Chronology of Events

revised on 8 June 2022
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Human Rights

October 2023

On 27 October, Security Council members held an Arria-formula meeting on “violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law investigated by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine”. The meeting was co-organised by Albania, the UK, and the US. The three members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine briefed: Erik Møse (Chair), Pablo de Greiff, and Vrinda Grover.

March 2023

On 20 March, Security Council members held an Arria-formula meeting on “Integrating the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Persons into the Council’s Mandate for Maintaining International Peace and Security”. The meeting was organised by the United States. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (US) chaired the meeting and US Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons Jessica Stern  participated as part of the US delegation. The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) Victor Madrigal-Borloz briefed.

On 17 March, Albania and the US convened an Arria-formula meeting titled “the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)”. The meeting was co-sponsored by Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK). UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK Elizabeth Salmón, Chief of the Prevention and Sustaining Peace Section at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) James Turpin, and two refugees from the DPRK briefed. The meeting was not broadcast on UNTV after China raised an objection to webcasting it on the official UN channel; however, it was streamed on the Albanian mission’s Facebook page.  

December 2022

On 9 December, Security Council members discussed the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) under “any other business”. The meeting was requested by Albania and the United States. There were no briefers.

June 2022

On 2 June, Albania organised a high-level open debate on strengthening accountability and justice for violations of international law as one of the signature events of its presidency. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed, among others.

May 2022

On 5 May, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on the situation in Ukraine. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed, among others.

April 2022

On 27 April, in the ECOSOC chamber, Albania and France convened an Arria-formula meeting on “Ensuring accountability for atrocities committed in Ukraine”. The meeting was co-sponsored by Council members Ireland, Norway, the UK and the US, as well as a regionally diverse group of non-Council members. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed, among others.

January 2022

On 18 January, the Security Council held a ministerial-level open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) titled “Protecting participation: addressing violence targeting women in peace and security processes” at which UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed.

December 2021

Council members discussed the human rights situation in the DPRK on 11 December 2020, following a request from Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, the UK, and the US. These members initially requested an open videoconference (VTC) meeting with a briefing from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. China and Russia opposed having an open meeting, which prompted the members seeking the briefing to request a VTC meeting under “any other business”. (Consensus is not required for a discussion under “any other business”, which is a standing agenda item in all closed consultations.)

September 2020

On 4 September, an Arria-formula meeting on human rights in Belarus was held via videoconference (VTC). The meeting was co-organised by Council members Estonia, the UK and the US and co-sponsored by Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, chaired the meeting, and the briefers were Anaïs Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian opposition presidential candidate; Valiantsin Stefanovic, Vice-Chairman of Viasna, a Minsk-based Human Rights Center; and Volha Siakhovich, a law expert for the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

July 2020

On 28 July, members of the Council held an informal meeting with the President of the Human Rights Council, Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger.  

On 7 July, the Council held an open debate via VTC under the agenda item UN peace operations on the topic peacekeeping operations and human rights (S/2020/674). A concept note (S/2020/604) was circulated ahead of the debate by Germany, Council president for July. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Federal Minister of Defencedelivered Germany’s national-capacity statementThe briefers were Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS, and Dismas Kitenge Senga of the Kisangani (DRC) civil society organisation, Lotus. 

In an attachment to a 1 July note verbale, Belgium, Estonia, France, and Germany circulated a letter from the Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures (S/2020/631).

March 2020

On 6 March, there was an open Arria-formula meeting on Crimea, hosted by Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, the UK, and the US in partnership with Ukraine. The focus of the meeting, which took place at the Trusteeship Council, was on the human rights situation in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the OHCHR in New York, was one of the briefers.

February 2020

On 13 February, the Security Council held an open debate on “transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict situations” under the peacebuilding and sustaining peace agenda item. The briefers were Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights (via VTC); Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition of Colombia; and Yasmin Sooka, Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa, Trustee of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre and Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. On 21 February, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Niger, and the UK co-hosted an Arria-formula meeting entitled “Reprisals against women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders who engage with the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies”. Briefers were Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the New York office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Madeleine Rees, the Secretary-General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; and Shalini Eddens, the Director of Programs of the “Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights”.

February 2020

On 19 February, an Arria-formula meeting was held on the Commission of Inquiry’s January 2020 report on children’s rights in Syria entitled: “They have erased the dreams of my children”. The meeting was organised by Germany with Estonia and the UK as co-sponsors. Paulo Pinheiro, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, briefed.

August 2019

On 23 August, an Arria-formula meeting was held on: “Mass Atrocity Crimes in Myanmar: Where do we stand on accountability?” The meeting was organised by Germany, Kuwait and Peru and focused on the Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar report. Radhika Coomaraswamy, member of the Fact-Finding Mission and author of the report by the FFM on sexual violence; Representative of the Independent Commission of Enquiry; Esther Htu San, Pulitzer-Prize-winning investigative journalist from Myanmar; Wakar Uddin, Director General of the Arakan Rohingya Union and founding chairman of the Burmese Rohingya Association North America briefed.

