshion se6ssthion se7ssthion se8ssthion se9ssthion s10esstiohn s11esstiohn s12esstiohn s13esstiohn s14esstiohn s15esstiohn s16esstiohn s17esstiohn s18esstiohn s19esstiohn s20esstiohn s21esssiotn s22essndion s23essriodn s24esstiohn s25esstiohn s26esstiohn s27esstiohn s28esstiohn s29esstiohn s30esstiohn s31esssiotn s32essndion s33essriodn s34esstiohn s35essthion s36essthion s37esstiohn s38essthion s39essthion s40esstiohn s41essthion s42essthion s43esstiohn s44essthion s45essthion session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session session 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 1 9 2 0 20 Session of the Human Rights Council GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF THE COUNCIL

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF COUNCIL TEXTS, SPECIAL SESSIONS, AND PANELS (2006-2020) Belarus Occupied Palestinian 10 1 csp Territories 7 67 SPS 2 1 Ukraine 13 CSP 5 28 5 SPS 2 Iraq 4 Georgia Democratic People's 1 SPS Republic of Korea Syrian Arab 1 1 Afghanistan Republic 1 Tunisia 2 1 Guinea 7 Kyrgyzstan Honduras 1 Nepal 8 SPS SPS 1 1 Lebanon Haiti 9 SPS 1 1 8 3 11 10 Libya Yemen Cambodia 2 Nicaragua Iran 1 1 7 2 2 7 1 Philippines 3 2 Mali Eritrea Venezuela 9 2 TEXTS ADOPTED: 1 3 SPS 18 SPS 17 2 SPS 1 1 Myanmar Item 1 Liberia Central African 4 Republic 5 Somalia Item 2 South Sudan 6 Item 4 SPS 1 SPS 7 1 SPS 5 5 Sri Lanka Item 5 Côte d’Ivoire Burundi Item 7 SPS 15 Item 10 SPS Special session csp SPS 2 6 10 Democratic Decision CSP Country-speci c panel Sudan/Darfur Republic of the Congo

Data source: Council texts (resolutions, decisions, or presidential statements) 2006-2020, availableGeograph onic ftheocu sOHCHR of the C oextranetuncil te xts, special sessions and panels (2006-2020) and via the URG Resolutions Portal.

26 | Belarus Occupied Palestinian 10 1 csp Territories 7 67 SPS 2 1 Ukraine 13 CSP 5 28 5 SPS 2 Iraq 4 Georgia Democratic People's 1 SPS Republic of Korea Syrian Arab 1 1 Afghanistan Republic 1 Tunisia 2 1 Guinea 7 Kyrgyzstan Honduras 1 Nepal 8 SPS SPS 1 1 Lebanon Haiti 9 SPS 1 1 8 3 11 10 Libya Yemen Cambodia 2 Nicaragua Iran 1 1 7 2 2 7 1 Philippines 3 2 Mali Eritrea Venezuela 9 2 TEXTS ADOPTED: 1 3 SPS 18 SPS 17 2 SPS 1 1 Myanmar Item 1 Liberia Central African 4 Republic 5 Somalia Item 2 South Sudan 6 Item 4 SPS 1 SPS 7 1 SPS 5 5 Sri Lanka Item 5 Côte d’Ivoire Burundi Item 7 SPS 15 Item 10 SPS Special session csp SPS 2 6 10 Democratic Decision CSP Country-speci c panel Sudan/Darfur Republic of the Congo

Geographic focus of the Council texts, special sessions and panels (2006-2020) Note: For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

| 27 Global coverage of the UN human rights system in 2020

1 1

1 Grenada

Kiribati Comoros 1 Fiji

GLOBAL COVERAGE OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IN 2020 COUNTRY SPECIFIC OHCHR SPECIAL PROCEDURES INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS UPR VISITS SPECIAL PROCEDURES PRESENCE 1

Number of visits Special Independent Commissions Fact-Finding Other UPR review OHCHR eld presence by thematic experts Rapporteur Expert of Inquiry Mission completed 2020 during 2020

Data source: Council texts (resolutions, decisions, or presidential statements) 2006-2020, available on the OHCHR extranet and via the URG Resolutions Portal.

28 | 1

1 1

1 Grenada

Kiribati Comoros 1 Fiji

GLOBAL COVERAGE OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IN 2020 COUNTRY SPECIFIC OHCHR SPECIAL PROCEDURES INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS UPR VISITS SPECIAL PROCEDURES PRESENCE 1

Number of visits Special Independent Commissions Fact-Finding Other UPR review OHCHR eld presence by thematic experts Rapporteur Expert of Inquiry Mission completed 2020 during 2020

Note: For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

| 29 30 | PART II 2020 COUNCIL MEMBER STATES : ENGAGEMENT, PRINCIPAL SPONSORSHIP AND COOPERATION

| 31 Germany Poland Russia Slovenia United Kingdom Ukraine Austria France Spain Uzbekistan Slovakia China Nepal Marshall Islands Cuba Togo Mexico Senegal Chad Qatar Afghanistan Cote d'Ivoire Cameroon Nigeria Pakistan Gabon 2020 Members Indonesia Democratic Republic Fiji Incoming members 2021 of the Congo Peru Angola Malawi Bolivia Outgoing members

Re-elected members Chile (2nd term 2021-2023) Australia

Bureau member - Uruguay President 2020 Bureau member - Vice-President 2020

Members of Consultative Group Members of Working Group on situations

32 | Germany Poland Russia Slovenia United Kingdom Ukraine Austria France Spain Uzbekistan Slovakia China Nepal Marshall Islands Cuba Togo Mexico Senegal Chad Qatar Afghanistan Cote d'Ivoire Cameroon Nigeria Pakistan Gabon 2020 Members Indonesia Democratic Republic Fiji Incoming members 2021 of the Congo Peru Angola Malawi Bolivia Outgoing members

Re-elected members Chile (2nd term 2021-2023) Australia

Bureau member - Uruguay President 2020 Bureau member - Vice-President 2020

Members of Consultative Group MEMBERSHIP OF THE Members of Working Group on situations HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN 2020

Data source: OHCHR website. Note: For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology please see endnote.

| 33 COOPERATION WITH THE UN, ITS REPRESENTATIVES AND MECHANISMS IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Secretary-General’s report

In September 2020, the Assistant Secretary- intimidation, designed to discourage future General for Human Rights, Ms Ilze Brands Kehris, participation or cooperation, have continued in presented an eleventh annual report (pursuant to relation to cooperation with a wide range of United Council resolution 12/2) on: ‘Cooperation with the Nations organizations at Headquarters and in the UN its representatives, and mechanisms in the field, perpetrated by both State and non-State field of human rights.’ actors. During the reporting period, incidents or trends were addressed within the United Nations With resolution 12/2, the Council had ‘expressed system in the Secretariat, its field offices and peace concern over continued reports of intimidation and operations, and by specialized agencies such as reprisals against individuals and groups seeking the International Labour Organization (ILO)’.18 to cooperate or having cooperated with the UN,’17 its representatives and mechanisms in the field Specific to the 2020 world context, the report of human rights, and had condemned all acts of explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has had a intimidation and reprisal. significant impact on civil society cooperation with the UN, mostly because activities have had to be The 2020 report explains that ‘forms of reprisal, cancelled or transformed in order to comply with retaliation for ongoing or past cooperation, and biosecurity measures. In this regard, the report

