UN Human Rights Council: behind the scenes of the 58th session

Through our FPS, Belgium has actively participated in the Human Rights Council’s 58^th session as a member. For in these turbulent times, it is essential to continually uphold human rights. We provide you with a look behind the scenes.

At the end of December 2022, we announced that Belgium became a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 3 years: the main UN supervisory organ for human rights in the world, a UN cornerstone. We then also outlined the tasks performed by this HRC – the Human Rights Council.

Priority

Belgium is currently serving its third time as a member, and we are already aspiring to rejoin the HRC in 2031-2033. Why? Because safeguarding and advancing human rights is and will remain a priority within Belgian foreign policy.

After all, being a member allows us to achieve greater visibility and impact within the HRC, and consequently on the human rights situation all over the world. For being one of the 47 members also enables us to take part in voting on the adoption or rejection of resolutions if reaching a consensus proves to be impossible. However, that does not hinder regular Member States from fully expressing their position, just as Belgium has consistently done.

Our work within the HRC also has a positive impact on our living conditions. Because a more stable and peaceful world will also be in our own interests, as it represents a world of greater prosperity and well-being, reduced migration and so on.

Our FPS

But what tasks does Belgium carry out – through our FPS – within the HRC? To put that in concrete terms, we look back on the 58^th session that took place in Geneva from 24 February to 4 April 2025. To fulfil our tasks our Permanent Representation has 4 people in addition to the Permanent Representative himself. For 2 weeks, it was reinforced by a colleague from the Central Administration in Brussels. In the beginning, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, also participated in the session for 1 day.

The 6 week-long session had, by and large, three main focuses: (1) discussion and voting on resolutions; (2) general human rights debates and interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner, special rapporteurs, commissions of inquiry and Special Representatives of the Secretary General (SRSGs), and (3) side events.  

Resolutions

The HRC adopts resolutions and decisions that are not legally binding but do nevertheless express strong political commitments and create human rights mandates as well. One or more countries present them and lead the negotiations, taking place in smaller rooms.

During the 58^th session, discussions took place on thematic resolutions regarding, among other things, human rights advocates, respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism, and the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Such thematic resolutions are usually adopted by consensus.

One of the adopted resolutions addressed the impact of anti-personnel mines on human rights. Mines pose a grave threat to various rights, not least the right to life. And a school route that is hazardous due to landmines, constitutes a violation of the right to education. If mines are present on the way to fields and water points, it undermines the right to food and water. And so on.

The resolution encourages Member States to assume the responsibilities stemming from the anti-mine treaties that they have ratified, cooperate better, accelerate demining efforts, pay greater attention to victims and so on.

There were also many resolutions on human rights situations in countries such as Belarus, Mali, Ukraine, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Iran. The resolution on Syria this year offered a quite unusual situation. Because for the first time after the fall of the Assad regime, the new authorities were able to take part in the proceedings. They actively cooperated with the countries that had submitted the resolution. Country-specific resolutions often require a vote.

Debates and interactive dialogues

The HRC appoints special rapporteurs or commissions of inquiry – all of them independent experts - to address a variety of issues and countries. During a session they present their reports, after which the Member States who wish to do so, can respond to them and possibly ask a question. These ‘interactive dialogues’ take place in the large chamber of the Human Rights Council. NGOs can also state their position. It is indeed typical to the HRC that it actively engages the civil society.

Due to the large number of Member States who wish to have a say, there is a tight schedule to be maintained. The rapporteur or the commission gets 15 minutes to present his or her report, after which a country or NGO gets exactly 90 seconds – 210 words – to reply. Once everyone has made their remarks, the rapporteur makes a closing statement.

It goes without saying that Belgium likes to exercise its right to speak, especially regarding topics of utmost importance. For example, during the interactive dialogue on Iran, we expressed our concerns about women’s rights there and the application of the death penalty.  

Other rapporteurs who took the floor included those working on torture, freedom of religion, environment, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, in addition to SRSGs working on violence against children and ‘children and armed conflict’ etc.

Side events

Side events are regularly held during lunch breaks. The NGOs often take the initiative or are involved. Side events allow to delve deeper into themes or to propose additional themes.

During the 58^th session, side events were held, focusing on, among other things, violence against children (Japan), the death penalty (Switzerland), children and armed conflict (Save the Children), and justice in Afghanistan (Shahmama).

Our country often sponsors side events, particularly regarding priority issues. This meand that for instance our Permanent Representative delivers the closing speech or the introduction.

Young people

What stood out during the 58^th session, was the participation of 2 young Flemish people through the Flemish Youth Council. Our FPS allotted them its two 90” speaking slots: during a session on children’s rights and during the interactive dialogue on violence against children – and particularly the psychological impact of violence against young people in the digital realm, such as online recruitment for sexual abuse. The young people developed their text themselves, in consultation with our colleagues. The initiative was a testament to the great attention paid by Belgium to children’s rights.

Ministerial segment

Like all of March’s sessions, the 58^th session started with a high-level 3-day segment. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, participated for 1 day. In his speech – partly drafted by our colleagues and the cabinet – he underlined the importance of multilateralism, international law and the fight against impunity, including through the International Criminal Court.

The minister seized the opportunity to have conversations with numerous senior figures of international organisations based in Geneva, such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the president of the International Red Cross Committee, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Conclusion

The tense geopolitical context clearly complicates working within the HRC. For example, some countries are seeking to dismantle women’s rights. Moreover, the US have completely withdrawn from the HRC under President Trump, thereby conveying the message that the HRC is not important. That makes it all the more essential to remain actively present there. We hope to offer you a more comprehensive review of our 3-year membership at the beginning of next year.