The **United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)** is the primary intergovernmental body within the UN system dedicated to **promoting and protecting human rights worldwide**. Established on March 15, 2006, it replaced the discredited United Nations Commission on Human Rights to enhance effectiveness and credibility in addressing human rights issues[1][4][7]. The Council is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and consists of 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly for staggered three-year terms, ensuring regional representation[1][4]. The UNHRC's core functions include **investigating allegations of human rights violations**, addressing thematic issues such as freedom of expression, women's rights, LGBT rights, and minority protections, and conducting country-specific reviews. Its most innovative mechanism is the **Universal Periodic Review (UPR)**, which evaluates the human rights records of all 193 UN member states every four years, promoting transparency and accountability through a cooperative, state-driven process[2][3][5]. The Council also appoints independent experts, known as Special Rapporteurs, who monitor and report on specific human rights situations or thematic issues without UN remuneration, acting as the "eyes and ears" of the Council[3][5]. It can establish commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions to investigate urgent human rights crises, bolstering international responses to abuses[2][3]. Despite its crucial role, the UNHRC has faced criticism for including member countries with questionable human rights records and alleged political biases, particularly concerning Israel. This has affected the engagement of major countries like the United States, which has fluctuated between membership and withdrawal in recent years due to concerns over perceived bias and ineffectiveness[1]. For those in business and technology sectors, the UNHRC's recognition of rights such as access to a clean and safe environment (first recognized in 2021) and its evolving mandates on digital rights and equality underscore its growing relevance in global governance