17. United Nations, Secretary-General. Annual report of the Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of hu- United Nations Secretary-General. Cooperation with the United man rights. September 2020, UN Symbol: A/HRC/45/36. Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of hu- 19. General Assembly resolution 74/146, 74/156 and 74/246; man rights. September 2020, UN Symbol: A/HRC/45/36. and Council resolutions 41/2 (Philippines); 42/25 (Venezuela); 18. United Nations, Secretary-General. Annual report of the 42/26 (Burundi); and 43/2 (Nicaragua); and 42/28 and 45/42. United Nations Secretary-General. Cooperation with the United

34 | recalls that the High-Commissioner for Human the margins of the General Assembly to analyse Rights urged States to adopt flexible and virtual the trends and risks faced by people cooperating channels to safeguard civil society participation. with the UN, with a focus on women, indigenous Notwithstanding the changes introduced in and environmental human rights defenders.22 response to the pandemic, the report notes that reprisals and intimidation have continued and Importantly, the Secretary-General’s report remain a serious cause for concern. identifies a number of groups as being at particular risks of reprisals, namely: women, LGBTI persons, The Secretary-General’s report also outlines individuals working on and defending sex- and steps taken by the UN and its mechanisms to gender-rights, persons delivering statements address reprisals and intimidation, including before the Security Council, youth activists, relevant Council and GA resolutions,19 and minority groups, and indigenous peoples. responses on the part of Council Presidents, Special Procedures mandate-holders, and Treaty Bodies.20 The report also mentions a February 2020 Security Council ‘Aria formula’ meeting on reprisals,21 and OHCHR’s discussion organised on

20. See: United Nations, thrity-second meeting of Chairs of the cil-and-its-subsidiary-bodies-security-council-arria-formu- human rights treaty bodies. UN symbol: HRI/mc/2020/2/Rev.1 la-meeting/6134721356001/?term=arria&sort=date. 21. United Nations. Reprisals against women who engage with 22. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Events the Security Council. Available at: http://webtv.un.org/search/ on reprisals. www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Reprisals/Pages/ reprisals-against-women-human-rights-defenders-and-wom- GAEvents.aspx. en-peacebuilders-who-engage-with-the-security-coun-

| 35 Additionally, as with each annual report on reprisals, the report summarises and provides information on reported allegations of intimidation and reprisals in different UN member States. In 2020, the Secretary- General presents information on cases in the following countries:

Algeria Libya Andorra Mali Bahrain Mexico Bangladesh Morocco Burundi Myanmar Cambodia Nicaragua Cameroon Pakistan China Philippines Colombia Poland Comoros Russian Federation Cuba Saudi Arabia Democratic Republic of the Congo South Sudan Egypt Sri Lanka Equatorial Guinea Thailand Honduras Turkey India Uzbekistan Israel Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Kazakhstan Viet Nam Kuwait Yemen Lao People’s Democratic Republic State of Palestine

36 | Finally, and again in line with previous annual reports the document summarises responses it has received from States to the allegations made in previous reports. In 2020, the Secretary-General reports having received responses from the following countries:

| 37 Latin America and Caribbean Group Western Europe and Others Group

Average Average SPECIAL PROCEDURES Standing invitations Average visits communications SPECIAL PROCEDURES Standing invitations Average visits communications issued by completed response rate issued by completed response rate Eastern European Group 7/8 7/7 Member 63% 59% Member 75% 79% States States Average Standing invitations Average visits communications SPECIAL PROCEDURES issued by completed response rate Average number Overall reporting status Average number Overall reporting status of treaties rati ed 8/8 submitted of treaties rati ed 7/8 submitted TREATY BODIES on time TREATY BODIES on time 6/6 on schedule on schedule Member 76% 68% Average lateness of 3.2 Average lateness of 0.8 States overdue reports years submitted late overdue reports years submitted late overdue overdue (outstanding) (outstanding) Most overdue 12.6 not party Most overdue 5.3 not party Average number Overall reporting status report years n/a report years n/a of treaties rati ed 7/8 submitted on time TREATY BODIES Midterm reports Midterm reports on schedule UNIVERSAL 4/8 Member States UNIVERSAL Average lateness of PERIODIC submitted by: PERIODIC Member States REVIEW REVIEW submitted by: 6/7 1.3 overdue reports years submitted late (1st cycle) overdue Average number of 85/193 Average number of 111/193 (1st cycle) (outstanding) not party reviews participated in: (2nd cycle) reviews participated in: (2nd cycle) Most overdue 3.4 141/193 160/193 report years n/a Midterm reports UNIVERSAL

Member States PERIODIC submitted by: 6/6 REVIEW Average number of 53/193 (1st cycle) reviews participated in: (2nd cycle) GLOBAL OVERVIEW 92/193 OF COOPERATION Marshall Islands Asia Paci c Group

Average African Group Standing invitations Average visits communications SPECIAL PROCEDURES issued by completed response rate Average Standing invitations Average visits communications SPECIAL PROCEDURES issued by completed response rate 7/13 Member 47% 49% Fiji States 4/13 Member 65% 33% States Average number Overall reporting status of treaties rati ed 7/8 submitted on time TREATY BODIES on schedule Average number Overall reporting status Average lateness of 5.4 submitted late of treaties rati ed 7/13 submitted overdue reports years on time TREATY BODIES overdue (outstanding) on schedule Standing invitation Average lateness of Most overdue not party 9.3 submitted late 18.2 most overdue report years n/a overdue issued report years (outstanding) Midterm reports Most overdue not party 3/13 Member States UNIVERSAL 36 submitted by: PERIODIC report years n/a UPR midterm report REVIEW Midterm reports Average number of 43/193 (1st cycle)

8/13 Member States UNIVERSAL reviews participated in: submitted by: PERIODIC REVIEW submitted 81/193 (2nd cycle) Average number of 20/193 (1st cycle) reviews participated in: 51/193 (2nd cycle)

Note: for comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes and methodology, please see endnote. 38 | Latin America and Caribbean Group Western Europe and Others Group

Member States PERIODIC submitted by: 6/6 REVIEW Average number of 53/193 (1st cycle) reviews participated in: 92/193 (2nd cycle)

Marshall Islands

Asia Paci c Group

8/13 Member States UNIVERSAL reviews participated in: submitted by: PERIODIC REVIEW submitted 81/193 (2nd cycle) Average number of 20/193 (1st cycle) reviews participated in: 51/193 (2nd cycle)

| 39 African Group (AG) AFRICAN GROUPOverview of Members

Voluntary Voluntary NHRI contribution to contribution to accreditation Membership OHCHR - 2019 OHCHR - 2020 status terms to date

Angola 3

Lapsed Burkina Faso accreditation 3

Cameroon A 3

Democratic Republic of the Congo A 1

Eritrea 1

Libya B 2

Mauritania A 2

Namibia A 2

Nigeria A 4

Senegal B 3

Somalia 1

Sudan 1

Togo B 2

Note: for comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes and methodology, please see endnote.

40 | Principal sponsorship

During 2020, African members of the Council led (as main waste; 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and sponsors/part of a core group) on a number of important Programme of Action; Working Group on African Descent; resolutions, covering both thematic and country-specific female genital mutilation; protecting the rights of Africans issues. and of people of African descent against excessive use of force by law enforcement officers; Working Group to

At a thematic level, members of the African Group (AG) implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of led, inter alia, on the following issues: Action; and Special Rapporteur on racism.

