Ever since the Human Rights Council replaced the Human Rights Commission in June 2006, the 47 member states meet three times per year for at least ten weeks. Thematically, the Human Rights Council deals with a variety of issues, ranging from the monitoring of critical country situations to the continuous development of the Conventions on Human Rights. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is also part of the Human Rights Council. The UPR is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all Member States and provides the opportunity for each State to declare which actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries.

In addition to the preparation, attendance and follow-up work related to the Human Rights Council’s sessions, the German Permanent Mission is involved in several working groups and treaty bodies. The German Permanent Mission maintains close contact with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office.