The Human Rights Council (HRC) has started its fifty-second session on 27 February, which will continue to 31 March 2023 at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Council considers the reports under the relevant agenda items, as appropriate. The agenda revolves around ten major issues to be reviewed in selected countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Mali, Libya, Ethiopia, and Congo, as some instances included in the composition of the Human Rights Council.
Concerning Sudan, the Council expressed its deep concern at reports of ongoing human rights violations and abuses, perpetrated since 25 October 2021, in its resolution 50/1 (HRC, 2022). Thus, an oral update on the situation of human rights in the Sudan is expected to be presented by the High Commissioner, with the assistance of the designated Expert on human rights in the Sudan. The oral update is followed by an interactive dialogue with the participation of the High Commissioner and the designated Expert (HRC, 2023).
Concerning the Situation of human rights in South Sudan, the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, for a further period of one year. The commission is therefore expected to present a comprehensive written report on the situation of human rights in South Sudan to the Council, at its fifty-second session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue, which includes the participation of the High Commissioner. Another issues of focus for South Sudan is technical assistance and capacity-building, the comprehensive report of which is presented to the Council by OHCHR at the 52nd session and followed by an interactive dialogue (HRC, 2023).
Some of the human rights-related issues in Eritrea include developments related to the indefinite national/military service, access to justice and the rule of law, and civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms (UN, 2022). In its resolution 50/2, the Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, for a further period of one year, and to hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, at its 52nd session, with the participation of, inter alia, the Special Rapporteur, OHCHR, civil society and other relevant stakeholders. The enhanced interactive dialogue is also planned to be held by the Council (HCR, 2023).
Focusing on good practices, key challenges and new developments, the Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali in its resolution 49/34 for a period of one year. The Independent Expert is expected to submit a report on the technical assistance and capacity-building for Mali with a focus on human rights in the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council. In addition, an assessment of the changes in the situation of human rights in Mali is on the agenda in the Independent Expert and representatives of the Transitional Government of Mali, with a particular focus on the issues of the protection of civic space and respect for the rule of law (HRC, 2023).
The Council has also put the situation of Libya on its agenda regarding technical assistance and capacity-building, which were planned to be investigated more through an extension of the mandate of the fact-finding mission on Libya in the Council’s resolution 50/23. Acknowledging that the fact-finding mission was delayed in the commencement of its work by administrative and logistical challenges, the council announced that more time was needed for it to complete its remaining activities (HRC, 2022). The concluding recommendations are planned to be presented at the 52nd session, with a particular focus on its concrete and concluding recommendations for the Libyan authorities. The report on the fact-finding mission also undergoes consideration during an interactive dialogue (HRC, 2023).
In its resolution 51/27, TRC expressed grave concern at the resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia, jeopardizing chances for a peaceful settlement, and deploring the loss of life and suffering caused by the renewed violence. Concerns were also raised in the same resolution about the humanitarian situation, which continued to deteriorate owing to the combined effects of conflict and drought (HRC 51st session, 2022). The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia were therefore requested to present an oral briefing to the Human Rights Council, at its 52nd session, which will be followed by an interactive dialogue (HRC, 2023).
The human rights council also expressed deep concerns about the continuing violations being committed against children and women, he deteriorating security and human rights conditions in some sectors in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the humanitarian consequences of the violence affecting civilian populations, particularly children and women in its resolution 51/36 (HRC 51st session, 2022). Hence, the Council decided to renew the mandate of the team of international experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requested the team of international experts to present an oral update to the Council at its 52nd session. The enhanced interactive dialogue planned for the 52nd resolution aims to consider the oral updates of the High Commissioner and of the team of international experts expected to be presented on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (HRC, 2023).