On 22 August, an open Arria-formula was held in the ECOSOC chamber on: “Advancing the safety and security of persons belonging to religious minorities in armed conflict”. The meeting was organised by Poland in partnership with the UK and the US and non-Council members Brazil, Canada, and Jordan. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet briefed (via video-teleconference), as well as three civil society representatives.

June 2019

On 14 June, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour briefed the Council, along with Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on the UN/AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). On 25 June, Gilmour briefed the Council, along with Special Representative for South Sudan and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer and a civil society representative, on the situation in South Sudan.

May 2019

On 30 May, Russia and China sent a letter to the President of the Security Council stating  the “Human Rights Council is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and as such is not authorized to interact with the Security Council” (S/2019/449).

April 2019

On 3 April, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, briefed the Council during a debate on Haiti, along with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations and Loune Viaud, the Executive Director of Zanmi Lasante, one of Haiti’s largest non-governmental health‑care providers. On 10 April, Germany hosted a breakfast for Security Council members with the President of the Human Rights Council, Coley Seck. Following the meeting, Germany sent a note verbale dated 30 April addressed to the President of the Security Council, which was circulated as a document of the Council (S/2019/356). It annexed a note from Seck on a proposal made at the breakfast regarding opportunities to organize informal discussions in Geneva between the members of the Human Rights Council and the President of the Security Council for the month. On 17 April, there was a closed Arria-formula meeting on human rights in peace operations. Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Kuwait, and Peru sponsored the meeting. The briefers were the heads of human rights components of three UN peace operations: Danielle Bell of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI); Guillaume Ngefa of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); and Abdoul Aziz Thioye of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). In an attachment to a 30 April note verbale, Belgium, France and Germany circulated a letter from the Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures (S/2019/357).

March 2019

On 11 March, France and Peru co-hosted an Arria-formula meeting on “Human rights, accountability and justice: contributions to international peace and security”. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares, and former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) Theodor Meron, briefed Council members. This marked the first time Bachelet briefed Council members in her capacity as High Commissioner since 1 September 2018. On 20 March, an OHCHR representative was present at a briefing under “any other business” on Myanmar, at which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten briefed Council members.

December 2018

In December, the Council broke with the practice of holding an annual meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK because of a lack of sufficient support by members. Each year since 2014, the discussion of the agenda item “the situation in the DPRK” has required a procedural vote in order to be included on the programme of work. In December, however, proponents could not gather nine members to sign the letter requesting the meeting. (Council decisions of a procedural nature need nine affirmative votes for a decision to be adopted, and the veto does not apply.)

October 2018

On 18 October, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on the Middle East (Israel/Palestine) (S/PV.8375 and Resumption 1). Hagai El-Ad, an Israeli human rights activist who serves as the Executive Director of B’Tselem, was one of the briefers. On 24 October, the Security Council received a briefing from Marzuki Darusman, the chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, on the Mission’s report, which was released on 27 August (S/PV.8381). On 26 October, Poland, in partnership with Bolivia, France, Germany and South Africa, organised an Arria-formula meeting on the plight and rights of children born of wartime sexual violence. Charo Mina-Rojas, an Afro-Colombian human rights defender from the Human Rights and International Working Group of Proceso de Comunidades Negras, was one of the briefers. On 30 October, the Netherlands hosted a lunch for Security Council members with the president of the Human Rights Council, Vojislav Šuc.

September 2018

On 13 September, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour briefed the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee.

August 2018

On 8 August, Council members held a lunch with newly-appointed High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, as requetsed by Kuwait. On 9 August, an OHCHR representative was present during consultations on Burundi.

July 2018

On 2 July, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour briefed the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee. On 23 July, Council members met in consultations to discuss the situation in Myanmar and the Rohingya refugee crisis where Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was present to answer questions.

May 2018

On 14 May, the Council was briefed by Ambassador Mansour Al Otaibi (Kuwait), Ambassador Gustavo Meza Cuadra Velásquez (Peru) and Ambassador Karen Pierce (UK), the three co-leads on the Council’s visiting mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar from 28 April to 1 May (S/PV.8255). Following the briefing, Council members held consultations, during which High Commissioner for Refugees Fillipo Grandi briefed by VTC. An OHCHR representative was present to answer questions during consultations. On 24 May, a briefing on Burundi was followed by consultations where an OHCHR representative was present to answer questions (S/PV.8268).

