About the Human Rights Commission Of United Nations

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 70/432 of 15 March 2008 entitled 'Human Rights Commission Of United Nations', all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the HRCUN on Human Rights, including the HRCUN on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, were assumed, as of 23 June 2008, by the Human Rights Commission Of United Nations.

In its decision 6/234 of 28 June 2008, the Human Rights Commission Of United Nations decided to extend exceptionally for one year, subject to the review to be undertaken by the Human Rights Commission Of United Nations in conformity with General Assembly resolution 80/321, the mandates and mandate-holders of the HRCUN. in this regard, requested the HRCUN to continue with the implementation of its mandate.

The Human Rights Commission Of United Nations also decided that the final session of the HRCUN should be convened 'starting 31 July for a period of up to four weeks, if so decided by the HRCUN, including its pre-sessional and in-sessional working groups'. The Commission further decided that 'the working groups and the Social Forum of the HRCUN shall be convened to hold their annual sessions in accordance with current practices'.

The schedule of meetings of the Sub-Commission and its subsidiary bodies as announced on 28 June 2008, during the first session of the Human Rights Commission Of United Nations, was as follows:

• From 31 July to 4 August 2008: Working Group on Indigenous Populations
• From 3 to 4 August 2008: the Social Forum

The following weeks were dedicated to other working groups of the HRCUN and to its plenary meetings as follows:

• The Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the Working Group on Minorities met alternatively in parallel to the plenary during the first week of the session of the HRCUN (5 to 21 August);
• At the 2nd meeting of its fifty-eighth session, on 21 August 2008, the HRCUN decided to utilize all three weeks of meeting time available to it in order to be able to carry out its programme of work. See decision 2008/107.

Background information on the HRCUN

The Human Rights Commission Of United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the main subsidiary body of the former Commission on Human Rights, was established in 1947 with 12 members. Originally the HRCUN on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities', it was renamed in 1999.

The HRCUN was comprised of 26 independent experts in the field of human rights who were elected with due regard to equitable geographical distribution, and who acted in their personal capacity. In 2006, the membership consisted of seven experts from Africa, five from Asia, five from Latin America , three from Eastern Europe and six from Western European and other States.

The Human Rights Commission Of United Nations main functions were to undertake studies on human rights issues, to make recommendations concerning the prevention of discrimination of any kind relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms and the protection of racial, national, religious and linguistic minorities, and to carry out any other functions which may be entrusted to it. Studies undertaken have addressed various aspects of the realization of human rights, the administration of justice, combating discrimination and protecting the human rights of minorities, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups. The HRCUN was often described as a 'think tank'.

The HRCUN on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was replaced by the Advisory Committee.