Here’s What to Expect at HRC 57
The 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from 9 September to 11 October 2024.
Once again, the session will not be hybrid because of the absence of a mandate from the General Assembly to retain remote participation. This will not affect pre-recorded statements at all debates, panels and discussions as well as the webcasting at the UN Web TV of the public meetings scheduled at the Programme of Work. 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. This unprecedented liquidity crisis for the human rights system continues to impact civil society disproportionately and states must pay their dues without delay.
Below you can find information about:
- Anticipated sexual rights-related resolutions, panels and reports
- UPR outcomes
- SRI’s events taking place during the 57th session
Please note that all dates are provisional and subject to change.
The latest information about the session will be available on OHCHR’s HRC57 page.
Access the full programme of work for HRC57
Access the HRC57 scheduled meeting calendar
Featured News
The 57th session of the Human Rights Council is taking place when the world is confronted with different crises that extend to the multilateral and the human rights systems. These systems are currently experiencing a severe trust deficit. This session also marks a full year since the beginning of the Gaza genocide. Despite numerous appeals from human rights organisations, the International Court of Justice, and Special Procedures mechanisms to put an end to both the genocide and Israel’s settler colonial apartheid regime, the situation remains unresolved.
Multilateral systems are at a standstill, and a global commitment is essential to halt wars, prevent environmental destruction, and advance economic justice. Movements around the world are pointing the way forward, if states choose to respond to their call. This session will contain many debates on the right to development, an idea that is frequently positioned in opposition to human rights. However, both of these concepts are essential and connected, and the full realisation of both is necessary for the wellbeing of all people. The thematic study by the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development highlights its individual and collective dimensions, while the report by SR on Development and the biannual panel address the rights of children and the framework convention on international tax cooperation.
SRI’s side event, ‘feminist approaches to the right to development’ will delve deeper into the notion that development is never a purely economic idea despite how it is often portrayed in multilateral forums. Instead, it is the foundation upon which all human rights rest. The event features a discussion on the definitions and understandings of the term development, and examines its uses from a feminist and global south perspective.
Sign on this year’s joint civil society statement on abortion at HRC 57! Join our demand for a sustainable development model that centres reproductive justice and bodily autonomy for all!
The focus of this year’s statement is to highlight the impact of economic and political systems significantly on abortion access and the need for a sustainable development model that centres reproductive justice and bodily autonomy for all. This initiative builds on our previous joint statements on abortion to the Council these past 5 years, including last year’s statement signed by over 300 organisations and individuals. We hope you will join us and sign on again this year!
Read this year’s full statement and sign on
Expected Resolutions Relevant to Sexual Rights
- Human rights of migrants (Mexico)
- Human rights of Indigenous Peoples (Mexico, Guatemala)
- Terrorism and human rights (Mexico, Egypt)
- Domestic violence (Kazakhstan)
- National Human Rights Institutions (Australia, Timor Leste)
- Education as a tool for the prevention of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia (Brazil, Colombia, South Africa)
- Enhancement of technical cooperation in the field of human rights (Thailand, Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Türkiye)
- Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order (Cuba)
- Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change (Bahamas, European Union, Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Panama, Paraguay, Sudan)
- Local government and human rights (Chile, Egypt, Republic of Korea and Romania)
- The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (Spain, Germany)
- Social reintegration of persons freed from detention (Costa Rica)
- Equal participation in political and public affairs (Botswana, Czech Republic, Indonesia, The Netherlands, Peru)
- Youth and human rights (Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia, Uzbekistan)
- The role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human rights (Poland, Australia, Chile, Republic of Korea, South Africa)
- World programme on human rights education and training (Philippines, Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco, Senegal, Slovenia, Thailand)
- The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet (Brazil, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, United States of America)
Sexual Rights-Related Panels
Panel discussion on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities
Time: Wednesday, 11 September 2024, 3 to 5 p.m.
Biennial panel discussion on the right to development [accessible panel]
Theme: Realizing the right to development: the case for a United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation
Time: Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 3 to 5 p.m.