Namibia : rights of women and girls in conflict and The African Group also led on Council initiatives aimed post-conflict situations on the occasion of the twentieth at the delivery of technical assistance to strengthen the anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); enjoyment of human rights in certain States, including in responding to pandemics; freedom of opinion and Mali, Libya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central expression; and adequate housing. African Republic, and Sudan.

Senegal : extreme poverty; and regional arrangements.

Togo : contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter.

At country-specific level, in 2020, African members led, inter alia, on the following situations:

Somalia : assistance to Somalia.

Sudan : technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen.

Notwithstanding such individual leadership, it is important to note that African States often work through their regional group. In 2020, the African Group led on, inter alia, the following resolutions: Working Group on the activities of private military and security companies; hazardous

| 41 Contribution to Council debates, panel discussions and dialogues in 2020

10 10 Angola 10 9 10 Burkina Faso 10 9 7 Cameroon Democratic Republic 10 6 of the Congo 10 6 Eritrea 10 8 9 7 Libya 10 8 9 9 Mauritania 10 10 Namibia 10 9 9 Nigeria 10 9 8 Senegal 10 8 9 7 Somalia 10 8 9 8 Sudan 10 9 8 Togo

Regional groups Subregional groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Political Groups YES NO Cross Regional Statements Other

Note: This bar chart shows the number of joint statements each State has joined during Council general debates, panel discussions, and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures. The empty chair symbol indicates whether, overall, the country, as a Council member, participated (individual statements) in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates, and interactive dialogues. For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

42 | Voting analysis

With regard to the only country-specific resolution Libya voted in favour of a text on the situation on Belarus. tabled under agenda item 1 (organisational and procedural matters) during 2020, namely, a text on During voting on item 7 resolutions (Occupied Palestinian the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up Territories), African States tended to vote in favour of all to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath, texts. The exceptions were Cameroon and DRC (both all African members of the Council abstained, with abstained on all item 7 texts), and Togo (voted against once the exception of Eritrea (which voted against). and abstained twice).

Turning to country-specific resolutions tabled under agenda Most AG members abstained during voting on the only item 2 (report of the High Commissioner), when a vote was item 10 (technical assistance and capacity-building) text called during 2020, AG members of the Council tended to on which a vote was called in 2020, namely a resolution on abstain or vote against resolutions on the situation of human cooperation with Georgia. The exceptions were Cameroon rights in Eritrea, promotion and protection of human rights (voted against), Libya and Somalia (both voted in favour). in Nicaragua and on the situation of human rights in Yemen, and to vote in favour of the item 2 resolution on ensuring For item 3 resolutions dealing with economic, social, and accountability and justice for all violations of international cultural rights, and cross-cutting issues, African States law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory -OPT, including either joined consensus on, or voted in favour of, nearly all East Jerusalem. The exceptions regarding the latter (the adopted texts. Exceptions include the following abstentions: resolution on the OPT) were Cameroon and the Democratic Libya during voting on resolutions on the mandate of Republic of Congo (both abstained), and Togo (voted the Independent Expert on democratic and equitable against). Regarding an item 2 resolution on strengthening international order, the negative impact of unilateral cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human coercive measures on human rights, and mutually beneficial rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, AG members cooperation; DRC during voting on texts on the mandate were divided: Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eritrea, of the Independent Expert on democratic and equitable Namibia and Sudan voted in favour; while DRC, Libya, international order, and mutually beneficial cooperation; Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and Togo abstained. and Mauritania during voting on a text on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights. Concerning the resolutions tabled under agenda item 4 (human rights situations that require the Council’s For item 3 resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, attention), in the absence of consensus, members of AG members abstained during voting on the one resolution the AG tended to abstain or vote against. Nonetheless, on which a vote was called in 2020, namely the text on the there were some exceptions, including, inter alia: African responsibility to protect; except Togo, Somalia, Senegal, States voted in favour of the resolution on Myanmar (with Libya and Nigeria, which voted in favour. the exceptions of Angola, Cameroon, DRC and Senegal, which abstained); Togo, Somalia and Libya voted in favour Turning to item 5 (human rights bodies and mechanisms), of three separate resolutions on the situation in Syria; and AG members were divided during the voting on the

| 43 resolution on the contribution of the Council to the prevention of human rights violations: Angola, Burkina Angola Burkina Faso Cameroon Faso, DRC, Togo, Somalia and Senegal voted in favour; Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, Mauritania, Namibia abstained; Libya did not vote; and Cameroon voted against. Standing invitation

Finally, during the voting on the one item 8 (follow-up and Visits 1 3 status 5 3 3 implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme 4 6 2 of Action) resolution on which a vote was called, namely, 2 the text on the contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter, almost all AG members Communications response rate 3 2 9 SPECIAL PROCEDURES responded to responded to responded to voted in favour, except Eritrea, Mauritania, Namibia and 5 received 3 received 18 received 60% 50% Cameroon, which abstained. 67%

Core conventions rati ed 7 8 6 Communications procedures accepted 3 3 3

Core conventions rati ed in 2020

2 2 2 Reporting 3 4 status 1 5 1 2 1 1

Most

TREATY BODIES TREATY overdue CERD CEDAW report nonenone (3 years) (3 years) (years)

OPCAT

Rati ed?

NPM established?

Sub-Committee visit? 2017

* Ratification and reporting is recorded for eight ‘core UN human Reviewed rights conventions’ which include: the International Covenant on Civil in 2020? and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention against Torture Level and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), of delegation Minister Minister Minister the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from

Enforced Disappearance (CED), the Convention on the Elimination of Mid-term All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention reporting nd nd

REVIEW 2 cycle 2 cycle on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Convention on Participation the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the in other reviews UNIVERSAL PERIODIC Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). (1st cycle) 36 28 4 Participation Note: for more comprehensive information on data sources, in other reviews (2nd cycle) 102 39 1 timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

44 | Cooperation with human rights mechanisms Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Libya Mauritania Namibia Nigeria Senegal Somalia Sudan Togo

1 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 2 9 7 1 4 10 10 3 6 17 15 2 1 1 4 2 1 20 34 4

Reported/completed Invited Accepted Requested Postponed / Cancelled

2 1 0 4 0 2 1 0 9 6 responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to 23 received 3 received 13 received 14 received 1 received 21 received 2 received 8 received 25 received 7 received 9% 33% 0% 29% 0% 10% 50% 0% 36% 86%

7 6 7 8 7 8 8 6 5 8 2 0 2 1 3 2 4 1 1 4

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 3 2 2 4 1 5 3 5 5 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 2

submitted on time on schedule submitted late overdue(outstanding) not party n/a

CERD CERD CERD CED CRC CESCR CERD CRC CED (9 years) (18 year) (15 years) (6none years) (3 year) (21 years) none (36 years) (3 years) (4 years)

2016 2014 2012,2019 2014

Deputy Commissioner Minister Attorney Minister Minister Council for Minister Minister Minister Minister General Human Rights

1st cycle 2nd cycle 1st & 2nd cycle 2nd cycle 1st cycle 1st & 2nd cycle

26 0 34 6 4 60 16 5 45 0 40 8 76 24 16 70 111 14 91 81

| 45 Asia-Pacific Group (APG) ASIA PACIFIC GROUPOverview of Members

Voluntary Voluntary NHRI contribution to contribution to accreditation Membership OHCHR - 2019 OHCHR - 2020 status terms to date

Afghanistan A 1

Bahrain B 3

Bangladesh B 4

Fiji Suspended 1

India A 5

Indonesia A 5

Japan 5

Marshall Islands 1

Nepal A 1

Pakistan 4

Philippines A 5

Qatar A 4

Republic of Korea A 5

Note: for comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes and methodology, please see endnote.

