The EU at the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council

This session will mark the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council. On 19 June 2006, the Human Rights Council convened in Geneva for its first session. Over the past 20 years, the Human Rights Council has evolved into the world's principal human rights body. It has held more than 90 regular and special sessions, adopted thousands of resolutions and decisions, established numerous investigative and accountability mechanisms, and enabled technical assistance and capacity building.

For 20 years, the Human Rights Council has helped States translate their human rights commitments into concrete action. Through dialogue, cooperation and technical assistance, it supports progress that benefits people and societies everywhere. | EU Ambassador Deike Potzel

The Council provides a global platform for addressing human rights concerns in all countries and helps amplifying the voices of victims and of civil society. Through its debates, special procedures, and other mechanisms, the HRC shines a spotlight on human rights violations and strengthens accountability, thereby offering victims a pathway to justice, combating impunity, and helping to prevent future violations. The HRC facilitates dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of progress and good practices, while supporting countries in fulfilling their international human rights obligations.

The EU will present at HRC62 a resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea, which will aim to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to carry out independent monitoring and reporting on the dire situation with continuing systematic violations without accountability.

HRC62 will put the spotlight on women's and girls' rights. In light of the increased global pushback against gender equality, the EU will continue to champion gender equality and the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls, and their empowerment in line with international commitments. Throughout HRC62, we will stress the need for an ambitious and transformative approach to address the root causes and risk factors of gender inequality, gender stereotypes, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence.

The EU will also actively engage in the negotiations of resolutions and interactive dialogues on issues such as Ukraine, Palestine, Belarus, Afghanistan, Burundi, Venezuela, Myanmar, Eastern DRC, South Sudan, Sudan, as well as on business and human rights, health, climate change, extreme poverty, human rights of migrants, internally displaced people, peaceful assembly and association, anti-personnel mines, and eliminating racial discrimination.

Reflecting the Team Europe approach, individual EU Member States will also contribute through resolutions and joint initiatives, acting in their national capacity and in cooperation with other partners, on topics such as:

• The 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council

• Countering the negative impact of disinformation

• Right to Education

• Extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions

• Extreme poverty and human rights

• Freedom of expression and opinion

• Independence of the judiciary, judges and lawyers

• The rights of women and girls, including the elimination of discrimination against women and girls as well as child, early and forced marriage, the protection of the rights of women and girls in humanitarian situations and Empowering Women's access to education and work in digital and cyber security-related fields

Team Europe will also organise numerous side-events, on various topics related to key human rights issues: presenting the EU anti-racism strategy; academic freedom, freedom of expression in new frontiers, and the situation in Ukraine.The EU will also participate in the special panel organized by the President of the HRC to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Council "Twenty Years, One Council: What we have built, and where we go next."

All EU statements will be posted on this website here