🇺🇳 📆 From September 7 to October 7, Geneva will host the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The Session is expected to address a broad range of issues on the international human rights agenda, including:

• protection and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights,
• ensuring the right to development,
• protection of children,
• combating discrimination against women,
• advancing the interests of indigenous peoples,
• preventing the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, as well as other thematic issues.

At Russia’s initiative, a high-level thematic discussion will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

The Council will adopt the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of the national reports of Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, Namibia, Niger, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Palau, Paraguay, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Estonia.

At the initiative of the EU, the Council will once again consider a politicised and highly confrontational draft resolution on the human rights situation in Russia, aimed at extending for another year the mandate of the relevant HRC Special Rapporteur, Mariana Katzarova of Bulgaria.

❗️ Russia’s stance on this matter remains unchanged: we do not recognise the mandate of this illegitimate special procedure, and any form of interaction with it is unacceptable to us.

The Russian delegation, which will participate in the Session as an observer, intends, as before, to make active use of all available opportunities to overcome confrontation and promote a unifying agenda, as well as to foster among international partners an understanding of the importance of establishing constructive international dialogue on the promotion and protection of human rights, with due respect for the national, religious, cultural and historical characteristics of every state.

A number of special side events will be organised to present Russia’s approaches to the most pressing issues on the session’s agenda to the international community.