March 2018

On 12 March, an OHCHR representative briefed during an AOB on the G5/Sahel. On 19 March, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, was expected to brief the Council in the open chamber on the human rights situation in Syria (S/PV.8209). The meeting was requested by France, with the support of the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, the UK and the US. However, the meeting did not take place, following the failure of a procedural motion to convene the meeting. Bolivia, China, Kazakhstan and Russia voted against the motion, while Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia abstained on it. Directly following the vote, the UK, US, France and Sweden called for an Arria-formula meeting at which the High Commissioner then briefed that day.

 

February 2018

On 13 February, the Council was briefed on Myanmar by High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (via VTC) and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča (S/PV.8179). The briefing was followed by consultations, where Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was present to answer questions. On 26 February, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Michel Kafando, briefed the Council on Burundi (S/PV.8189). The briefing was followed by consultations, where an OHCHR representative was present to answer questions.

Januray 2018

On 9 January, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/PV.8153). The briefing was followed by consultations, where Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was present to answer questions.

 

December 2017

On 11 December, the Council held its fourth meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The briefers were the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein (by video teleconference) and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča (S/PV.8130).

November 2017

On 13 November 2017, Council members took part in an Arria-formula meeting on the situation in Venezuela. The meeting was organised by the US in partnership with Italy. Briefers included Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Huessein; Joseph Donnelly of Caritas Internationalis; and Julio Henriquez of the Venezuelan human rights NGO Foro Penal.

June 2017

On 6 June, the US’s Ambassador to the UN in New York and its principal Security Council representative, Nikki Haley, addressed the Human Rights Council (HRC) during its 35th session, reiterating that the US is still considering whether to withdraw from the Geneva-based body. Haley accused the HRC of having an anti-Israel bias and of allowing countries that violate human rights to gain membership, specifically highlighting the case of Venezuela (the Security Council had discussed the situation in Venezuela under “any other business” on 17 May at the request of the US). On 12 June, Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, briefed the Council via video teleconference during a meeting on the situation in the Central African Republic (S/PV.7965).

May 2017

On 25 May, Christine Beerli, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy of Human Rights Watch, briefed the Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians and medical care in armed conflict (S/PV.7951). On 30 May, Radhya Al-Mutawakel of the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, a Yemeni civil society organisation, briefed the Council during a meeting on Yemen (S/PV.7954).

April 2017

On 21 April, the P3 organised an Arria-formula meeting with the HRC Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Its chair Paulo Pinheiro and fellow commissioner Karen AbuZayd described violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed in Syria. France and the UK drew attention to the CoI’s report in a 27 April letter. On 18 April, the US organised a meeting under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security” focusing on “human rights and prevention of armed conflict” with a briefing by the Secretary-General. All 15 Council members took the floor during a discussion that lasted for over two hours. The meeting marked the first time that the Council discussed human rights thematically. The US had initially wanted to hold the discussion under a new agenda item titled “human rights and international peace and security”. Adding this new thematic item encountered opposition from some Council members, however, and to avoid a procedural vote (where there would be no veto and nine “yes” vote would have been sufficient for the decision to stand), the US chose to use an existing broad agenda item with a subtitle indicating the meeting’s human rights focus. On the day of the meeting, Venezuela, on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), transmitted to the Council president a NAM communiqué, expressing concern over the Council’s encroachment on the purview of other UN bodies. The Secretary-General focused his remarks on the importance of preventing conflict rather than responding to crises and highlighted in this context the value of human rights information and action.

March 2017

On 17 March, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was present to answer questions at a briefing under “any other business” on Myanmar. On 14 March, the Council held a ministerial-level open debate on “Trafficking in persons in conflict situations: forced labour, slavery and other similar practices” where Ilwad Elman, a Mogadishu-based Somali human rights activist briefed by video teleconference, under Rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure.

February 2017

On 24 February, Senegal, Sweden and Uruguay co-hosted a closed Arria-formula meeting with the heads of human rights components of three UN peace operations: MONUSCO, UNMISS and UNSOM. On 23 February, Council members were briefed in consultations by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour on the situation in South Sudan.

December 2016

On 9 December, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour briefed during a meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. On 5 December, Gilmour briefed in consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

November 2016

On 17 November, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour was present to answer questions at a briefing under “any other business” on Myanmar. On 2 November, Gilmour briefed under “any other business” on the situation in Mosul, Iraq.

October 2016

On 12 October, Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, the Deputy Head of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Pablo de Greiff, the special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, briefed on Burundi at an informal briefing of experts.

July 2016

On 19 July, Maymuchka Lauriston and Anthony Cardon from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Pablo de Greiff, the special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, briefed on Burundi at an informal briefing of experts.

May 2016

On 11 May, Danielle Bell, Director of Human Rights at UNAMA, briefed on Afghanistan at an informal briefing of experts.

