Here’s What to Expect at HRC 52

Published on February 22, 2023

The 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from 27 February to 4 April 2023.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have meant that HRC 52 will be held in a hybrid format with online and in-person modalities for informal negotiations, voting and statements. Due to the ongoing renovations started in 2020 and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,  side events taking place in the Palais will be limited to one per organisation and one hour in duration. 

Below you can find information about:

  • Anticipated sexual rights-related resolutions, panels and reports
  • UPR outcomes
  • SRI’s online events taking place during the 52nd session 

Please note that all dates are provisional and subject to change. 

The latest information about the session will be available on OHCHR’s HRC52 page.

Access the full programme of work for HRC52

Access the HRC52 schedule meeting calendar

 

Featured News

Health, Human Rights and Capitalism: Implications for the Human Rights Council

SRI will host a hybrid side event addressing the urgent imperative to incorporate human rights into the global economic architecture for everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Date and time: 20 March 2023, 13:00-14:00

The Human Rights Council, as the intergovernmental body “responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe”, has struggled to lay down human rights standards for a global economic and health architecture. Economics are seen as technical and not within the purview of human rights, even if it is one of the most significant impediments to the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.  

More information about this conversation will be coming in the following week. 

 

Expected Resolutions Relevant to Sexual Rights

  • Birth registration and the right of everyone to recognition everywhere as a person before the law (Mexico and Turkiye)
  • Human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (Maldives, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Switzerland)
  • Contribution to the implementation of the joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem with regard to human rights (Switzerland, Albania, Brazil, Portugal, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico )
  • Regional arrangements (Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Senegal. Belgium)
  • Promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Chile, Canada, Ecuador, Fiji, Sierra Leone. Rwanda, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Uruguay)
  • Combatting negative steroptying and stigmatizing of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religious and belief (Pakistan on behalf of OIC)
  • Negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures on human rights (Azerbaijan on behalf of NAM)
  • Promoting human rights and sustainable development goals (Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Turkiye, Keny, Ecuador, Georgia, Thailand) 
  • Mandate renewal of the SR on right to adequate housing (Brazil, Namibia, Finland and)
  • Human rights, democracy and rule of law (Morocco, Norway, Peru, Tunisia, RoK, Romania)
  • Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights (Portugal)
  • Mental health and human rights (Portugal and Brazil)
  • Renewal of the SR on human rights defenders (Norway)
  • Renewal of mandate of SR on freedom of expression and opinion (Canada and Kingdom of Netherlands)
  • Renew the mandate sale and sexual exploitation iof children (Uruguay on behalf GRULAC and EU)
  • Right to food (Cuba)
  • Promotion of the enjoyment of cultural rights for all and cultural diversity (Cuba)
  • Mandate renewal of the SR of  effects of foreign debt and other international financial obligations (Cuba)
  • Mandate renewal of SR on torture (Denmark)
  • Impact of non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to countries of origin (Cote d'Ivoire on behalf of the Africa Group)
  • Mandate renewal of SR on racism (Cote d’Ivoire on behalf of the Africa Group)
  • Mandate renewal of SR on minority rights (Austria, Slovenia, Mexico.)

 

Sexual Rights-Related Panels

Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming

Theme: A reflection on five years of the United Nations Youth Strategy (Youth 2030): mapping a blueprint for the next steps

Time: Monday, 27 February 2023, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m 

Download the concept note »

 

Biennial high-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty

Theme: Human rights violations relating to the use of the death penalty, in particular with respect to limiting the death penalty to the most serious crimes

Time: Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Download the concept note »

 

High-level meeting commemorating the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development [two accessible meetings]

Time: Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 4 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, 1 March 2023, 10 a.m. to noon Download the concept note »

 

High-level panel discussion on UPR Voluntary Funds: achievements, good practices and lessons learned over the past 15 years and optimized support to States in the implementation of recommendations emanating from the fourth cycle [accessible panel]

Time: Wednesday, 1 March 2023, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Download the concept note »

 

Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child [two accessible meetings]

Theme: Rights of the child and the digital environment

Time: Friday, 10 March 2022, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

Download the concept note »

 

Annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities [accessible debate]

Theme: Support systems to ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities, including as a means of building forward better after the COVID-19 pandemic

Time: Monday, 13 March 2023, 4 to 6 p.m. 

Download the concept note »

 

Debate in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Theme: The urgency of combating racism and racial discrimination 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights​

Time: Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 4 to 6 p.m. 

