The HRC membership consists of 47 States that shall be elected through a secret ballot by a majority of the members of the General Assembly. The membership is based on equitable geographical distribution: 13 African, 13 Asian, 6 Eastern European, 8 Latin American and Caribbean, and 7 Western European and Other States. The members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not elegible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms. The Council carries out some of its functions through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR process assures the assessment of the Human Rights situation in the 192 UN Member States once every four years. The Council can make recommendations on different situations of Human Rights violations. These recommendations are presented to the General Assembly for the further development of international law.
Topic A. Human Rights situation in the Maghreb-Machrek region Wars have forced the update of the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the protection of people not taking active part in conflicts. They have evolved on preventing new violations and ensuring the prosecution of those responsible. Throughout the years, governments have tried to control people's right of expression, especially when they have different opinions from the ones of governments, normally attempting against their Human Rights in order to accomplish this. We will discuss Human Rights violations carried out in these repressive acts during the past two years, having a special focus on Northern Africa and the Middle East. | Topic B. Revision of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants Principles and standards embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights apply to all humans, regardless of their citizenship or migratory status. Because of this, there is no reason to violate their Human Rights. Nevertheless, these violations have occurred until a point in which they are considered a normal and regular attitude in our society. The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of migrants (SRHRM) was established by the Commission on Human Rights Resolution 1999/44, having the mission of examining the existing obstacles for the protection of Human Rights and recommend actions and applications of norms to regulate migrants situation. We will analyze the las mandated report of the SRHRM and discuss the actual situation of migrants, with a final decision on the extension of the mandate for three more years. | Mesa Ana Laura Reza Muñoz Presidente Omar Pérez López Moderador Katia Guzmán Martínez Oficial de Conferencias |
