The Human Rights Council is one of the United Nations bodies concerned with protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. It was established in 2006 by General Assembly Resolution "60/251" to replace the former Commission on Human Rights. The Council is headquartered in Geneva and consists of 47 states elected by the UN General Assembly by secret ballot and an absolute majority of its members, taking into account equitable geographical distribution among regional groups, for a three-year term that is renewable in accordance with the rules governing its membership.
The Council carries out a range of important UN mandates, most notably discussing human rights situations in various countries around the world, issuing resolutions related to their protection, and establishing commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions when necessary. It also plays a key role in the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, under which all UN member states undergo a periodic review of their human rights situations, with the aim of assessing progress made and providing recommendations aimed at developing relevant national legislation and practices.
In light of these mandates, the importance of Jordan's membership in the Council stands out, as it provides opportunities to participate in discussing international human rights issues and voting on relevant resolutions and recommendations. The political value of this membership is particularly evident in light of Jordan's firm positions on the Palestinian cause, as it provides the Kingdom with an additional international platform to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state, the protection of civilians, and the demand for respect for the rules of international humanitarian law.
The effects of this membership are not limited to the international level but extend to the national level, as it constitutes an opportunity to strengthen the human rights process in Jordan and build on the achievements made in this field by continuing to develop national legislation and strengthening legal guarantees to protect the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Jordanian Constitution, especially the principle of equality before the law, freedom of opinion and expression, and the guarantee of political, economic, and social rights.
Within the framework of strengthening these national efforts, Jordan can benefit from its membership in the Council to learn about international experiences and best practices in the field of human rights protection and employ them in developing relevant national policies and practices. Cooperation with national bodies and civil society institutions can also be strengthened to spread societal awareness of rights and duties and to consolidate a culture of respect for rights, freedoms, and the rule of law.
To translate these opportunities into practical results, there is a need to develop an action plan for the next three years, based on coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the relevant authorities in the Prime Ministry, in cooperation with the National Center for Human Rights. This plan includes defining the priorities of Jordanian participation in the Council's work, coordinating the positions and initiatives put forward by the Kingdom, and following up on the resolutions and recommendations issued by it, in a way that enhances the effectiveness of Jordanian participation and achieves the desired goals.
In conclusion, Jordan's election as a member of the Human Rights Council represents an important diplomatic achievement and a national opportunity that should be optimally invested in over the next three years. The true value of this membership is not measured merely by participation in the Council's work, but by the extent of Jordan's ability to employ it in the service of human rights issues at the international level and benefit from it in continuing to develop the national system for protecting rights and freedoms, in a way that enhances the integration between Jordan's external role and internal efforts aimed at safeguarding human dignity and consolidating respect for human rights in the Kingdom.
* Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Jordan