46 | Principal sponsorship

During 2020, Asia-Pacific Group (APG) members of the At a country-specific level, in 2020, APG members led, Council led (as main sponsors/part of a core group) on a inter alia, on the following resolutions: number of important resolutions, covering both thematic and country-specific issues. Bahrain: technical assistance and capacity-building for Yemen. At a thematic level, APG members led, inter alia, on the following issues: Philippines: technical cooperation and capacity building in the Philippines. Bangladesh : climate change. Qatar: situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Fiji : women’s and girls’ rights in humanitarian situations; Republic (three texts). discrimination against persons affected by leprosy; freedom of opinion and expression; contribution of Republic of Korea: local government, good human rights to achieving the purposes of the Charter governance and the Olympic ideal. of the United Nations; and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Notwithstanding such individual leadership, it is important to note that some APG States regularly work India : discrimination against persons affected by through political groups, especially the Organisation of leprosy. Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab Group. During 2020, the OIC, at thematic level, led on a resolution on Indonesia : technical cooperation and capacity- combating intolerance and violence based on religion building in the field of human rights; and the right to work. or belief.

Japan: enforced or involuntary disappearances; At country-specific level, theOIC lead on the following discrimination against persons affected by leprosy; and resolutions: human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan; the Olympic ideal. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Nepal: eliminating inequality within and among States. Golan; the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; ensuring Pakistan : eliminating inequality within and among accountability and justice for all violations of international States; and responding to pandemics. law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; and right of the Palestinian people to Philippines: trafficking in persons; climate change; self-determination. and extreme poverty. In 2020, the Arab Group led on a resolution on technical Qatar: technical cooperation and capacity-building assistance and capacity-building for Yemen. in the field of human rights; safety of journalists; and responsibility to protect.

| 47 Contribution to Council debates, panel discussions, and dialogues in 2020

9 9 Afghanistan 8 9 10 1 Bahrain 9 9 Bangladesh 8 Fiji 7 India 2 9 10 Indonesia 2 Japan Marshall Islands 6 Nepal 9 10 Pakistan 2 7 Philippines 8 9 7 1 Qatar 1 Republic of Korea

Regional groups Subregional groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Political Groups YES NO Cross Regional Statements Other

48 | Voting analysis

With regard to the only country-specific resolution tabled Bangladesh voted in favour. under item 1 (organisational and procedural matters) on which a vote was called in 2020, namely, a text on the With regard to item 4 texts (situations that require the situation in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential Council’s attention), when a vote was called in 2020: election and in its aftermath, APG member States were divided: Afghanistan, Fiji, Japan, Marshall Islands and • Fiji, Republic of Korea, Marshall Islands and Japan voted the Republic of Korea voted in favour, while Bahrain, in favour of most texts, though Japan abstained during Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the voting on a resolution on Myanmar. Philippines and Qatar abstained. • Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, With regard to country-specific resolutions tabled under Nepal, Pakistan and Philippines tended to abstain or vote agenda item 2 (annual report of the High Commissioner), against, although Afghanistan voted in favour of a text on when a vote was called in 2020: Syria and Myanmar; Bahrain voted in favour of resolutions on Iran and Myanmar; and Bangladesh and Pakistan • Regarding resolutions on the situation of human voted in favour of a text on Myanmar. rights in Yemen, situation of human rights in Eritrea and promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua, • Qatar voted in favour of a resolution on Myanmar and APG members tended to abstain or vote against. Notable three texts on Syria, and abstained during voting on all exceptions included: Fiji, Republic of Korea and Marshall other item 4 resolutions. Islands (each voted in favour of the three resolutions); Afghanistan and Japan (both voted in favour of the texts During voting on item 7 resolutions (Occupied Palestinian on Eritrea and Nicaragua); and Qatar (voted in favour of Territories), Asia-Pacific members of the Council nearly the resolution on the situation of human rights in Yemen). always voted in favour. Exceptions included: Fiji (abstained once), Japan (voted against once), Marshall Islands (voted • Regarding a text on strengthening cooperation and against all texts), Republic of Korea (against once), and technical assistance in the field of human rights in the Philippines (abstained once). Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, APG members of the Council were divided: Marshall Islands voted against, Regarding the one item 10 resolution (technical assistance Republic of Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and capacity-building) on which a vote was called in 2020, Bangladesh, and India abstained; and Fiji, Qatar, Nepal, namely on cooperation with Georgia, APG members Indonesia, Philippines and Pakistan voted in favour. abstained, except for Fiji, Japan and Marshall Islands (all voted in favour). • Regarding an item 2 resolution on ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international For thematic resolutions, where a vote was called in 2020, APG law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East members usually voted in favour. Notable exceptions include: Jerusalem : Republic of Korea, Marshall Islands, Japan, India, Nepal, and Philippines abstained; Fiji voted against; • Japan voted against all item 3 cross-cutting and ESCR and Afghanistan, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bahrain, and resolutions during 2020; and with some exceptions so did

| 49 the Republic of Korea (abstained twice) and Marshall Islands (abstained three times and voted in favour of the resolution on the enhancement of international cooperation). Afghanistan Bahrain Bangladesh • During voting on a resolution on promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, India voted against and Fiji and

Afghanistan abstained. Standing invitation

• Afghanistan abstained during voting on item 3 Visits 2 1 1 status 1 2 8 texts on responsibility to protect, the mandate of the 16 4 1 14 Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, human rights and Communications response rate 1 34 6 unilateral coercive measures, the negative impact SPECIAL PROCEDURES responded to responded to responded to 9 received 39 received 30 received of unilateral coercive measures on human rights, 11% 87% 20% mandate of the independent expert of foreign debt, and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. Core conventions rati ed 7 7 7 Communications procedures accepted 2 0 2 • Indonesia, Pakistan, Bahrain, India, Nepal and Core conventions Philippines abstained during voting on the only civil and rati ed in 2020 political rights item 3 resolution on which a voted was 1 1 2 1 Reporting 3 1 called in 2020, namely, on the responsibility to protect. status 1 3 2 4 5

Turning to agenda item 5 (human rights bodies and Most mechanisms), APG members were divided during the voting BODIES TREATY overdue CCPR CERD report (7none years) none (18 years) on the resolution on the contribution of the Council to the (years) prevention of human rights violations: Afghanistan, Fiji, OPCAT Qatar, Japan, Marshall Islands, Nepal and Republic of Korea Rati ed? voted in favour, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Philippines NPM established? and Pakistan abstained, and Bahrain voted against. Sub-Committee visit?

