The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) replaced in 2006 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1946), which was the main intergovernmental body of the United Nations, responsible for human rights.

The Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly, responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. HRC has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.

International Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10, the date that coincides with December 10, 1948, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

Albania and the HRC
Albania, after three years as a member of the HRC 2015-2017 is currently re-elected member of the HRC for the period 2024-2026. Albania maintains a high level of representation thanks to a positive coordination and a new dynamic of organizing and overseeing the HRC activities. During the High Level Segment of the Session HRC55 (February 2024), our country was represented by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

During its 3-year mandate (2024 – 2026) in the Human Rights Council, Albania will commit to the universal principles of human rights and dignity, in a world where every human being can realize their full potential and live with dignity and respect.

In addition, one of the priorities of Albania as a member of the HRC is to hold accountable the perpetrators of serious crimes, fight impunity and prevent violations of fundamental rights.

In this framework, Albania fully supports the mandate of the Investigative Commission, and as a member of the HRC, it will engage, together with partners, towards achieving the objective of bringing to justice the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Albania will commit to support the participation of civil society actors and human rights defenders, in particular women and young people, in the work of the Human Rights Council and on the ground.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs carries out its activity to guarantee the active role of the country within the HRC, in implementation of the key priorities of the Republic of Albania, related to the respect and the promotion of human rights, through active participation during the sessions of the HRC and holding statements in national capacity, compliance with EU declarations, cooperation and development of informal negotiations in the process of increasing efficiency and credibility of the HRC, etc.

OHCHR

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) works to offer the best expertise and support to the different human rights monitoring mechanisms in the United Nations system.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations. The High Commissioner heads OHCHR and spearheads the United Nations’ human rights efforts. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in 1993.

Currently, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is Mr. Volker Türk, who took office on October 17, 2022. He is the eighth Commissioner in this term.

OHCHR provides assistance in the form of technical expertise and capacity-development in order to support the implementation of international human rights standards on the ground. It assists governments, which bear the primary responsibility for the protection of human rights, to fulfil their obligations and supports individuals to claim their rights. Moreover, it speaks out objectively on human rights violations.

The OHCHR is part of the United Nations Secretariat, with a staff of about 1,300 based in Geneva, as well as an office in New York. It is also present in the field with independent regional and national offices.

Albania has a very good relationship with the Office of the High Commissioner.

HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES

There are 9 core international human rights instruments. Each of these instruments has established a committee of experts to monitor the implementation of the treaty provisions by its states parties. Some of the treaties are supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns whereas the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture has established a committee of experts. The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty.

Currently, there are nine human rights international treaties, and one optional protocol, from which 10 treaty bodies have been established. The treaty bodies are composed of independent experts of recognized competence in human rights, who are nominated and elected for fixed renewable terms of four years by State parties.

Albania has a very good cooperation with Treaty Bodies and has reported during 2020 and 2021 for CCPR, CSCR, UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CERD and CEDAW.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (4 January 1969);

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (3 January 1976);

Human Rights Committee (CCPR) monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (23 March 1976) and its optional protocols;

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) and its optional protocol (3 September 1981);

Committee against Torture (CAT) monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (26 June 1987);

Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (2 September 1990) and its optional protocols (12 February 2002);

Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1 July 2003);

The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) established pursuant to the Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) (22 June 2006) visits places of detention in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (3 May 2008);

Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) monitors implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (23 December 2010);

UN SPECIAL PROCEDURES

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The system of Special Procedures is a central element of the United Nations human rights machinery and covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.

As of 1 August 2017, there are 44 thematic and 12 country mandates.

With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), special procedures undertake country visits; act on individual cases and concerns of a broader, structural nature by sending communications to States and others in which they bring alleged violations or abuses to their attention; conduct thematic studies and convene expert consultations, contribute to the development of international human rights standards, engage in advocacy, raise public awareness, and provide advice for technical cooperation. Special procedures report annually to the Human Rights Council; the majority of the mandates also reports to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Their tasks are defined in the resolutions creating or extending their mandates.

Albania has a very good cooperation with UN Special Procedures. It follows up in collaboration with the Secretariat of the OHCHR, the individual complaints cases against Albania, and Special Rapporteurs’ questionnaires according to the themes required by the Rapporteurs.

CONVENTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WITHIN THE UN

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, (acceded to in 1991).
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (acceding to law no. 7511 dated 08.08.1991).
Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by law no. 7531 dated 11.12.1991).
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Adhering to law no. 7767, dated 09.11.1993).
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (acceded to by Law No. 7727, dated 30.06.1993).
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (acceded to in 1994).
Convention, “On the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families” (acceded to by Law No. 9703, dated 02.07.2007).
UN Convention “On the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance” (ratified by law no. 9802, dated 13.09.2007).
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ratified by law 108/2012).