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| United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/251 | |
|---|---|
| Name | United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/251 |
| Date | 15 March 2006 |
| Organ | United Nations General Assembly |
| Subject | Human rights institution reform; establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council |
| Code | A/RES/60/251 |
United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/251 was adopted on 15 March 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly and led to the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The resolution followed reviews and negotiations involving the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and member states such as the United States, China, France, United Kingdom, and Russia. It was a cornerstone in the reform of the United Nations human rights system during the tenure of Kofi Annan and in the context of debates involving Non-Aligned Movement, European Union, and Organization of the Islamic Conference member positions.
The resolution emerged after the 2005 World Summit and the work of the Consultative Group on Human Rights Institutions, chaired by Ambassador Sérgio de Queiroz Duarte and advised by figures associated with Mary Robinson and Peter Hansen. Debates referenced the history of the Commission on Human Rights (United Nations), controversies involving members such as Libya, Syria, and Zimbabwe, and calls from actors including the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists for reform. Negotiations at United Nations Headquarters involved delegations from the African Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations states and culminated in a vote in the United Nations General Assembly.
Resolution 60/251 dissolved the Commission on Human Rights (United Nations) and established the United Nations Human Rights Council with specified principles and mechanisms inspired by proposals from the High Commissioner for Human Rights and panels including representatives of the European Union and the Non-Aligned Movement. It set out criteria for membership, emphasizing "high standards" in the promotion and protection of human rights, and called for a universal periodic review process drawing on models from the Universal Periodic Review pilot discussions and practices related to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. The text also addressed the role of the United Nations Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in supporting the new body.
The resolution mandated the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, echoing standards from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and instruments related to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It provided for the Council to address situations of violations, to undertake a universal periodic review mechanism, and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court and special procedures such as the Special Rapporteur on Torture and country-specific rapporteurs previously appointed by the Commission on Human Rights (United Nations). The mandate envisaged collaboration with regional bodies like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The adoption vote reflected complex diplomacy among permanent representatives and included abstentions and votes influenced by bilateral relations involving China, Cuba, Venezuela, and India. The resolution’s passage related to broader negotiations from the 2005 World Summit Outcome and was shaped by pressure from non-governmental organizations such as International Crisis Group and advocacy by figures including Desmond Tutu. Regional groups including the Arab League and the Commonwealth of Nations played roles in bloc voting and in drafting amendments.
Reactions ranged from praise by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for strengthening accountability to criticism by some delegations alleging politicization and concerns raised by Cuba and Zimbabwe about selectivity. Several European Union member states actively supported the resolution, while responses from Russia and China emphasized state sovereignty and non-interference. Civil society actors such as the International Federation for Human Rights and academic commentators in journals tied to Columbia University and Oxford University debated its potential effectiveness.
Following the resolution, the first session of the United Nations Human Rights Council convened in Geneva and initiated the Universal Periodic Review process, electing members through contests that included campaigns by states like Brazil, South Africa, Japan, and Pakistan. The Council adopted procedures for special sessions and addressed country situations including Sudan, Myanmar, and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Over time, the Council’s credibility was assessed in reports by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and independent panels, with ongoing scrutiny from regional organizations such as the African Union and policy institutes like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Resolution 60/251 laid the groundwork for later General Assembly and Human Rights Council decisions, including follow-up texts on membership criteria, the strengthening of the Universal Periodic Review, and resolutions responding to country-specific crises such as those on Darfur and Syria. Subsequent United Nations General Assembly actions and Human Rights Council resolutions engaged with frameworks from the Responsibility to Protect debates and the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and other investigative mechanisms, shaping ongoing reform of the UN human rights architecture.
Category:United Nations resolutions Category:Human rights law Category:United Nations General Assembly resolutions