Finally, all APG members voted in favour of the only item 8 Reviewed in 2020? (follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action) thematic resolution on which Level of delegation Minister Minister Minister a vote was called, namely, the text on the contribution of Mid-term human rights to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter, reporting 1st,2nd&3rd cycle REVIEW except Pakistan, which abstained. Participation in other reviews UNIVERSAL PERIODIC st 10 24 84 * Ratification and Reporting is recorded for eight ‘core UN human rights (1 cycle) Participation conventions’ which include: the ICCPR, the ICESCR, CAT, the CED, the in other reviews CEDAW, the CRC, the CERD, and the CRPD. (2nd cycle) 46 61 84

Note: for more comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

50 | Cooperation with human rights mechanisms

Fiji India Indonesia Japan Marshall Islands Nepal Pakistan Philippines Qatar Republic of Korea

1 2 3 8 1 4 6 10 12 8 1 9 8 13 10 2 19 9 14 7 3 19 3 1 4 1 2 3 25

Reported/completed Invited Accepted Requested Postponed / Cancelled

1 25 18 18 0 6 13 22 3 16 responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to 1 received 90 received 33 received 19 received 0 received 15 received 54 received 45 received 6 received 19 received 100% 28% 55% 95% 0% 40% 24% 49% 50% 84%

8 6 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 0 4

1 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 3 1 2 4 2 4 2 2 4 1 3 3 5 4 2 5 3 1 2 3

submitted on time on schedule submitted late overdue(outstanding) not party n/a

CERD CERD CERD CAT CAT CAT CERD CERD CCPR (5 years) (11 years) (10 years) (3none years) (2 years) (4 years) (less than a (9 years) none (less than a year) year)

2015

National Law University, Delhi & Minister Prime Minister’s Minister National Human Minister Minister Minister Minister Minister assistant Minister Rights Commission

1st & 2nd cycle 2nd cycle

0 28 78 75 0 16 75 65 39 69 16 71 192 90 0 47 111 173 57 110

| 51 Eastern European Group (EEG)

EASTERN EUROPEANOverview GROUP of Members

Voluntary Voluntary NHRI contribution to contribution to accreditation Membership OHCHR - 2019 OHCHR - 2020 status terms to date

Armenia A 1

Bulgaria A B 1

Czech Republic 3

Poland A 3

Slovakia B 2

Ukraine A 3

Note: for comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes and methodology, please see endnote.

52 | Principal sponsorship

During 2020, Eastern European Group (EEG) members of Armenia : regional arrangements; and prevention of the Council led (as main sponsors/part of a core group) on genocide. a number of important resolutions, covering both thematic

and country-specific issues. Bulgaria : contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. At a thematic level, in 2020 EEG States led, inter alia, on

the following issues : Poland : good governance.

Contribution to Council debates, panel discussions and 1 20 Armenia dialogues in 2020 34 3 Bulgaria 1 20 34 5 Czech RepublicArmenia 34 1 3 BulgariaPoland 34 25 Czech RepublicSlovakia 3 1 34 1 UkrainePoland 34 2 Slovakia 3 1 Ukraine

Regional groups Subregional groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Political Groups YES NO Regional groups Cross Regional Statements Subregional groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Other Political Groups YES NO Cross Regional Statements Other

Note: This bar chart shows the number of joint statements each State has joined during Council general debates, panel discussions, and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures. The empty chair symbol indicates whether, overall, the country, as a Council member, participated (individual statements) in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates, and interactive dialogues. For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

| 53 Voting analysis All EEG members of the Council - except Armenia For item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), in 2020 EEG (abstained) - voted in favour of the only item 1 (procedural members joined consensus on all texts and, when a vote matters) country-specific resolution tabled in 2020, was called, all of them voted in favour, with the exception namely the text on the situation of human rights in Belarus of Armenia, which did not vote. in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath. For thematic resolutions, EEG members joined consensus on the vast majority of texts adopted in 2020. Where a When a vote was called on country-specific item 2 texts vote was called in 2020 (e.g. responsibility to protect, (reports of the High Commissioner), EEG members: mandate of the independent expert on democratic and abstained or voted against the texts on strengthening equitable international order, human rights and unilateral cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human coercive measures, right to development, mandate rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and ensuring of the independent expert on international solidarity, accountability and justice for all violations of international international cooperation, the negative impact of unliteral law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East coercive measures, mutually beneficial cooperation, Jerusalem (except Armenia, which voted in favour of the eliminating inequality, and mandate of the independent latter); and voted in favour of resolutions on the situation expert of foreign debt), EEG members usually voted of human rights in Eritrea, promotion and protection of against. Notable exceptions included : human rights in Nicaragua and the situation of human rights in Yemen (except Armenia, which abstained during • Where there was a vote, Armenia abstained on resolutions, voting on Nicaragua and Yemen; and Ukraine, which did mandate of the independent expert on democratic and not vote during the voting on the text in Yemen). equitable international order, human rights and unilateral coercive measures, right to development, mutually Concerning item 4 (human rights situations that require beneficial cooperation, eliminating inequality, and mandate the Council’s attention) resolutions, EEG members either of the independent expert of foreign debt, and voted joined consensus on, or voted in favour of, all texts in favour of texts on the mandate of the Independent adopted during 2020. The only exception was Armenia, Expert on international solidarity, and on the negative which abstained during voting on three texts on Syria and impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights. the text on the situation of human rights in Venezuela, and voted against resolutions on Belarus and Iran. • All EEG members voted in favour of the only item 5 thematic resolution on which a vote was called in During voting on item 7 resolutions (Occupied Palestinian 2020 (human rights bodies and mechanisms), namely, Territories), where a vote was called in 2020, EEG members the resolution on the contribution of the Council to the of the Council tended to: vote in favour of texts on human prevention of human rights violations. rights situation in the OPT and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, to abstain during the voting • All EEG members voted in favour of the item 8 (follow- on the text on Israeli settlements (expect Armenia and up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Poland – both voted in favour), and to vote against the Programme of Action) thematic resolution on which a vote text on the occupied Syrian Golan (except Armenia, which was called in 2020, namely, the text on the contribution of voted in favour). human rights to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter.

54 | Cooperation with human rights mechanisms

Armenia Bulgaria Czech Republic Poland Slovakia Ukraine

Standing invitation

Visits 1 1 3 1 1 status 1 1 2 3 11 6 5 1 12

Reported/completed Invited Accepted Requested Postponed / Cancelled

Communications response rate 5 6 1 8 3 8 SPECIAL PROCEDURES responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to 7 received 8 received 2 received 9 received 4 received 16 received 71% 75% 50% 89% 75% 50%

Core conventions rati ed 8 7 8 7 8 8 Communications procedures accepted 3 4 6 4 8 7

Core conventions rati ed in 2020

1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 Reporting 1 1 status 4 6 2 3 2 1 2 4 4 2 3 submitted on time on schedule submitted late overdue(outstanding) not party n/a

Most

TREATY BODIES TREATY overdue CRC CRPD CEDAW CED CED report (2none years) none (3 years) (1 year) (less than (2 years) (years) a year)

OPCAT

Rati ed?

NPM established?

Sub-Committee visit? 2013 2020 2018 2011, 2016

Reviewed in 2020?

Level Deputy Deputy Minister Minister Minister Minister of delegation Minister Minister

Mid-term reporting st nd st nd nd rd 1st,2nd&3rd cycle nd st REVIEW 1 & 2 cycle 1 & 2 cycle 2 & 3 cycle 2 cycle 1 cycle * Ratification and Reporting is Participation recorded for eight ‘core UN human in other reviews UNIVERSAL PERIODIC rights conventions’ which include: (1st cycle) 15 9 93 65 98 36 the ICCPR, the ICESCR, CAT, the Participation CED, the CEDAW, the CRC, the in other reviews CERD, and the CRPD. (2nd cycle) 96 41 119 90 126 82

Note: for more comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

| 55 Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Overview of Members LATIN AMERICA AND CARRIBEAN GROUP

Voluntary Voluntary NHRI contribution to contribution to accreditation Membership OHCHR - 2019 OHCHR - 2020 status terms to date

Argentina A 4

Bahamas 1

Brazil 5

Chile A 3

Mexico A 4

Peru A 3

Uruguay A 3

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) B 3

Note: for comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes and methodology, please see endnote.