April 2016

On 29 April, Chloe Marnay-Baszanger from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed on the consolidation of protection functions at an informal expert group meeting on children and armed conflict.

March 2016

On 31 March, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore briefed at a meeting on South Sudan (S/PV.7663). On 18 March, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed at a meeting on the situation in Burundi (S/PV.7652). Also on 18 March, Zeid briefed at an Arria-formula meeting organised by Ukraine on the human rights situation in Crimea. On 2 March, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović participated and provided the closing remarks at a closed Arria-formula meeting with the heads of human rights components of five peace operations.

February 2016

On 25 February, Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, the Deputy Head of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed under “any other business” on Myanmar. On 19 February, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefed at a meeting on the situation in South Sudan (S/PV.7628).

January 2016

On 15 January, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Ŝimonović, held an unofficial briefing for Council members on the human rights situation in Burundi, ahead of the Council’s trip to the country from 20-24 January. Russia, China and Spain did not attend.

December 2015

On 22 December, the Security Council held a meeting on Yemen, with a briefing by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein (S/PV.7596). On 11 December, the Council held a meeting on the situation in Ukraine, which included a briefing by Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (S/PV.7576). On 10 December, the Security Council held a meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which included a briefing by the High Commissioner (S/PV.7575). Also on 10 December, Šimonović briefed the Counterterrorism Committee on Somalia. On 8 December, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Šimonović briefed at a working breakfast with the five incoming members of the Security Council. On 7 December, Šimonović briefed on Somalia at an informal briefing of protection of civilians experts.

November 2015

On 12 November, Security Council members held a closed Arria-formula meeting with the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria, organised by the UK. This was the Council’s sixth Arria-formula meeting with the Commission of Inquiry. Paulo Pinheiro, the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, and commissioner Karen Koning AbuZayd briefed. On 9 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed the Council (via video teleconference from Geneva) on the situation in Burundi (S/PV.7553).

August 2015

On 28 August, Council members were briefed during informal consultations by the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, during “any other business”. In addition, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović was present to answer questions on human rights issues in Myanmar. On 10 August, Council members were briefed in consultations on the situation in Burundi by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Ŝimonović.

July 2015

On 9 July, Zeid briefed the Council via video teleconference from Geneva about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Burundi ahead of the country’s presidential elections (S/PV.7482). On 8 July, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed the Council via video teleconference from Geneva on the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide (S/PV.7481). On 2 July, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefed Council members in consultations on Burundi.

June 2015

On 26 June, France and Spain organised an Arria formula meeting on the impact of barrel bombs in Syria, with Bassam Alahmad (Violations Documentation Center); Nadim Houry (Human Rights Watch); Raed Saleh (Syria Civil Defence or the “White Helmets”). On 19 June, the US organised an Arria formula meeting on the human rights situation in Darfur, with Hina Jilani, fomer member of the Darfur Commission of Inquiry established by the Council in resolution 1564, Abdelrahman Gasim of the Darfur Bar Association; and Hawa Abdalla, an IDP camp activist. On 19 June, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic briefed at an informal briefing of protection of civilians experts on Afghanistan.

May 2015

On 30 May, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefed the Council in consultations on options for criminal accountability and transitional justice in South Sudan. On 28 May, High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed Council members under “any other business” via video teleconference on the human rights situation in Myanmar, with a focus on the situation of the Rohingya and the related migration crisis in Southeast Asia. On 13 May, High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed the Council during an open debate on small arms (S/PV.7442). On 12 May, Simonovic briefed in consultations on accountability options in South Sudan. On 11 May, the High Commissioner and Šimonović briefed at a working breakfast with the five newest Council members.

April 2015

On 9 April, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefed in consultations on accountability options in South Sudan. On 6-7 April, Šimonović briefed at the annual retreat at Greentree.

March 2015

On 27 March, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, briefed the Council via video teleconference from Geneva during a ministerial-level open debate on the situation of persecuted ethnic or religious minorities in the Middle East (S/PV.7419). On 19 March, Lithuania organised an Arria formula meeting on the human rights situation, media freedom and situation of the national minorities in Crimea and in eastern Ukraine with the leader of the Crimean Tatar National Movement, Mustafa Dzhemilev and a representative of the Crimean Field Mission on Human Rights, Andrey Zubarev. On 6 March, the Council held a briefing on the political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Ukraine with briefings by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, OCHA official John Ging and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović (S/PV.7400).

February 2015

On 24 February, the Council held a meeting on South Sudan with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović (S/PV.7392). On 20 February, the UK organised an Arria formula meeting with all four commissioners of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria, its chair Paulo Pinheiro and members Karen Koning; Abu Zayd; Carla del Ponte; and Vitit Muntarbhorn.

