Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Credit: MAEE

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, held annually on 10 December, Luxembourg's Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Jean Asselborn, held a press conference to officially launch the Grand Duchy's campaign to be elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2022-24 term. 

The UNHRC was established in 2006. It is the UN's main intergovernmental body responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. Its mission is also to deal with situations of human rights violations and to issue recommendations on them. The Council is authorised to examine all human rights issues and situations that require its attention.

The UNHRC meets at the United Nations Office in Geneva three times a year for regular sessions in February-March (four weeks), June-July (three weeks) and September (three weeks). At the request of one-third of its member states, the Council may at any time decide to convene extraordinary sessions to deal with human rights violations and emergency situations. The UNHRC is made up of 47 member states which are elected by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. All UN member states can participate in discussions during the work of the Council as observers, however only the 47 member states can participate in voting on resolutions.

Luxembourg's bid to join the UNHRC reflects the country's desire to continue its commitment to the protection of human rights, one of its long-standing priorities both at the national level and through external action. At the international level, this commitment goes through multilateral forums and in particular through the organs of the UN system. Already in 2013-14, Luxembourg sat for the first time on the UN Security Council as an elected member. 

During the press conference, Minister Jean Asselborn presented the four human rights priorities to which the Grand Duchy intends to commit as a potential member of the UNHRC:

- support for the rule of law, civic space and human rights defenders and the fight against impunity;

- human rights-based sustainable development and climate action;

- gender equality and the fight against discrimination, and;

- protection and promotion of children's rights.

Minister Jean Asselborn concluded: “By presenting its candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the first time, Luxembourg wants to continue to assume its responsibilities in the multilateral context. We are convinced that we can make a useful contribution to the promotion of human rights within the Council. We want to seize this opportunity to advance the cause of human rights, in Luxembourg and at the international level".

The election will take place in October 2021.