56 | Principal sponsorship

During 2020, Latin America and the Caribbean Group Peru : firearms; extreme poverty; and the responsibility (GRULAC) members of the Council led (as main sponsors/ to protect. part of a core group) on a number of important resolutions, covering both thematic and country-specific issues. Uruguay : the Council’s contribution to the prevention of human rights violations; women’s and girls’ rights in At a thematic level, in 2020 GRULAC members of the humanitarian situations; rights of the child and a healthy Council led, inter alia, on the following issues: environment; implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and Special Rapporteur on the Argentina : enforced or involuntary disappearances; sale of children. Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; rights of At the country-specific level, GRULAC members of the women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations Council led, inter alia, on the following resolutions: on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Security

Council resolution 1325 (2000); trafficking in persons; and Brazil : situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Working Group on transnational corporations. Republic of Venezuela; and promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua. Brazil : technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights; safety of journalists; discrimination Chile : situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic against persons affected by leprosy; freedom of opinion of Venezuela; and promotion and protection of human and expression; mental health and human rights; adequate rights in Nicaragua. housing; the Olympic ideal; and the implementation of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Peru : situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; and promotion and protection of human Chile : local government; good governance; extreme rights in Nicaragua. poverty; and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mexico : terrorism and human rights; indigenous peoples; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; independence of the judiciary; Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; discrimination against women and girls; contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations; birth registration; Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; right to work; mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues; regional arrangements; and awareness raising on the rights of persons with disabilities.

| 57 Contribution to Council debates, panel discussions and dialogues in 2020

4 4 2 2 ArgentinaArgentina 7 7 1 1 BahamasBahamas 2 6 2 6 Brazil 2 8 3 Chile 2 8 3 Chile 1 1 Mexico 1 1 Mexico 1 2 9 5 Peru 1 2 9 5 5 1 UruguayPeru 5 1 VenezuelaUruguay 10 (Bolivarian Republic of) Venezuela 10 (Bolivarian Republic of)

Regional groups Subregional groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR YES NO PoliticalRegional Groups groups CrossSubregional Regional Statements groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Other Political Groups YES NO Cross Regional Statements Other

58 | Voting analysis

Concerning the one item 1 country-specific resolution Regarding item 7 resolutions (human rights situation on which a vote was called during 2020, namely, the in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories), Latin text on the human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the America and Caribbean members of the Council nearly 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath, GRULAC always voted in favour during 2020. The exceptions were members of the Council voted in favour, except for a Brazilian abstention during voting on a resolution on Bahamas (abstained), and Venezuela (voted against). Israeli settlements, and a Brazilian vote against a text on human rights in the Syrian Golan. Regarding their voting records on item 2 (annual report of the High Commissioner) texts, when a vote was called in Regarding the one item 10 resolution (technical assistance 2020, GRULAC members : and capacity-building) on which a vote was called in 2020, namely the resolution on cooperation with Georgia, • Tended to vote in favour of resolutions on the situation GRULAC members of the Council were divided: Bahamas, of human rights in Eritrea, promotion and protection of Peru and Mexico voted in favour; Argentina, Brazil, Chile human rights in Nicaragua and situation of human rights and Uruguay abstained; and Venezuela voted against. in Yemen. The exceptions to this rule were Venezuela (voted against the three texts) and Bahamas (abstained For item 3 resolutions, where a vote was called in 2020, during voting on Eritrea). GRULAC member States displayed markedly different voting records : • Tended to vote against or abstain on strengthening cooperation and technical assistance in the field of On the one hand, Argentina, Bahamas and Venezuela human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The tended to vote in favour of most thematic resolutions exceptions to this rule were Mexico and Venezuela (both (when a vote was called), including civil and political, voted in favour). as well as economic, social and cultural rights, and cross-cutting issues. The exceptions were Argentina’s • Tended to vote in favour of the one item 2 text on ensuring abstention during voting on eliminating inequality within accountability and justice for all violations of international and among States, and Bahamas’ abstentions during law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East voting on mutually beneficial cooperation, and on the Jerusalem. The exceptions were Uruguay and Bahamas mandate of the Independent Expert on foreign debt. which abstained, and Brazil which voted against. Along the same lines, Uruguay supported most texts During voting on item 4 resolutions, GRULAC members but abstained during voting on eliminating inequality of the Council tended to vote in favour of all texts. The within and among States, the Independent Expert on the exceptions were Venezuela which consistently voted promotion of a democratic and equitable international against item 4 during 2020; Bahamas, which abstained order, the right to development and human rights and during voting on a resolution on Belarus; Brazil, which unilateral coercive measures. abstained during voting on a text on Iran; and Uruguay, which abstained during voting on texts on Belarus On the other hand, Brazil, Mexico and Peru tended and Iran. to abstain or vote against most thematic texts (when a

| 59 vote was called). Notwithstanding, Peru voted in favour of resolutions on the right to development, the Independent Expert on international solidarity, human rights and unilateral coercive measures, and international cooperation; Mexico supported a text on mutually beneficial cooperation; and Brazil also voted in favour of the text on mutually beneficial cooperation as well as the one on the Independent Expert on international solidarity.

Finally, Chile voted in favour of five item 3 texts, namely, on: the responsibility to protect; human rights and unilateral coercive measures; Independent Expert on international solidarity; Independent Expert on foreign debt; and international cooperation; and abstained during voting of five others, namely, eliminating inequality, Independent Expert on equitable international order, right to development, negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Turning to agenda item 5 (human rights bodies and mechanisms), all GRULAC members voted in favour of the resolution on the contribution of the Council to the prevention of human rights violations, except Venezuela (which voted against).

Finally, all GRULAC members, except Venezuela (which abstained) voted in favour of the only item 8 (follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action) thematic resolution on which a vote was called during 2020, namely, the text on the contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter.

* Ratification and Reporting is recorded for eight “core human rights conventions” which include: the ICCPR, the ICESCR, CAT, the CED, the CEDAW, the CRC, the CERD, and the CRPD.

Note: for more comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

60 | Cooperation with human rights mechanisms

Argentina Bahamas Brazil Chile Mexico Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Standing invitation

Visits 1 2 2 3 1 2 3 1 6 4 1 1 status 1 5 4 10 1 15 1 2 2 13 17 1 24 7 12 30 2

Reported/completed Invited Accepted Requested Postponed / Cancelled

Communications response rate 17 0 39 11 39 9 7 24 SPECIAL PROCEDURES responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to 19 received 3 received 57 received 15 received 62 received 24 received 8 received 45 received 89% 0% 68% 73% 63% 38% 88% 53%

Core conventions rati ed 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 7 Communications procedures accepted 8 0 6 7 6 6 8 5

Core conventions rati ed in 2020 n.a. n.a.

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 Reporting 1 3 3 3 status 2 5 6 5 4 5 5 5 4

submitted on time on schedule submitted late overdue(outstanding) not party n/a

Most

TREATY BODIES TREATY overdue CRC CEDAW CCPR CESCR CEDAW CERD report nonenone (13 years) (5 years) (less than a none (3 years) (less than (5 years) (years) year) a year)

OPCAT

Rati ed?

NPM established?

Sub-Committee visit? 2012,2020 2011, 2015 2016 2008,2016 2013 2018

Reviewed in 2020?