Panel discussion on the implementation of States’ obligations on the role of the family in supporting the human rights of its members [accessible panel]
Time: Wednesday, 25 September 2024, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms
Theme: Enhancing gender integration in human rights investigations: a victim-centred perspective
Time: Monday, 30 September 2024, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
See the list of all panels and concept notes
Sexual Rights-Related Reports
A/HRC/57/21
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/24
Report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Right to development
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/25
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A/HRC/57/26
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Question of death penalty
A/HRC/57/27
Study of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Role of the rule of law and accountability on the national and international levels in the prevention of human rights violations and abuses
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/28
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Solutions to promote digital education for young people and to ensure their protection from online threats
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/31
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Civil society space
A/HRC/57/33
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Best practices in the contribution of development to the promotion and protection of all human rights in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
A/HRC/57/36
Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Expert meeting on the human rights obligations of States regarding violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons in all settings
A/HRC/57/37
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Impact of climate change on the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl
A/HRC/57/39
Annual report of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development
A/HRC/57/40
Thematic study by the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development
Individual and collective dimensions of the right to development
A/HRC/57/42
Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons
Legal capacity and informed consent
A/HRC/57/43
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development
Right to development of children and future generations
A/HRC/57/44
Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Arbitrary detention and mandatory sentencing
A/HRC/57/45
Report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/46
Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
Contemporary forms of slavery as affecting currently and formerly incarcerated people
A/HRC/57/47
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous persons with disabilities
A/HRC/57/48
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
Water and economy nexus: managing water for productive uses from a human rights perspective
A/HRC/57/49
Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
Vision for the mandate
A/HRC/57/50
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
Approach to the mandate and preliminary areas of interest
A/HRC/57/52
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes
Pollution information portals: strengthening access to information on releases of hazardous substances
A/HRC/57/54/Add.4
Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
Enforced disappearances and elections
A/HRC/57/55
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
Monitoring and assessment of the impact of unilateral sanctions and over-compliance on human rights
A/HRC/57/60
Report of the Secretary-General
Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/62
Study of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Constitutions, laws, legislation, policies, judicial decisions and other mechanisms through which States have taken measures to achieve the ends of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A/HRC/57/67
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers through transformative change for racial justice and equality
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/68
Report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent on its third session
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/70
Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
The use of digital technology including artificial intelligence and consequences on people of African descent
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/71
Report of the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement
Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers through transformative change for racial justice and equality
Read the report when it becomes available »
A/HRC/57/72
Report of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on its ninth and tenth sessions
A/HRC/57/85
Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Summary of the intersessional panel discussion on human rights challenges in addressing and countering all aspects of the world drug problem
UPR Outcomes
The 57th session will include the adoption of the outcomes of countries reviewed during the 46th working group session of the Universal Periodic Review, which took place from 29 April to 10 May 2024. The council will adopt all 14 outcomes from the reviews of the following countries: New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Cyprus, Viet Nam, Yemen, Vanuatu, North Macedonia, Comoros, Slovakia, Eritrea, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Cambodia.
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 Cambodia, North Macedonia, Chile and Uruguay.
Cambodia
Women’s Network for Unity (WNU), Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI)
Topics: Sex work, female sex workers, access to justice, access to health, sexual orientation, transgender, rape, harassment, violence, access to sexual and reproductive health services, stigma, reproductive and sexual health, entertainment workers.
North Macedonia
Journalists for Human Rights, Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI)
Topics: Menstrual poverty; Menstrual health and hygiene management; sexual and reproductive health and rights; comprehensive sexuality education; access to contraception and family planning services; maternal healthcare; gender-based violence prevention; LGBTQ+ rights.
Chile
Fundación Meridiana, Akãhatã, Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI)
Topics: Sexual and reproductive health and rights; Abortion; Maternal Health; Sexual orientation and gender identity; Comprehensive sexuality education.
Uruguay
Colectivo Ovejas Negras, Akahatà-Equipo de Trabajo en Sexualidades y Género, Sexual Rights Initiative, Colectivo Binacional LGBTQ+ D.I.V.A.S Chuy-Chuí, S.V.P., Colectivo Diverso Las Piedras, Colectivo LGBTH+ Gente de Diversidad Bella Unión, Colectivo Riversidad, ATRU Rivera, Colectivo Selim Tejos, Masculinidades, personas no binaries y más, Coordinadora por la Diversidad – Salto, Durazno Diverso, Manos Púrpura, Trans Boys Uruguay (TBU), niñez, adolescencia y familia, Unión Rochense LGBT+, Unión Trans y Disidentes de Maldonado
Topics: Sexual orientation and gender identity; civil society participation; comprehensive sexuality education; discrimination; right to education; right to work; acces to justice; violence; right to health.
Sexual Rights Initiative Events
Save the date!
Feminist approaches to the right to development
Side-event during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council
20 September 2024 - 14h00 - 15h00 CET
Room XXV, Palais des Nations
Development is never a purely economic idea as it is often presented as being in multilateral fora. Instead, it is the foundation upon which all human rights rest. A holistic and people-centred understanding of development takes into account both systemic and individual discrimination.
As we witness discussions during HRC 57, in a multilateral system which is gridlocked and apparently unmovable, it is necessary to understand the ideological underpinnings of key concepts as elaborated by social movements, and not by narrow political machinations. Development and human rights, while often positioned as counter to each other in the Human Rights Council, are vehicles for achieving economic, social and environmental justice for people.
Join us for this side-event that will feature a discussion on the definitions and understandings of the term development, and examine its uses from a feminist and global south perspective.