63rd session of the Human Rights Council

#HRC63 Highlights

GANHRI’s engagement at the Human Rights Council and support to NHRIs

The 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC63) took place in Geneva at the Palais des Nations, from 7 September to 7 October 2026. Throughout the session, GANHRI delivered six statements addressing key priority thematic areas while supporting the engagement of NHRIs from 15 countries which delivered 41 oral interventions or written statements across human rights issues.

Protecting older persons’ rights

As work on a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons moves forward, the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons offered an opportunity to set out what should stand at its core: equality, non-discrimination, autonomy, dignity, participation, and access to justice.

NHRIs can help ensure that the new instrument answers to lived realities. Through their monitoring, analysis, and advisory work, they support States in effectively implementing older persons’ rights at the domestic level. GANHRI called for the recognition of NHRIs’ role in the instrument and urged States to support NHRIs in their task.

Sixty years of the Covenants on human rights

HRC63 marked the 60^th anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights. At the high-level panel discussion, speakers reaffirmed the indivisibility and interdependence of rights. They also pointed to the pressures on the system: the ongoing liquidity crisis, growing constraints on country visits, and delays in considering State reports and individual complaints.

GANHRI recalled that the Covenants are only as effective as their implementation on the ground, highlighting how NHRIs help translate international norms into domestic laws, policies, and practices.

Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights

Indigenous Peoples must be at the centre of decision-making and reconciliation processes. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) presented its study on Indigenous Peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these situations on their rights. The study stresses the importance of adequately resourced NHRIs to monitor compliance with human rights obligations, including UNDRIP, and support Indigenous Peoples’ participation in peace processes. In its statement, GANHRI welcomed EMRIP’s call on the Council to encourage States to support NHRIs in fulfilling their mandate and translating commitments into practice.

GANHRI responded to the Special Rapporteur’s annual report on forms of violations against the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Indigenous women and girls, stressing that NHRIs can identify recurring patterns of violations and support accountability. It called on States to strengthen prevention and access to remedies, consult Indigenous Peoples, and give NHRIs the independence and resources this work requires.

Human rights defenders and NHRIs under threat

In his annual report, the UN Secretary-General highlighted continued reprisals and intimidation against those cooperating with the UN and its mechanisms, as civic space remains under severe pressure, increasingly online. GANHRI’s 2026 Global Survey on reprisals and its Annual Conference on human rights in the digital space confirmed these trends, notably online smear campaigns and the use of digital tools to monitor and repress critical voices.

NHRIs play a dual role. They support victims of reprisals and intimidation through monitoring, complaints-handling and investigative activities, while sometimes being targeted themselves for their collaboration with the UN system. GANHRI called on States and relevant stakeholders to develop a systematic approach so that civil society, human rights defenders and NHRIs can engage safely with UN mechanisms, both online and offline.

GANHRI’s Secretary and Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Alyson Kilpatrick, also spoke at a side event on protecting civic space, organised by the Permanent Mission of Ireland. She highlighted the importance of meaningful participation, noting that gaps in it can erode civic space and people’s ability to enjoy their rights day to day.

Human rights in digital environments

At a side event co-organised with UNESCO and sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Australia, GANHRI launched a joint GANHRI-UNESCO brief designed to help NHRIs strengthen human rights protection in digital environments. The brief draws on UNESCO’s ROAM-X Indicators and its Guidance for human rights assessment on digital platforms.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission outlined what this could look like in practice. Using examples of digital rights complaints it receives, from phone seizures to newsroom raids, the Commission illustrated how these could be grouped under ROAM-X themes to reveal recurring patterns of violations and guide follow-up. Evidence of this kind can support legal reform and dialogue with platforms, and strengthen NHRI reporting to the UPR, treaty bodies and Special Procedures.

From stereotypes to gender discrimination

The Annual Discussion on integrating a gender perspective in the work of the Council focused on gender stereotypes and how they shape laws, policies and institutions and decision-making. GANHRI emphasised the intersectional nature of gender discrimination. It highlighted how NHRIs help expose the ways stereotypes are embedded in legal and institutional frameworks, monitor gender equality, and support measures to prevent and remedy discrimination.

GANHRI also urged States to promote Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs and to give them the mandate, resources, and independence necessary to carry out this work. It also called for NHRIs to be involved in developing and reviewing laws and policies affecting gender equality, and to strengthen mechanisms for documenting, preventing and addressing gender stereotyping, including in the digital space.

