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The first session of the Human Rights Council will start next Monday 19th June, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and will end on Friday 30th June. The Council is replacing the Commission on Human Rights as the main UN human rights monitoring body. It was created on 15th March through the almost unanimous adoption of General Assembly Resolution A/Res/60/251 (170 yes votes, 4 no votes and 3 abstentions). The much criticised Commission on Human Rights will be formally abolished on 16 June, 3 days before the Council will met for the first time. The new Human Rights Council carries high expectations – it was established with the hope that it could be more objective, credible and efficient in denouncing human rights violations worldwide. As a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, it has a higher institutional standing than the Commission on Human Rights. Its 47 members are elected by an absolute majority and on their human rights records (the elections took place on 9 May). Furthermore, a new provision gives the General Assembly the ability, through a two-thirds majority vote, to suspend the membership of a Council member that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights. Finally, a universal periodic review of all UN member states subject all States to guaranteed scrutiny. The Office of the High-Commissioner for Human Rights is still holding consultations on the Human Rights Council and the first session is likely to focus only on procedural issues such as establishing the agenda and the rules of procedure, reviewing mandates and special procedures, and establishing the mechanisms and modalities for the universal periodic review. The first session will consist of a High-Level Segment (HLS) which will last 2-4 days, followed by a General Segment. The HLS will consist of statements from dignitaries, i.e. government representatives of ministerial or higher rank or Vice-Ministers. In addition, heads of specialised agencies, programmes and intergovernmental organisations, including regional organisations, will also be provided an opportunity to address the HLS after States representatives. The agenda of the second week is still being debated. Please check CRIN’s news page on the Human Rights Council for updated information. Further information