The UN Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council provides a detailed insight into this important organization. The UN was founded in the hope that lasting peace would be built on the foundations of human rights and economic and social progress. In 2006 the Commission on Human Rights was replaced by the Human Rights Council as the principal UN body concerned with human rights. It is even possible that the council might eventually become a principal organ of the world organization.
The Human Rights Council is already the subject of major public interest and controversy. The Council has been criticized for having dropped some of the protection strategies of the former commission and this book aims to present a balanced view of the council, outlining its current role, acknowledging where it has made positive contributions, highlighting the deficiencies, and identifying options for improving the body’s future work.
This book is destined to become the leading text on the Human Rights Council and will be essential reading for all those concerned with the future of international relations international organizations and human rights.

Bertrand G. Ramcharan is a Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn and Senior Fellow at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, CUNY, USA. His publications include Contemporary Human Rights Ideas (2008)

Introduction 1. The Mandate and Roles 2. Institutional and Procedural Architecture 3. The Universal Periodic Review 4. The Legislative Role 5. Promotional and Educational Role 6. Preventive Role 7. Fact-finding Role 8. Protection Role 9. The Advisory Committee 10. NGOs and the Council Conclusions