Rights-based migration governance

GANHRI co-sponsored a side event organised by OHCHR and the Global Migration Centre of the Geneva Graduate Institute, which launched the issue brief Transforming Migration Governance: Beyond Criminalisation. Speakers examined the human rights consequences of criminalising people based on their migration or legal status. They called for a shift towards rights-based migration governance that protects people on the move and ensures access to effective remedies.

Key resolutions of relevance to NHRIs

The Human Rights Council adopted 34 resolutions and extended six country-specific and eight thematic mandates.

Several resolutions referred to the role of NHRIs:

Resolution 63/25 on NHRIs and digital technologies highlights the role of NHRIs in monitoring human rights impacts, advising on legislation, handling complaints and ensuring remedies. It also reaffirms the need for their independence, adequate resources, and protection from reprisals.
Resolution 63/15 on the implications of artificial intelligence for the promotion and protection of human rights emphasises the contribution of NHRIs to multistakeholder dialogue on the human rights implications of AI, and requests OHCHR to consult them in preparing a report to the Council’s 66^th
session.
Resolution 63/21 on the human rights of migrants calls on States to work with NHRIs and other stakeholders to prevent, investigate and address violations of human rights against migrants.
Resolution 63/14 on Indigenous Peoples welcomes the role of Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs in advancing Indigenous Peoples’ issues and recognises the importance of “developing and strengthening” their capacities to effectively fulfil that role.

These resolutions reaffirm support for independent and effective NHRIs and their role in promoting and protecting human rights.

Adoption of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports

The Human Rights Council adopted the UPR outcome reports of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Somalia.

The NHRIs of Denmark, Latvia and Namibia delivered video statements upon the adoption of their respective countries’ UPR outcome reports.

List of HRC63 NHRIs and GANHRI Statements

A recording of the HRC63 session is available on UN Web TV and oral statements are uploaded to the extranet HRC63 webpage.

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan

NHRI Jordan – National Centre for Human Rights (written statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons

GANHRI – Download statement
NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme (written statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons

NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme (written statement)

Panel discussion on progress, challenges and opportunities in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities

NHRI Mauritania – Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme
NHRI Morocco – Conseil national des droits de l’homme

Biennial panel discussion on the right to development

NHRI Morocco : Conseil national des droits de l’homme

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

NHRI State of Palestine – Independent Commission for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Egypt – National Council for Human Rights (written statement and video statement)
NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Zimbabwe – Human Rights Commission

Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the use of mercenaries

NHRI Colombia – Defensoría del Pueblo (video statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances

NHRI Armenia – Human Rights Defender (video statement)
NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme
NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI State of Palestine – Independent Commission for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Zimbabwe – Human Rights Commission

High-level panel discussion on the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training: good practices, challenges and the way forward

NHRI Morocco – Conseil national des droits de l’homme
NHRI Qatar – National Human Rights Committee

Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on arbitrary detention

NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme
NHRI State of Palestine – Independent Commission for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

NHRI Ethiopia – Ethiopian Human Rights Commission
NHRI Colombia – Defensoría del Pueblo (written statement and video statement)
NHRI Ireland – Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (video statement)
NHRI Morocco – Conseil national des droits de l’homme
NHRI Northern Ireland (UK) – Human Rights Commission (video statement)

Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s analytical report on the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations

NHRI Colombia – Defensoría del Pueblo (written statement)

Interactive dialogue on the Secretary General’s report on actionable pathways in mobilizing sufficient climate financing

NANHRI – Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
NHRI Morocco – Conseil national des droits de l’homme

Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s analytical report on the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations

NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme
NHRI Qatar – National Human Rights Committee

General debate (item 3)

NHRI Philippines – Commission on Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Colombia – Defensoría del Pueblo (written statement)

High-level panel discussion on the sixtieth anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights: universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights

GANHRI – Download statement
NHRI Morocco – Conseil national des droits de l’homme
NHRI Qatar – National Human Rights Committee
NHRI Jordan – National Centre for Human Rights (written statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi

NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme

Interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples

NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Democratic Republic of Congo – Commission nationale des droits de l’homme (video statement)
GANHRI – Download statement
NHRI Burundi – Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l’homme (written statement)

Interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)

GANHRI – Download statement

Interactive dialogue on the Secretary General’s report on cooperation with the United Nations

GANHRI – Download statement
NHRI Qatar – National Human Rights Committee

Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms

GANHRI – Download statement
NHRI Philippines – Commission on Human Rights (video statement)
NHRI Qatar – National Human Rights Committee

Enhanced Interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement

NHRI Colombia – Defensoría del Pueblo (video statement)

Interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the oral update on Ukraine

NHRI Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (video statement)

Enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

NHRI Democratic Republic of Congo – Commission nationale des droits de l’homme