Advisory Committee

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Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (hereinafter "the Advisory Committee"), composed of 18 experts, has been established to function as a think-tank for the Council and work at its direction. The Advisory Committee replaces the former Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The Committee held its first meeting in August 2008. It meets twice a year, for one week in February immediately before the March session of the Council and for one week in August.

Mandate & Functions

The Advisory Committee provides expertise to the Council in the manner and form requested by it. It mainly focuses on studies and research-based advice.
The Committee may also propose within the scope of the work set out by the Council, for the latter’s consideration and approval, suggestions for further research proposals.
In its work, the Committee should be implementation-oriented and the scope of its advice should be limited to thematic issues pertaining to the mandate of the Council, namely promotion and protection of all human rights.
It shall not adopt resolutions or decisions.

The Committee is composed of 18 independent experts from different professional backgrounds representing the various regions of the world (5 from African States; 5 from Asian States; 2 from Eastern European States; 3 from Latin American and Caribbean States, and 3 from Western European and other States). Experts are nominated by Governments and elected by the Council. Elections normally take place at the September session of the Council.

Members serve for a period of three years and may be re-elected once. Their term of membership starts on 1 October of the year of their election.

The present composition of the Advisory Committee

How research leads to action -- Advisory Committee celebrates 10th anniversary

Calls for submissions

Call for comments for the draft recommended guidelines for applying the existing human rights framework to neurotechnologies
(deadline 30 November 2026)

Call for inputs for the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the achievement of social justice through the legal enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights by national courts
(deadline 30 April 2026)

Call for inputs for the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights
(deadline 15 May 2026)

Call for inputs for the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on implementing existing procedural and substantive human rights obligations of States in the context of preventing and combating corruption
(deadline 4 May 2026)

Call for inputs for the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the implications of sea-level rise for the full enjoyment of human rights
(deadline 30 April 2026)

Call for inputs for the study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the right to health of individuals in vulnerable situations
(deadline 30 April 2026)

Call for inputs for the study on the impact of artificial intelligence systems on good governance
(deadline 5 May 2025)

Call for inputs for the study on the impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights
(deadline 28 February 2025)

Call for inputs for the study on technology-facilitated gender-based violence
(deadline 28 February 2025)

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