Download the concept note  when it becomes available»

 

See the list of all panels and concept notes

 

 

Sexual Rights-Related Reports

A/HRC/52/27

Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues

Strengthening and mainstreaming the protection of rights of minorities at the Unites Nations, 30 years after the adoption of the United Nations Declaration

Read the report  when available» 

 

A/HRC/52/28

Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context

Towards a just transformation:climate crisis and the right to housing

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/29

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

Success through perseverance and solidarity: 25 years of achievements by human rights defenders

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/30

Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and othe cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

Good practices in national criminalization, investigation, prosecution and sentencing for offenses of torture, and remedies for victims

Read the report when it becomes available » 

 

A/HRC/52/31

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material

Reparation for child victims and survivors of sale and sexual exploitation

Read the report when it becomes available»

 

A/HRC/52/32

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities 

Transformation of services for persons with disabilities 

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/33

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

Women, girls and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/34

Report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

International financial obligations, digital systems and human rights

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/35

Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights

Cultural rights and migration

Read the report when it becomes available» 

 

A/HRC/52/36

Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism

Human rights defenders working on albinism

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/37

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy

Implementation of the principles of purpose limitation, deletion of data and demonstrated or proactive accountability in the processing of personal data collected by public entities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/38

Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

Read the report when it becomes available» 

 

A/HRC/52/39

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism 

Read the report when it becomes available » 

 

A/HRC/52/40

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food

Conflict and the right to food

Read the report » 

 

A/HRC/52/41

Report of the eighth session of the open-nded intergovernmental working group on transnational corportions and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/43

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Panel discussion on good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights during and after the coronovirums disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/44

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relation to the enjoyment of a safe, healthy and sustainable environment

Summary of the expert seminar on human rights and environmental conservation in the prevention of furture pandemics

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/45

Report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the fill enjoyment of all human rights, particualrly economic, social and cultuarl rights

Non-binding set of practical guidelines for efficient asset recovery

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/46

Summary report of the United Natons High Commissioner for Human Rights

Enhanding technical cooperation and capacity-building in promoting and protecting the human rights of persons in vulnerable and marginalised situations in recovery efforts during and after the cornovirus disease (COVID-19)

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/47

Report of the Office of the  United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Situations of the violations and abuses of human rights rooted in harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks and stigmatization

Read the report when it becomes avaliable »

 

A/HRC/52/48

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Panel discussions on the adverse impact of climate change on the full and effective enjoyment of human rights by people in vulnerable situations

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/52

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Support systems to ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities, including as a means of building forward better after the coronavirus disease (COVID -19) pandemic

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/53

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/56

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/58

Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and the Programme of Action on its twentieth session 

Read the report »

 

A/HRC/52/59

Report of the United National High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion and belief

Read the report »

 

See the list of all reports 

 

UPR OUTCOMES 

The 52nd session will include the adoption of the outcomes of countries reviewed during the 41st working group session of the Universal Periodic Review. This will be the first adoption of the fourth cycle of the UPR. The 41st session of the UPR took place from 7-18 November 2022. The council will adopt all 14 outcomes from the reviews of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Among the 14 outcomes to be adopted during this session, the SRI collaborated on reports with organisations and activists in preparing reports for the UPR reviews of India, Netherlands, Poland and South Africa. 

 

India

CREA and the Sexual Rights Initiative

Topics: Sex work, police harassment, violence, access to justice, right to health

Read our submission here

 

India

Human Touch Foundation, the PACT and the Sexual Rights Initiative

Topics: Access to safe abortion, HIV prevention, adolescent sexuality, persons with disabilities 

Read our submission here

 

Poland

Foundation for Women and Family Planning (FEDERA) and the Sexual Rights Initiative 

Topics: Reproductive rights, sexual rights, women’s rights, health, abortion, contraception, family

planning, comprehensive sexuality education, perinatal care, persistent failure to comply with UPR recommendations

Read our submission here

 

Netherlands

Rutgers and the Sexual Rights Initiative

Topics: Access to contraceptives, medical abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, sexual violence, vulnerable groups

Read our submission here

 

South Africa

Sisonke, African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and the Sexual Rights Initiative 

Topics: Youth, HIV, comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence, access to contraceptives, access to safe abortion

Read our submission here

 

South Africa

SRHR Africa Trust, the PACT, and the Sexual Rights Initiative

Topics: Sex work, criminalisation, right to work, right to health, gender-based violence

Read our submission here 

 

Sexual Rights Initiative Events

Health, Human Rights and Capitalism: Implications for the Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council, as the intergovernmental body “responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe”, has struggled to lay down human rights standards for global economic and health architecture. All things related to economics are seen as technical and not within the purview of Human Rights, even if it is one of the most significant impediments to the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.  SRI will host a hybrid side event addressing the urgent imperative to incorporate human rights into the global economic architecture for everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Date and time: 20 March 2023, 13:00-14:00