11/06/2016
UNHRC
The Human Rights Council is both a standing body and the subsidiary body of the General Assembly which was established by the GA resolution of 60/251 from March 18th, 2006.
This Council serves as the main UN forum for dialogue and cooperation regarding human rights and aims at helping its member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogues, capacity building and technical assistance and makes recommendations to the GA for further development of international law in the field of human rights.
The Council consists of 47 members and its membership is open to all member states of UN. Members are elected by the General Assembly through individual and direct voting by an absolute majority of 96 votes. The distribution of seats is in accordance with the equitable geographical representation of all members.
The Council doesn't hold fewer than three sessions per year for a total period of not less than ten weeks. It can, however, convene a special meeting when necessary through a request by a member of the Council with the support of one- third of the membership of the Council.
The 47 seat Human Rights Council replaced the former 53 member Commission on Human Rights. The latter was an independent body but was elevated to the status of a subsidiary body of the Assembly. "Special Procedures" is the name given to the mechanisms established by the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights and is continued by Human Rights Council to monitor human rights violation in specific countries or specific global human rights issues.