DEC/31/115 High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council

Human Rights Council Thirty-first session

Agenda item 3

Decision adopted by the Human Rights Council on 23 March 2016

31/115. High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth

anniversary of the Human Rights Council

At its 62nd meeting, on 23 March 2016, the Human Rights Council decided to adopt

the following text:

“The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration

and Programme of Action, and recalling all other international human rights instruments,

including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International

Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

Reaffirming also General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, by which

the Assembly decided to establish the Human Rights Council,

Noting that June 2016 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council,

Emphasizing that the tenth anniversary offers an important opportunity to underline

and reiterate the commitment to the universal promotion and protection of the human rights

of all and to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the Human Rights Council,

Emphasizing also the need for reinforced efforts to meet the goal of the full

realization of all human rights for all,

Recalling the creation of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support

the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the

Work of the Human Rights Council,1 aimed at enabling fuller participation of all Member

States in the work of the Council,

1. Decides to convene, on the first day of its thirty-second session, a high-level

panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council,

1 See Human Rights Council resolution 19/26.

United Nations A/HRC/DEC/31/115

focused on its achievements and challenges, with the participation of the United Nations

High Commissioner for Human Rights;

2. Encourages on the occasion of the tenth anniversary the participation of all

Member States, including Member States that do not have a mission in Geneva, in the work

of the Human Rights Council, including in the high-level panel discussion;

3. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to organize the panel

discussion, and to liaise with States and other stakeholders with a view to ensuring their

participation in it;

4. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the

panel discussion in the form of a summary.”

[Adopted without a vote.]