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Rabat – The 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) opened in Geneva today. Ambassador Omar Zniber of Morocco assumed the presidency of the session, which will run for four weeks until July 12th.
This session comes in the face of a challenging global human rights landscape, as highlighted by the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
At the opening session, Ambassador Zniber, who also serves as Morocco’s permanent representative in Geneva, outlined the procedural framework guiding the Council’s work.
The UNHRC is a key intergovernmental body within the UN system mandated to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. It addresses situations of human rights violations, makes recommendations, and has the capacity to examine human rights issues throughout the year.
The 56th session will delve into a broad spectrum of thematic issues through interactive dialogues with UNHRC Special Rapporteurs.
These dialogues will focus on pressing issues, including health, education, the rights of migrants and refugees, freedom of expression, and the impact of climate change on human rights.
Additionally, country-specific dialogues will be held to examine the human rights situations in several countries, including Eritrea, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. These dialogues provide a platform for focused discussions on specific challenges and potential solutions.
Five panel discussions will be held during the session, providing deeper analysis on specific themes
One panel will examine economic violence against women and girls, while another will focus on the connection between human rights and the global economy as it relates to women’s rights.
The impact of sports on promoting inclusivity and human rights advancement will also be explored. Another panel will analyze the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, specifically focusing on ensuring livelihood resilience in the face of climate-related risks.
The final panel will address technical cooperation and capacity-building, emphasizing the importance of supporting countries in implementing recommendations arising from the UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review mechanism.
The 56th session of the UNHRC convenes at a critical time. The High Commissioner’s report paints a concerning picture of human rights violations globally, with ongoing conflicts further exacerbating this situation.
