Promotion of Equitable Geographical Distribution in the Membership of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies

A/RES/68/161View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 69b Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, published in 2014.

What other versions does this mandate have?

9 versions · 2010–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/80/206

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2025	A/RES/80/206	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies	1,019	94%Compare
2023	A/RES/78/200	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies	1,078	90%Compare
2022	A/RES/76/160	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies	972	100%Compare
2020	A/RES/74/155	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies	972	100%Compare
2018	A/RES/72/174	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies	973	100%Compare

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

7 reports · 2013–2025

Year	Symbol	Title	Mandate resolution
2025	A/80/299	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/78/200
2023	A/78/311	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/76/160
2021	A/76/262	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/74/155
2019	A/74/227	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/72/174
2017	A/72/284	Promotion of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies report of the Secretary-General	A/RES/70/152

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Gender Equality Geographical Distribution Human Rights Treaty-Monitoring Bodies

What’s in this document?

10 operative paragraphs

Reiterates that the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments should take into account, in their nomination of members to the human rights treaty bodies, that these committees shall be composed of persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience and to equal representation of women and men, and that members shall serve in their personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections to the human rights treaty bodies, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems;

Urges the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments, including the bureau members, to include this matter in the agenda of each meeting and/or conference of States parties to those instruments in order to initiate a debate on ways and means to ensure equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, based on previous recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council and the provisions of the present resolution;

Encourages the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to consider and adopt concrete actions, inter alia, the possible establishment of quotas by geographical region for membership of the treaty bodies, thereby ensuring the paramount objective of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of those human rights bodies;

Recommends, when considering the possible allocation of seats on each treaty body on a regional basis, the introduction of flexible procedures that encompass the following criteria:

Each of the five regional groups established by the General Assembly is allocated seats on each treaty body in equivalent proportion to the number of States parties to the instrument in that group;

There must be provision for periodic revisions of the allocation of seats in order to reflect relative changes in the level of treaty ratification in each regional group;

Automatic periodic revisions should be envisaged in order to avoid amending the text of the instrument when the quotas are revised;

Stresses that the process needed to achieve the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of human rights treaty bodies can contribute to raising awareness of the importance of gender balance, the representation of the principal legal systems and the principle that the members of the treaty bodies shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights;

Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to submit to the General Assembly at its seventieth session a comprehensive updated report in this regard, including information on any steps taken by States parties at meetings or conferences of States parties to address the matter of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, as well as concrete recommendations on the implementation of the present resolution;

Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its seventieth session under the item entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights”.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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