Level Deputy NMIRF and Special Deputy of delegation Minister Minister Secretariat Minister Minister Minister Minister Minister (at latest review)

Mid-term reporting 1st , 2nd &3rdcycle rd st nd st nd REVIEW 3 cycle 1 & 2 cycle 1 & 2 cycle

Participation in other reviews UNIVERSAL PERIODIC (1st cycle) 120 0 167 107 172 17 48 49 Participation in other reviews (2nd cycle) 189 8 191 167 192 41 192 147

| 61 Western European and Others Group (WEOG) WESTERN EUROPEAN AND OTHERS GROUP Overview of Members

Voluntary Voluntary NHRI contribution to contribution to accreditation Membership OHCHR - 2019 OHCHR - 2020 status terms to date

Australia A 1

Austria B 2

Denmark A 1

Germany A 4

Italy 3

Netherlands A 4

Spain A 2

Note: For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology please see endnote.

Principal sponsorship

During 2020, the Western Europe and Others Group and lawyers; independence of the judiciary; and the (WEOG) members of the Council led (as main sponsors/ contribution of human rights to achieving the purposes of part of a core group) on a number of important resolutions, the Charter of the United Nations. covering both thematic and country-specific issues. Austria : safety of journalists; and the Special Rapporteur At thematic level, in 2020 WEOG members of the Council on minority issues. led, inter alia, on the following issues: Denmark : the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Australia : national human rights institutions; good Sustainable Development; and the mandate of the Special governance; rights of women and girls in conflict and Rapporteur on torture. post-conflict situations on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); Germany : water and sanitation; trafficking in persons; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and adequate housing.

62 | Netherlands : freedom of opinion and expression; and the Netherlands : situation of human rights in Eritrea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. situation of human rights in Yemen; and situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic (three texts). Spain : rights of women and girls in conflict and post- conflict situations on the occasion of the twentieth Notwithstanding such individual leadership, it is important anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000); to note that some WEOG Council members regularly work and water and sanitation. through the European Union (EU). In 2020, at thematic level, the EU led resolutions on: the rights of the child and At country-specific level, in 2020 WEOG members of the a healthy environment; freedom of religion or belief; and Council led, inter alia, on the following resolutions: mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children. At country-specific level, the EU led on the following Australia : situation of human rights in Eritrea. resolutions: situation of human rights in Belarus in the run- up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath; Austria : situation of human rights in Eritrea. situation of human rights in Belarus (general); situation of human rights in Burundi; situation of human rights in the Germany : situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; and situation of Republic (three texts); and situation of human rights in human rights in Myanmar. Eritrea.

Italy : situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic (three texts). 4 1 Australia 34 5 Austria 4 1 Australia 19 34 6 5 4 1 Denmark Australia 34 5 Austria 34 4 34 Germany 5 Austria Contribution to19 debates, panel34 discussions6 5 Denmark 34 3 19 andItaly dialogues34 in 20206 5 Denmark 34 4 Germany 3 34 6 4 1 Netherlands34 4 GermanyAustralia 34 3 Italy 34 3 34 34 Spain 3 5 ItalyAustria 3 34 6 Netherlands 3 19 34 34 6 6 5 NetherlandsDenmark 34 3 Spain 34 34 3 4 GermanySpain 34 3 Italy 3 34 6 Netherlands Regional groups 34 Subregional3 groups EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Spain Regional groups Political Groups YES NO Regional groups Subregional groupsCross Regional Statements EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR Subregional groups Political Groups Other EMPTY CHAIR INDICATOR YES NO Political Groups Cross Regional Statements YES NO Cross Regional StatementsOther Regional groups Note: This bar chart shows the numberOther of joint statements each State has joined during Council general debates, panel discussions, and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures.Subregional The empty groups chair symbol indicates whether, overall,EMPTY CHAIR the country,INDICATOR as a Council member, participated (individual statements) in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates, and interactive dialogues.YES NO For comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, pleasePolitical see endnote.Groups Cross Regional Statements | 63 Other Voting analysis

All WEOG members voted in favour of the only item 1 Concerning votes on item 7 resolutions (Occupied country-specific resolution on which a vote was called Palestinian Territories), WEOG members voted against a during 2020, namely on the situation of human rights in text on ‘human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan,’ but Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in favour of all other texts. The exceptions to this rule were in its aftermath. Australia, which voted against all texts, and Austria, which abstained during voting on the text on Israeli settlements. When a vote was called on agenda item 2 (reports of the High Commissioner) country-specific resolutions, WEOG All WEOG members voted in favour of the only item 10 members consistently voted in favour of texts on situation (technical assistance and capacity building) resolution on of human rights in Yemen, Eritrea and Nicaragua, and which a vote was called during 2020, namely, cooperation abstained during voting on resolutions on strengthening with Georgia. cooperation and technical assistance in the field of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (except for For thematic resolutions, WEOG members joined Australia, which voted against) and the text on ensuring consensus on most resolutions. Where votes were called accountability and justice for all violations of international during 2020, WEOG members tended to vote against item law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East 3 resolutions on the right to development, democratic and Jerusalem (except for Australia and Austria, which both equitable international order, responsibility to protect, voted against). international cooperation, unilateral coercive measures, mutually beneficial cooperation, foreign debt and Turning to texts tabled under item 4 (situations that eliminating inequality (except Austria, Germany, Italy and require the Council’s attention), WEOG members either Spain, which abstained during the voting on the latter); joined consensus on, or voted in favour of, all resolutions and voted in favour of the item 5 resolution on contribution on which a vote was called during 2020. This included of the Council to the prevention of human rights violations resolutions on the human rights situations in the and of the item 8 text on the contribution of human rights Syrian Arab Republic, situation of human rights in the to achieving the purposes of the UN Charter. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Iran, Myanmar, Burundi and Belarus.

* Ratification and Reporting is recorded for eight “core human rights conventions” which include: the ICCPR, the ICESCR, CAT, the CED, the CEDAW, the CRC, the CERD, and the CRPD.

Note: for more comprehensive information on data sources, timeframes, and methodology, please see endnote.

64 | Cooperation with human rights mechanisms

Australia Austria Denmark Germany Italy Netherlands Spain

Standing invitation

Visits 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 status 2 4 3 11 2 14 15 8 4 2 11

Reported/completed Invited Accepted Requested Postponed / Cancelled

Communications response rate 30 1 3 80 17 7 20 SPECIAL PROCEDURES responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to responded to 32 received 2 received 5 received 10 received 19 received 8 received 22 received 94% 50% 60% 80% 89% 88% 91%

Core conventions rati ed 7 8 7 8 8 8 8 Communications procedures accepted 5 6 6 7 7 5 8

Core conventions rati ed in 2020 n.a.

1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 Reporting 1 1 4 2 status 4 3 3 4 6 4 3 6

submitted on time on schedule submitted late overdue(outstanding) not party n/a

Most

TREATY BODIES TREATY overdue CERD CRC CEDAW report nonenone (5 years) none none none (less than a (less than a (years) year) year)

OPCAT

Rati ed?

NPM established?

Sub-Committee visit? 2020 2013 2015 2015 2017

Reviewed in 2020?

Level Human Rights First Deputy Oce of the of delegation Assistant Minister Minister Commissioner Minister Minister Ministry of (at latest review) Foreign Aairs

Mid-term reporting st st st nd nd st nd st nd

REVIEW 1 cycle 1 cycle 1 & 2 cycle 2 cycle 1 & 2 cycle 1 & 2 cycle

Participation in other reviews UNIVERSAL PERIODIC (1st cycle) 99 90 55 140 127 151 118 Participation in other reviews (2nd cycle) 190 102 111 177 158 189 192

| 65 yourHRC.org uses independent and objective data as the basis of its Methodology summaries and analyses. The origin of that data is primarily official Notes UN documents and information produced by other international organisations. To ensure transparency, information on the sources of all data used, together with the methodology applied and the timeframe, is presented below.