January 2015

On 23 January, Lithuania hosted an Arria formula meeting with heads of human rights components of UN peace operations. Claudio Cordone (UN Support Mission in Libya, UNSMIL), Georgette Gagnon (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA) and Guillaume Ngefa (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA) briefed; Giuseppe Calandruccio (UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti) and Scott Campbell (former head of the Joint UN Human Rights Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) were available to answer questions. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović provided concluding remarks. On 20 January, Council members were briefed by Fatimata M’Baye and Philip Alston in an Informal Interactive Dialogue on the final report of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic (CAR) established in resolution 2127 to investigate violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and abuses of human rights in the CAR.

December 2014

On 22 December, the Council held a meeting on the situation in the Democratic Peaople’s Republic of Korea, with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović (S/PV.7353). (At the initiative of Australia, ten Council members requested that the situation in the DPRK “be formally placed on the Council’s agenda”. Following objections by China, the agenda for the 22 December meeting was put to a vote. This was the Council’s first Council procedural vote since 15 September 2006.)

November 2014

On 18 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein briefed the Council on Iraq (S/PV.7314).

October 2014

On 28 October, Chaloka Beyani, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons briefed the Council during an open debate on women, peace and security, with a special focus on displaced women and girls (S/PV.7289). On 24 October, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović on the situation in Ukraine (S/PV.7287).

August 2014

On 26 August, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed at a working breakfast with the permanent five. On 21 August, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during an open debate on conflict prevention (S/PV.7247). On 8 August, Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, briefed the Council (via video-teleconference) on the human rights situation in Ukraine and the latest UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Report (S/PV.7239).

July 2014

On 25 July 2014, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro and Karen AbuZayd of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria briefed the Council during an Arria formula meeting organised by the UK. On 10 July, Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, briefed during closed consultations on Burundi.

June 2014

On 24 June, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović on the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (S/PV.7205).

May 2014

Australia and Chile organised an Arria formula briefing on 30 May on the protection of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs Chaloka Beyani among the speakers. On 21 May, the UK requested consultations on the human rights situation in Ukraine with Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović briefing and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco briefing on the latest political developments. On 2 May, the Council held a public briefing on South Sudan during which High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng briefed on their 28-30 April visit to South Sudan (S/PV.7168).

April 2014

On 23 April, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, briefed Council members on the situation in South Sudan. (Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous also briefed.) On 21-22 April, Šimonovic briefed at the annual retreat at Greentree. Šimonović also briefed the Council during a public meeting on 16 April on Ukraine, one day after a report based on his findings from his two visits to Ukraine in March (from 6-8 and 21-22 March) was published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (S/PV.7157). On 17 April, in an Arria formula meeting organised by Australia, France and the US, Council members were briefed on the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea (S/2014/276) by the Commission Chair, Michael Kirby, and Commission members Sonja Biserko and Marzuki Darusman. On 15 April, France convened an Arria formula meeting on the Report into the Credibility of Certain Evidence with regard to Torture and Execution of Persons Incarcerated by the Current Syrian Regime (codenamed the Caesar Report, S/2014/244) during which the authors of the report, David M. Crane and Dr. Stuart J. Hamilton, presented their work. On 9 April, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and Šimonović briefed at a working breakfast with the non-permanent members of the Security Council (elected in 2013) on human rights in the peace and security agenda. On 8 April, the High Commissioner briefed Council members in consultations on the situations in the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, South Sudan and Syria.

March 2014

On 31 March, Council members were briefed at an Arria formula organised by Lithuania on the situation in Ukraine by Valentyna Samar, Crimean journalist, Director of the Information Press Center in Simferopol and Mustafa Dzhemilev, human rights activist, member of the Verkhova Rada of Ukraine, former Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Simferopol, Crimea. On 19 March, the Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, who had just returned from a 7-18 March visit to Ukraine (S/PV.7144). On 14 March, Council members held an “Arria-formula” meeting chaired by France and Nigeria that focused on communal and religious tensions and violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). The speakers were Adama Dieng, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, and the leaders of the main religious communities in the CAR: Dieudonné Nzapalainga, the Archbishop of Bangui; Imam Oumar Kobine Layama, President of the CAR Islamic Community; and Nicolas Guérékoyame Gbangou, President of the Alliance of Evangelicals of the CAR.

February 2014

On 12 February, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during the semi-annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PV.7109). On 5 February, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and Simonovic briefed at a working breakfast with the non-permanent members of the Security Council (elected in 2014) on human rights in the peace and security agenda.

January 2014

On 23 January, the Council was briefed in consultations on the situation in South Sudan by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović on his trip to South Sudan from 14-17 January. On 22 January, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, briefed the Council on the situation in the Central African Republic (S/PV.7098).

