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NGO Participation in the Human Rights Council

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What is the Human Rights Council?

The Human Rights Council is the principal United Nations intergovernmental body responsible for human rights. It is composed of 47 Member States, which meets in at least three sessions per year in Geneva, Switzerland.

Its role includes addressing violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, the promotion of respect for human rights for all, and effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the secretariat for the Human Rights Council.

How does it work?

Elected for three-year terms, Member States of the Council discuss, take action and pass resolutions related to various items of a standing agenda:

  1. Organizational and procedural matters
  2. Annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the UN Secretary-General
  3. Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
  4. Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
  5. Human rights bodies and mechanisms
  6. Universal Periodic Review
  7. Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
  8. Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
  9. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
  10. Technical assistance and capacity-building

During a given session the Council considers the activities of its subsidiary human rights procedures and mechanisms, and may organize panel discussions and special events to enhance dialogue and mutual understanding on specific issues.

Outside its normal sessions, the Council may also hold special sessions related to country-specific or thematic issues.

In addition to Member States of the Council, Observers, which include non-Member States, inter-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), may also participate in a session.

The Council’s sessions are broadcast live via webcast. Past sessions are archived.

How to participate in a session of the Council?

Only NGOs in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) can be accredited to participate in the Human Rights Council’s sessions as Observers.

As Observers, NGOs are able, amongst other things, to:

  • Attend and observe all proceedings of the Council with the exception of the Council deliberations under the Complaints Procedure;
  • Submit written statements to the Human Rights Council;
  • Make oral interventions to the Human Rights Council;
  • Participate in debates, interactive dialogues, panel discussions and informal meetings; and
  • Organize “parallel events” on issues relevant to the work of the Human Rights Council.

Quick links

Information Note 63rd session of the Human Rights Council

Information note for Indigenous Peoples

1. A practical guide for NGO participants: Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish. Please note that this practical guide might contain information that is no longer relevant or accurate. For the most updated information about accreditation and participation in the session, please consult the updated Information note above. Before you request for accreditation to the HRC/UPR sessions and related meetings, please ensure that you have finalized the annual accreditation of your NGO with the United Nations Office at Geneva. For more information on annual accreditations, please consult the following website: http://www.ungeneva.org/en/engage/civil-society.

2. Online registration platform “EVENTS” for the submission of requests for NGO side events and NGO written statements at the 63rd session of the HRC: Creation of NGOs’ profiles

In view of the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 63) (07 September to 07 October 2026), NGOs may submit their requests for NGO Side Events and NGO Written Statements for the HRC63, through the online registration platform “EVENTS”, which is accessible at the following link: https://events.ohchr.org.

IMPORTANT: When accessing the platform for the first time, NGOs will need first to create their unique profile. The creation of this account is crucial for NGOs’ planning to engage with the HRC as well as with multiple mechanisms. NGOs are therefore encouraged to carefully consult the Technical Guidelines for the creation of NGOs’ accounts in the EVENTS platform.

3. Written statements for HRC63 by NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC:

In view of the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 63) (07 September to 07 October 2026), NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit NGO Written Statements through the online registration platform “EVENTS”, which is accessible at the following link: https://events.ohchr.org.

The schedule of opening and closing dates for the online submission of NGO Written Statements at the 63rd session of the Council will be as follows:

  • Registration of NGO Written Statements for General Debates under all Agenda Items of the 63rd session will open on Monday, 03 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST, until Monday, 10 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST;
  • Registration of NGO Written Statements for the other debates under Agenda Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 (excluding General Debates) of the 63rd session will open on Monday, 10 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST, until Monday, 17 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST;
  • Registration of NGO Written Statements for the other debates under Agenda Items 6, 8, 9 and 10 (excluding General Debates) of the 63rd session will open on Monday, 17 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST, until Monday, 24 August 2026, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST.

NEW | IMPORTANT UPDATE: In the context of the ongoing financial crisis affecting the United Nations and the significantly reduced capacity of the Civil Society Team at OHCHR, the provisional measure implemented at the 62nd session of the Council regarding the submission of NGO written statements will continue to apply at the 63rd session. Under this provisional measure, each NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit up to three written statements per session. 

IMPORTANT: Please be reminded to get acquainted ahead of time with the guidelines (as of May 2026) on their submission that can be downloaded here to assist: English - Français - Español. Failure to comply with the admissibility requirements and procedures in place will result in the inability to process the respective written statements. You are also encouraged to consult the Step-by-step guide on the submission of Written Statements on the online registration platform “EVENTS” which can be downloaded here:  English - Français – Español.

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact OHCHR’s Civil Society Team at: ohchr-hrcngo@un.org.

4. Oral Statements at HRC63: The online system to register for oral statements for HRC63 will open on Tuesday, 1 September at 14:00 (Geneva time - CEST) through the system “EVENTS” , available here. Instructions on how to create NGO accounts in this new system are available at point 2 of this page. You are encouraged to consult the Step-by-step guide on the submission of Oral Statements on the new online registration platform “EVENTS”. 

5. NGO Joint Statements: NGOs have the possibility of co-sponsoring other NGOs’ statements exclusively through the online registration system. Additional instructions on this procedure can be found in the step-by-step guide that will be published on this page shortly. Co-sponsorship forms in paper are no longer accepted.

6. NGO Side Events during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC63):

In view of the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 63) (07 September to 07 October 2026), NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit requests for NGO Side Events through the online registration platform “EVENTS”, which is accessible at the following link: https://events.ohchr.org. 

IMPORTANT: Registration of requests for NGO Side Events for HRC 63 will open on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at 12:00 noon (Geneva time - CEST) and will close on Wednesday, 05 August 2026 at 12:00 noon (Geneva time - CEST).

REMINDER: As implemented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, and in order to enhance the user experience for registering, scheduling, and managing NGO side events for Human Rights Council sessions, the EVENTS platform has been upgraded with new features to support improved scheduling and event management. In particular, communication with the requesting NGO on the consideration and accommodation of its side event request, will be done on the EVENTS platform and not anymore via e-mail. Users are strongly encouraged to consult the Step-by-Step Informal Guidance on the Registration and Processing of NGO Side Event Requests for further details.

It is reminded that space for NGO side events will continue to be allocated at a reduced level. In the context of the renovations under the Strategic Heritage Plan, rooms will be allocated according to availability, and it may not be possible to accommodate all requests. Please note that to accommodate as many requests as possible, a maximum of one side event per NGO may be requested. Each side event will last a maximum of one hour. 

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact OHCHR’s Civil Society Team at: ohchr-hrcngo@un.org.

7. Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: Handbook for Civil Society.

8. Participating in the Human Rights Council by video message: [Download]. Please note that this guide might contain information that is no longer relevant or accurate. For the most updated information, please refer only to the Information note available above. Practical guidelines on how to create captions.

9. Calendar and deadlines for registration: pending update

For further information or assistance, please contact the NGO Liaison team of the Human Rights Council Secretariat at ohchr-hrcngo@un.org.

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