Section I The Council’s focus and output: Resolution and mechanisms Source: OHCHR website. OHCHR extranet. Timeframe: 2006-2020. Data as of: 19 October 2020

The focus of Council texts by agenda item (2008-2020) Source: Individual resolutions, decisions, and presidential statements. OHCHR extranet. Timeframe: 2008-2020 Data as of: 19 October 2020

Financial Implications of Council resolutions (2011-2020) Source: Individual PBIs. OHCHR extranet. Timeframe: 2011-2020 Data as of: 19 October 2020

Top themes in 2020: focus of thematic resolutions Source: Individual resolutions, decisions, and presidential statements. OHCHR extranet. Timeframe: 2020 Data as of: 19 October 2020

Geographic focus of the Council texts, special sessions, and panels (2006-2020) Source: Council texts: Individual resolutions, decisions, and presidential statements. OHCHR extranet; Special Sessions: OHCHR website; Panels: OHCHR website. Timeframe: 2006 - 2020 Data as of: 19 October 2020

Global coverage of the UN human rights system in 2020 Source: OHCHR website. UN Human Rights Appeal 2020. Timeframe: 2020 Data as of: 19 October 2020

State participation on Interactive Dialogues of Special Procedures in 2020 Source: HRC Extranet Data as of: 19 October 2020 Note: The level of participation in Interactive Dialogues with Special Procedures was calculated based on the individual statements listed on the OHCHR Extranet during the 2020 sessions (i.e. during the Council’s

66 | sessions 31-33). Joint statements on behalf of a group of States that Visits Completed & longest outstanding visit were not individually listed were not counted. Nevertheless, of course, Source: OHCHR website. States do also participate in this broader manner. Data as of: 19 October 2020. Note: The number of visits undertaken includes only visits that have Section II actually taken place, as listed on the OHCHR website (i.e. visits Overview of membership, members of the Bureau, of the reported as completed or with report forthcoming). The dates for the Consultative Group, and the Working Group on Situations most overdue visit are calculated according to the initial request date Source: OHCHR website – Human Rights Council. of the corresponding visit (regardless of subsequent reminders) or with Data as of: 19 October 2020. the earliest request date published, when the initial request date is not available. Visits with incomplete information (i.e., dates and status), Voluntary contribution to OHCHR (2019 and 2020) invitations, and visits postponed/cancelled have been excluded from Source: OHCHR website. the analysis. Visits by Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, Most recent information published by the OHCHR, data as of 19 October or visits to regional institutions/organisations are not included in this 2020. analysis.

NHRI Accreditation Status Communications response rate Source: Chart of the Status of National Institutions, accredited by the Source: OHCHR – Communication report and search database. Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI); Data as of: 19 October 2020. http://www.ganhri.org/ Most recent information published by the OHCHR, data as of 19 October 2020.

Previous membership terms Source: OHCHR website. Data as of: 19 October 2020.

Contribution to Council debates, panels, and dialogues Source: HRC Extranet. Data as of: 19 October 2020. Note: The participation of the members of the Council in group statements was calculated based on all joint statements listed on the HRC Extranet from March 2016 until September 2020 (i.e. during HRC sessions 31-39). Figures include statements not delivered due to lack of time.

The Empty Chair indicator was calculated based on the individual statements and joint statements other than political, regional or otherwise ‘fixed’ groups. A ‘YES’ shows that, during its current and last most recent membership terms (where applicable), the corresponding State participated in less than 10% of the total number of debates, interactive dialogues, and panel discussions.

Cooperation with human rights mechanisms Special Procedures Standing invitation Source: OHCHR website. Data as of: 19 October 2020.

| 67 Treaty Bodies Universal Periodic Review Status of Ratification and Reporting Universal Periodic Review Source: OHCHR website. Level of delegation Data as of: 19 October 2020. Source: The Head of a State’s delegation (for its last UPR) was Note: Ratification and Reporting is recorded for eight ‘core UN human determined using the report submitted by the corresponding State rights conventions,’ which include: the International Covenant on Civil during its last UPR. Where the rank of the representative was not clear, and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, the URG followed up with the relevant missions as far as possible. Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention against Torture and Data as of: 19 October 2020. Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Mid-term reporting Disappearance (CPED), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Source: OHCHR website.http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/ Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights Pages/UPRImplementation.aspx of the Child (CRC), the International Convention on the Elimination of Data as of: 19 October 2020. All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the Convention on the Note: The ‘mid-term reporting’ score relates to whether the State has Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). submitted a mid-term report for the first and/or the second cycles of UPR.

Treaty Body reporting dates relate to the State’s current reporting cycle, Participation in other reviews as listed on the OHCHR website. Source: UPR Info - ‘Statistics of UPR Recommendations.’ Data as of: 19 October 2020. Explanation of Options: Note: Participation in other reviews relates to the number of other States’ • SUBMITTED ON TIME: The State Party Report submitted the report reviews (out of 193) during which the corresponding State made (1 or before or on the due date; more) recommendations. • ON SCHEDULE: the current cycle due date is in the future; • SUBMITTED LATE: The State Party Report has been submitted for the Note: For updated information on all current and former Council current cycle, but was submitted late, i.e. after the due date; Members, visit yourHRC.org. • OUTSTANDING (OVERDUE): The current cycle report has not yet been submitted, and it is overdue; Photo credits: • NOT PARTY: The State has not ratified the respective Treaty; • N/A: No deadline has been set or data is not available. Palais des Nations, Geneva. The flags of the193 member states are back after the renovation of the “Allée des Drapeaux” at the Palais des Nations. The ‘most overdue’ report time is for the outstanding report with the 7 February 2014. UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré. Photo ID: 579261: earliest due date. UN Geneva. 41st Session of the Human Rights Council. A Voting during Reporting and ratification scores were calculated with the information 41st Session of the Human Rights Council. 12 July 2020. UN Photo/ published on the OHCHR website on the 19 October 2020 Jean Marc Ferré. UN Geneva. 41st Session of the Human Rights Council. A general view Communications procedures accepted of participants during 41st Session of the Human Rights Council. 1er Source: OHCHR website. July. 2020. UN Photo/ Jean Marc Ferré Data as of: 19 October 2020. UN Geneva. 42nds session of the Human Rights Council. Interpreters in Note: This figure relates to the acceptance of individual complaints Spanish language during 42nds session of the Human Rights Council. 9 procedures under each of the abovementioned core conventions. September 2020. UN Photo/ Jean Marc Ferré All licenses: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ OP-CAT by-nc-nd/2.0/ Source: OHCHR website. Data as of: 19 October 2020. Note: An ‘NPM’ is a ‘National Preventative Mechanism’.

68 | About yourHRC.org

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The present document is the third annual ‘yourHRC. Universal Rights Group org end-of-year report,’ offering an assessment of the Council’s work, output, achievements and shortfalls Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2E, Building 5 in 2020, and analysing the contributions of member CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland States to the work of the Council and the enjoyment T +41 22 555 09 60 | of human rights around the wor [email protected] design by mydear-agency.com and policymaking attheUNHumanRightsCounciland policymaking A window onto cooperation, dialogue,leadership yourHRC.org