December 2013

On 13 December, the Council held an Arria formula meeting on the protection of journalists co-chaired by Ambassador Gérard Araud (France) and Ambassador Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala) with, among others, Frank La Rue, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

November 2013

On 1 November, the Council convened with members of various UN organs and civil society for an Arria formula meeting on “The human rights and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic”, co-hosted by Ambassadors Gérard Araud (France) and Eugéne-Richard Gasana (Rwanda). Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović was among the participants.

October 2013

On 18 October, the Council was briefed during the annual open debate on women, peace and security and the implementation of resolution 1325 by High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay (S/PV.7044).

August 2013

On 19 August, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict via video teleconference from Geneva (S/PV.7019). On 14 August, the Council was briefed on the situation in the Central African Republic by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović (S/PV.7017).

July 2013

On 17 July, Assistant Secretary-General Ivan Šimonović briefed at an informal expert-level briefing on Guinea Bissau. On 16 July, the Council was briefed on the situation in Syria by Šimonović (S/PV.7000). 

June 2013

On 21 June, Council members met with Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro and Karen Koning AbuZayd of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria in a closed Arria formula format session organised by Australia.

February 2013

On 12 February, the Council was briefed during an open debate on the protection of civilians by High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay (S/PV.6917 and Resumption 1).

January 2013

On 18 January, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council in consultations on the situation in Syria. On 15 January, Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, gave an informal expert-level briefing to Council members on his mission to Côte d’Ivoire.

December 2012

On 4 December, the 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee members met with the UN Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson.

November 2012

In November, Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, gave an informal expert-level briefing to Council members on his mission to Mali.

October 2012

On 12 October, Portugal held a closed Arria formula meeting allowing Council members to informally meet with Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the chair of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Karen Koning AbuZayd, fellow commissioner, and Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, also briefed the Council.

August 2012

On 28 August, Germany hosted an informal meeting with Georgette Gagnon, the head of the human rights component of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), for the Syria and human rights experts of the Security Council members’ delegations.

July 2012

On 2 July, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed Council members in consultations on Libya, Syria and Israel/Palestine. The following day, Pillay briefed Council members in consultations on Sudan and South Sudan (Referred to in S/2012/629). On 26 July, 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee members met with the UN Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson.

June 2012

On 25 June, the Council was briefed during an open debate on the protection of civilians by Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (S/PV.6790 and Resumption 1).

May 2012

Acting on the recommendation of the Secretary-General (A/66/802), the General Assembly extended for two years the appointment of Navi Pillay as High Commissioner for Human Rights on 24 May (A/66/PV.110). On 16 May, Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, gave an informal expert-level briefing to the Council on his mission to DRC and Burundi.

April 2012

One of the topics discussed during the 3-4 April 2012 annual retreat of the Security Council was the tools that the Security Council can use and different approaches it can take when confronting situations where there have been gross human rights violations and mass atrocities. Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was among retreat participants.

March 2012

On 22 March, Germany organised an Arria-formula meeting for Council members to meet with members of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria (Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro [Brazil], Karen Koning AbuZayd [US], and Yakin Ertürk [Turkey]).

February 2012

On 7 February, the Council members attended a closed Arria formula meeting on human rights and peacekeeping. The meeting, organised by Portugal, aimed at increasing Council members’ understanding of the work of the human rights components of peace operations. Council members heard from High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the human rights heads in the missions in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Liberia.

January 2012

On 25 January, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council on the situation in Libya. (S/PV.6707)

December 2011

On 12 December, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council in consultations on the continued widespread violations of human rights in Syria during consultations. (Referred to in S/PV.6692 and S/2012/359)

November 2011

On 9 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PV.6650 and Resumption 1). On 1 November, Portugal organised a workshop with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on “Accountability and Fact-Finding Mechanisms for Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law: The Role of the Security Council–Past and Future.” Kyung-wha Kang, the then Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Francesca Marotta, the Chief at the Methodology and Training Section of the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, made a statement.

August 2011

On 18 August, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council in consultations on Syria (Referred to in S/2012/24). The following day, Pillay briefed the Council in consultations on South Kordofan and Libya (Referred to in S/2012/24). During the morning, France had hosted a breakfast meeting for Pillay with Security Council members (Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, South Africa and UK) on Sri Lanka, South Kordofan, and Libya with a focus on the protection of civilians.

July 2011

On 28 July, Šimonović briefed Council members in consultations on the human rights situation in Southern Kordofan (Sudan) (reffered to in S/2011/525). On 15 July, Germany invited Šimonović, to be present for questions during informal consultations with DPKO and OCHA on South Kordofan. Members did not ask any questions to OHCHR. From 1-4 July, Turkey hosted an informal retreat for members of the Security Council in Istanbul entitled “Strengthening Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation.” The retreat gathered ambassadorial-level representatives of the Security Council together with several member states at large, and senior officials of the UN Secretariat, including Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in New York Ivan Šimonović, and independent experts.

