Resources and Tools

An example of the Human Rights Council Programme of Work (June session).

An example of the Human Rights Council Programme of Work (March session).

A map of the seating arrangement inside Room XX of the Palais des Nations, where the main meeting of the Council takes place. The seating plan changes every year to reflect the membership. You can use this to help you know where to look for diplomats from a particular country.

This calendar of events at the Human Rights Council is useful to plan dates of your visit to Geneva, and to see what other opportunities and events you might take advanatge of while you are in Geneva.

This is a detailed annotated map of the main UN building in Geneva - the Palais des Nations.

This map of Geneva shows you where the main UN buildings (Palais des Nations, Palais Wilson, and others) are located.

With ECOSOC accreditation, an NGO has greater rights to participate in the processes of the UN. However, the accreditation process is in the hands of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO Committee. The Committee is well-known for its politicised practice, particularly in regard to human rights organisations. Changing the practice of the Committee and ensure its processes are fair, transparent and apolitical will ultimately require a change in the membership. This video provides background on the Committee and how each of us can help safeguard NGO participation at the UN.

ISHR and ILGA have reviewed the work of 14 UN Special Procedures to compile factsheets listing the references and recommendations made by UN experts regarding LGBTI persons, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression. Focusing on the Special Procedures that have made the most regular and in-depth references to issues affecting LGBTI persons, the factsheets examine all thematic reports, reports arising from country visits, and communications sent to different States between January 2011 and November 2018.

This publication is useful for those who wish to learn more about the Human Rights Council and how it functions as an institution, including political dimensions. It explains the structures, procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, illustrating each point with examples drawn from Council practice.

English Version. Available in English and French.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) can be accredited to participate in the Human Rights Council’s sessions, and address the Council during interactive discussions and debates thus highlighting human rights situations around the globe. This is a practical guide for NGO participants about accreditation, attending the Council session, access to the public gallery, requesting a room for a parallel or side event, making an oral statement, documentation and resources, and participation in general.

English Version. Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.