Resources and Tools

The submission addresses the legal basis for the protection of individuals who cooperate with the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary mechanisms. It identifies practical steps that the Council, its President and its Bureau could take to ensure that they comply with their obligations under international law and with the Council’s mandate to promote universal respect for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

The Yogyakarta Principles address a broad range of human rights standards and their application to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Principles affirm the primary obligation of States to implement human rights. Each Principle is accompanied by detailed recommendations to States. The experts emphasise that all actors have responsibilities to promote and protect human rights. Additional recommendations are addressed to other actors, including the UN human rights system, national human rights institutions, the media, non-governmental organisations, and funders.

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

Since the Yogyakarta Principles were adopted in 2006, they have developed into an authoritative statement of the human rights of persons of ‘diverse sexual orientations and gender identities’. The Yogyakarta Principles plus 10 (YP+10) supplements the original 29, and aims to document and elaborate these developments through a set of Additional Principles and State Obligations. YP+10 should be read alongside the original 29 Yogyakarta Principles. Together, these documents provide an authoritative, expert exposition of international human rights law as it currently applies to the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

English Version. Available in Chinese and English.

Since the inception of the Human Rights Council, the Easier Said Than Done (ESTD) series has reviewed Commonwealth member states’ performance at the Council. The series provides a basis for evaluating Commonwealth countries’ engagement with the Council and considers if their voting behavior in support of resolutions is consistent with their voluntary pledges and commitments to the Council. A link to the ESTD Report for the 38th session of the Human Rights Council is provided here, and you can access other reports at: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publication

This video features the personal accounts of human rights defenders detailing the plight of targeted individuals who face life-altering consequences after cooperating with the UN. These acts of retaliation by the State are known as reprisals, and can include travel bans, stalking, personal threats or threats against the family, detainment and in many cases even conviction. The video provides information on the role of the UN Assistant Secretary General, senior official on reprisals.

An example of a weak statement by a State at the Human Rights Council. This statement focuses on the Commission of Enquiry on Burundi.

An example of a good statement by States made at the Human Rights Council. This statement focuses on the acts of reprisals and intimidation in Egypt against individuals who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

An example of a good (joint) statement made by States at the Human Rights Council. This joint statement aims to offer guidance on when the Council should engage with a concerned State, to prevent, respond to or address violations and to assist in de-escalation of a situation of concern.

An example of a resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council. This resolution creates a commission of inquiry to conduct an investigation into human rights violations in Burundi, and includes details on the scope of its mandate, including identifying perpetrators, making recommendations, and presenting a report to the General Assembly.

An example of a flyer promoting a side event at the Human Rights Council.