May 2011

On 10 May, the Council was briefed during an open debate on the protection of civilians by Ivan Šimonović, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the New York Office of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (S/PV.6531 and Resumption 1).

April 2011

On 13 April, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire (S/PV.6513).

March 2011

In March, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng, briefed the Council on the general work of his office during informal consultations.

November 2010

In informal consultations on 24 November, the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee heard a briefing by the Special Representative on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, John Ruggie. On 22 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians (S/PV.6427 and Resumption 1).

July 2010

On 7 July, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Council during an open debate on the on the protection of civilians (S/PV.6354 and Resumption 1).

November 2009

On 11 November, Kyungwha Kang, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians (S/PV.6216 and Resumption 1).

October 2009

On 29 October, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

August 2009

In August, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng, briefed the Council on the general work of his office during informal consultations.

January 2009

In January, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng, briefed the Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in informal consultations. On 29 January, Jessica Neuwirth, the Director of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the Council on the issue of respect for international humanitarian law during a private debate (Referred to in S/2009/107).

November 2008

On 20 November, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was invited as a guest speaker to the “Hitting the Ground Running” annual Council retreat with new members organised by Finland (S/2009/193).

October 2008

On 20 October, Martin Scheinin, Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism briefed the the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Scheinin and the Committees had a constructive exchange of views on issues related to the fairness and clearness of the Committees’ procedures, in particular as far as listing and de-listing are concerned.

September 2008

On 1 September, Navi Pillay (South Africa) took office as High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her nomination to the post by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (A/62/913) and the 28 July 2008 endorsement of the General Assembly (A/62/PV.116).  

October 2007

On 1 October, France organised an Arria formula meeting on Darfur, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; with Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Bineta Diop, Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarité (S/PV.5766).

May 2007

On 31 May, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Security Council in consultations on the findings of her trip to the Great Lakes region that included the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. (Referred to in S/2007/471.) On 30 May, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Peacebuilding Commission on Burundi.

November 2006

On 14 November, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Juan Méndez, briefed the Council on a range of issues.

October 2006

On 26 October, Martin Scheinin, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism briefed the Counter-Terrorism-Committee.

October 2005

On 24 October, Martin Scheinin, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism briefed the Counter-Terrorism-Committee.

July 2005

On 28 July, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Council in consultations on a number of ongoing issues (Referred to in S/2005/504).

February 2005

On 16 February, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Council on the Darfur Commission report (S/PV.5125).

October 2004

On 28 October, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Council during an open debate on women, peace and security on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (S/PV.5066 and Resumption 1). On 6 October, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Juan Méndez, briefed the Council during the open debate on justice and the rule of law (S/PV.5052).

September 2004

On 30 September, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour briefed the Council in consultations on Darfur, jointly with the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Juan Méndez, on their joint trip to the region (Referred to in S/2005/6).  

July 2004

On 1 July, Louise Arbour (Canada) took office as High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her nomination to the post by the Secretary-General (A/58/718) and approved by the General Assembly on 25 February 2004 (A/58/PV.81).

May 2004

On 14 May, Ramcharan briefed the Council in consultations on the findings and main recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on the events of 25 and 26 March 2004 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Referred to in S/2004/614). Following the briefing, the Council issued a press statement firmly condemning the violations of human rights and welcoming the intention of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a Commission of Inquiry that would  look into the events going back to September 2002 (SC/8094). On 7 May, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan briefed the Council in consultations on Darfur (Referred to in S/2004/614).

July 2004

The Secretary-General on 12 July appointed Juan E. Méndez as his Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide with a mandate “to act as a mechanism of early warning to the Secretary-General, and through him to the Security Council, by bringing to their attention potential situations that could result in genocide” (S/2004/567). 

March 2004

At his monthly lunch with members of the Security Council on 11 March, Secretary-General Kofi Annan notified the Council of his decision to appoint a Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide.

January 2004

Speaking at the Stockholm International Forum on 26 January Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed establishing a post of a Special Rapporteur on the prevention of genocide, “who …would report directly to the Security Council –making clear the link, which is often ignored until too late, between massive and systematic violations of human rights and threats to international peace and security.” 

August 2003

On 19 August, High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was temporarily serving as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Iraq, was killed during the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad. Bertrand Ramcharan, who was then Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Assistant Secretary-General, assumed the post of acting High Commissioner for Human Rights.

July 2003

On 7 July, Bertrand Ramcharan (Guyana), the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the Council on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/PV.4784).

February 2003

On 13 February, High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello briefed the Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo presenting a report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the DRC based on a joint investigation conducted with MONUC (S/PV.4705).

