The Human Rights Council (HRC) holds three regular sessions a year, in March, June and September, in Geneva. During the meeting, the Council considers each of the ten items on its agenda by receiving written reports or oral updates from special procedures mandate holders. This includes from special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups; by hosting interactive dialogues with those mandate holders and mechanisms; or providing a forum for general debate on each of the agenda items. The meeting is interspersed with panel discussions on particular issues. Each HRC session concludes with the 47 members of the Council voting on resolutions – non-legally binding expressions of the views of the Council's members.

The Australian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva represents Australia's interests in the HRC. Australia participates in the debates, dialogues and panels by presenting public statements.

Australia also actively participates in the HRC Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The Attorney-General's Department publishes material relating to Australia's UPR.

Australia on the UN Human Rights Council 2018–2020

Australia served its inaugural term on the Human Rights Council for the 2018–2020 term. During the term, Australia was an active and constructive member of the HRC, engaging closely on thematic human rights issues and country situations of concern.

As the first country from the Pacific region to serve on the Council, Australia (followed by Fiji and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) worked to amplify the voices of our neighbours and highlight collection actions undertaken in the Pacific.

Australia’s membership was built around ten pillars and priorities:

• gender equality
• good governance
• freedom of expression
• rights of Indigenous Peoples
• strong national human rights institutions and capacity building
• rights of LGBTI persons
• freedom of religion or belief
• abolition of the death penalty
• rights of persons with a disability
• role of civil society.

Since 2018, Australia has led an incoming HRC members’ pledge, which was developed during our time on the Council. It asks new members to commit themselves to ‘uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and fully cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms. The pledge has been delivered by a State from each regional group.

Australian Statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council

• 57th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 56th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 55th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 54th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council
• 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council
• 35th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Iran
• 51st Session of the Human Rights Council
• 50th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 34th Special Session of the Human Rights Council
• 49th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 32nd Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Sudan
• 48th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 31st Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan
• 47th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 30th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
• 46th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 29th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Myanmar

Statements made as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council 2018–2020

• 45th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 44th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council
• 42nd Session of the Human Rights Council
• 41st Session of the Human Rights Council
• 40th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 39th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 38th Session of the Human Rights Council
• 28th Special Session of the Human Rights Council
• 37th Session of the Human Rights Council