48th session of the Human Rights Council concluded in Geneva
12.10.2021
The 48th session of the Human Rights Council was held in Geneva from September 13 to October 11, 2021. It was the sixth session in which Poland participated as a member state in term 2020-2022.
During its 48th session, the Human Rights Council adopted 25 resolutions and one decision, and chose 3 persons to serve as Special Procedure mandate holders. Poland was one of the co-authors of the resolution on child, early and forced marriage adopted by the Council. The resolution focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of child, early and forced marriage, and stressed the importance of education in preventing such marriages.
Another positive outcome was the resolution on the human rights situation in Afghanistan proposed by the EU countries. The resolution established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, reinforced by a group of dedicated experts from the Office of the High Commissioner, to monitor the human rights situation under the Taliban rule. The Council condemned the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan and endorsed the rights of women and girls.
The adoption of the resolution entitled Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change co-led by the EU should be also noted. The resolution proves the Human Rights Council's growing interest on how the climate change impacts on human rights.
During the session, on September 24, the interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in Belarus took place. The debate was based on the interim oral update on the human rights situation in Belarus presented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. The High Commissioner emphasized that the human rights situation in Belarus is systematically deteriorating - the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens are being curtailed. She also pointed out that refugees and immigrants from third countries are encouraged by the Belarusian authorities to cross the country's borders with EU countries - especially Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
During the session, the Polish delegation made national statements as part of interactive dialogues and discussions, which concerned, among others, the oral update of OHCHR information on the human rights situation in Belarus, the older persons, arbitrary detentions, peaceful protests, and the human rights situation in Ukraine. Moreover, Poland took part in the general debate on the High Commissioner and the Secretary General country reports and oral updates.
Documents adopted by the Council are available here.
The next session of the Human Rights Council will be held in February / March 2022.
