Key results of the 60th UN Human Rights Council and new composition of the Council in 2026

During the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council that convened in Geneva from 8 September to 8 October 2025, a total of 37 texts were adopted, 30 of them (81%) by consensus. These included, for the first time, the establishment of an Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, which many observers considered long overdue. The mechanism was tasked with collecting, consolidating, preserving and analysing evidence of international crimes and violations of international law committed in Afghanistan, including against women and girls, as well as identifying perpetrators. Further resolutions were adopted on the Russian Federation, Sudan and Burundi, among others. More than 95 reports were considered during the session, including the latest report by the UN Secretary-General on reprisals and intimidation against individuals who cooperate or have cooperated with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. On 14 October, the UN General Assembly also elected 11 new members and re-elected 3 members to the Council for the 2026-2028 term. This year’s elections have been the fifth, totally uncompetitive elections since the first HRC elections took place in 2007. Thus, all regional groups pre-selected the exact number of states for the vacant seats. As a result, five candidates (Egypt, India, Iraq, Pakistan and Vietnam) made it onto the Council, all of which were also mentioned in the UN Secretary-General's latest report on reprisals.