Complaints Procedure

The complaints procedure of the Human Rights Council was established under Resolution 5/1.

It aims to address consistent patterns of gross violations of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world and under any circumstance.

How the complaint procedure works

Two distinct working groups exist to examine communications and to bring patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms to the attention of the Council. These include:

• Working Group on Communications
• Working Group on Situations

Working Group on Communications (WGC)

The Working Group on Communications (WGC) is designated from the members of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. They serve for a period of three years on the WGC.

WGC consists of five independent experts which meet twice a year for five working days. They assess the merits of communications to see if it reveals a consistent pattern of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

All communications meeting the criteria are forwarded to the Working Group on Situations.

Working Group on Situations (WGS)

The Working Group on Situations (WGS) members are appointed by the regional groups from among the States member of the Human Rights Council. They serve for the period of one year.

The WGS has five members, and meets twice a year for five working days.

It reviews information received by the WGC as well as replies from States. On the basis of this information the WGS presents the Human Rights Council with a report on the consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Along with this are recommendations to the Human Rights Council on the course of action to take.

The Human Rights Council then makes a decision.

Can I submit a complaint to this procedure?

You can submit a complaint unless it:

• It is politically motivated
• The aim of the complaint is not consistent with the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or other human rights law
• It does not contain a true description of the alleged violations, including the rights which were violated
• Its language is abusive
• It is not submitted by a person or group of people claiming to the victim of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. NGOs, acting in good faith, can submit information on your behalf.
• It is only based on reports from the media
• It refers to a case already being dealt with by a special procedure, treaty body or other UN or regional human rights complaints procedures.

• Domestic remedies have not been exhausted.