The UN Human Rights Council is the subsidiary body of the General Assembly with a mandate to promote worldwide respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind. 

Established in 2006 under UNGA resolution 60/251, the Council is an inter-governmental body made up of 47 United Nations Member States elected by the General Assembly for an initial period of three years, extendable for not more than two consecutive terms. In addition to special sessions and meetings, the Council normally meets in Geneva in three ordinary sessions per year for an overall period of at least ten working weeks. Furthermore, although it is a body of Government representatives, the Council is open to the contributions of nongovernmental organisations which enjoy advisory status with the ECOSOC, which may participate in the meetings and submit written documents, and of National Human Rights Institutions accredited at GANHRI.

The Council has established several different “mechanisms” for monitoring human rights (resolution A/HRC/RES/5/1 of June 2007), including: the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Special Procedures (which include mandates by Country and thematic mandates), the Advisory Committee and a Complaints Procedure.