November 2002

On 6 November, an Arria formula meeting was held on Afghanistan with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. On 7 November, an Arria formula meeting was held on Burundi with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.

October 2002

On 21 October, High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira De Mello briefed the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

September 2002

On 12 September, Sergio Vieira de Mello (Brazil) took office as High Commissioner for Human Rights, following his appointment by the Secretary-General (A/56/109) and the 23 July endorsement by the General Assembly (A/56/PV.109).

July 2002

On 16 July, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson briefed the Council in consultations on the massacres that took place in mid-May in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was the first time that the High Commissioner addressed the Council on a country-specific issue and reported on an investigation by a special rapporteur (Referred to in S/2002/937). The Security Council responded to the briefing on 23 July by issuing a presidential statement (S/PRST/2002/22).

 

May 2002

On 21 May, France organised an Arria formula meeting on the human rights and the humanitarian situation in the Mano River Union, between Liberia and Sierra Leone. The meeting was chaired by the Permanent Representative of France, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte. The three speakers invited to brief Council members at the meeting were from Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. (Referred to in S/2002/685)

March 2002

On 8 March, the UK organised an Arria formula meeting on the situation of women in Sierra Leone with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women (S/PV.4492).

November 2001

On 7 November, Colombia organised an Arria formula briefing with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.

July 2001

On 19 July France organised an Arria formula meeting on events in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A representative of Human Rights Watch briefed on the human rights aspects of the situation.

May 2001

On 7 May, France organised an Arria formula meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

April 2001

On 23 April, High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson briefed the Council during a debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PV.4312 and Resumption 1).

March 2001

The United Kingdom organised a retreat in Pocantico, NY, on 23-24 March to discuss human rights and the work of the Council. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson was among retreat participants. On 23 March, France organised an Arria formula meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

October 2000

On 27 October, France organised an Arria formula meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

November 1999

In November, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte organised an Arria formula briefing with the human rights rapporteur on the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Commission on Human Rights.

September 1999

On 16 September, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, was invited for the first time to address the Council in an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PV.4046 and Resumption 1 and 2). Robinson briefed the Council on a number of issues, and in particular on East Timor whose crisis was at the time at the top of the Council agenda.

September 1997

On 12 September, Mary Robinson (Ireland) became High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her nomination to the post by Secretary-General Kofi Annan (A/51/924) and the 17 June endorsement of the General Assembly (A/51/PV.102).

May – July 1994

Several non-permanent delegations on the Council strove to keep themselves informed on the situation on the ground in Rwanda through independent (mainly NGO) sources.

April 1994

On 18 April, following the outbreak of mass killings in Rwanda, Ambassador Karel Kovanda (Czech Republic, an elected member of the Council in 1994-1995) hosted an informal briefing by a Rwanda expert from Human Rights Watch in his residence to obtain human rights information of what was happening on the ground, which all the elected members of the Council attended. On 5 April, José Ayala-Lasso (Ecuador) took office as the first High Commissioner for Human Rights following his nomination to the post by the Secretary-General (A/48/859) and the 14 February 1994 endorsement of the General Assembly (A/48/PV.89). 

December 1993

On 20 December, the General Assembly decided to create the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights in its resolution 48/141. The resolution specified that high commissioners would be appointed by the Secretary-General and approved by the General Assembly, will have a fixed term of four years with a possibility of one renewal  and  that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights shall be located at Geneva and shall have a liaison office in New York.

November 1992

On 23 November, the Council invited again the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iraq, Max Van der Stoel, to address the Council on the situation in between Kuwait and Iraq (S/PV.3139). On 13 November, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Right on the former Yugoslavia, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, was invited to address the Council during a meeting on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (S/PV.3134).

August 1992

On 11 August, the Council decided for the first time to invite a Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights (Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iraq Max Van der Stoel) to address the body during a meeting on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait (S/PV.3105). During its first special session, the UN Commission of Human Rights decided on 14 August to appoint a Special Rapporteur on human rights in the former Yugoslavia, asked him or her to provide a first report within 14 days of the adoption of the resolution and regularly thereafter and requested the Secretary-General to make the Special Rapporteur’s reports available to the Security Council (E/1992/22/Add.1/Rev.1).

March 1992

Venezuelan Ambassador Diego Arria, the President of the Council during that month, invited his fellow ambassadors to meet in the delegates’ lounge with a priest who had just come out of the Balkan conflict zone in order to hear a first-hand account of the situation on the ground.

January 1992

On 31 January, the Council met for the first time at the level of heads of state and government (S/PV.3046). During the summit, several heads of state talked about human rights as being an integral part of peace and security. The Council adopted a statement in which it noted that human rights verification had become one of the tasks of UN peacekeeping (S/23500).

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