The Human Rights Council (HRC) is the foremost intergovernmental body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
The 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council takes place from 23 February - 31 March 2026 in Geneva. The HRC is presented with thematic and country reports from UN experts and is where Member States debate and pass resolutions on cross-cutting human rights issues and human rights situations in particular countries.
The 61st Human Right Council takes place amid, what has been called by the UN Secretary-General, an ‘imminent financial collapse.’ Powerful member states’ refuse to pay up their contributions to the UN: the United States alone accounts for 95% of the USD 1.6 billion shortfall in the UN’s 2025 budget. This continues to erode the Council’s ability to deliver on its mandate, limiting its capacity to support human rights mechanisms, monitor accountability, and respond to global crises.
This lack of accountability is starkly obvious with the global surge of military spending and ongoing genocides in Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar. From the farcical “Gaza Peace Plan,” and unbridled imperial intervention in Venezuela, led by the US, the mask that “there is just no money” for people- social support, healthcare, education is off.
With avenues for civil society (especially those not based in Geneva) to participate in the Human Rights Council becoming more limited because of the financial crisis, spaces to put pressure and hold governments accountable for rights violations are increasingly closed. These measures include charges for hybrid participation and interpretation for side events, visa obstacles, and the limited availability of hybrid informal negotiations on draft resolutions.
Below are resolutions, key resolutions, panels and taking place in these sessions, related to gender and sexuality:
Expected Resolutions Relevant to Gender and Sexuality
- The rights of the child (EU & GRULAC)
- Birth registration and the right of all to recognition as a person before the law (Mexico, Turkiye)
- Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to non-discrimination in this context (Germany, Finland)
- Negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights (Non-Aligned Movement)
- Effects of foreign debt and other international financial obligations on the enjoyment of human rights (mandate renewal) (Cuba)
- Rights of persons with disabilities, digital technologies, and inclusive disability infrastructure (Mexico, New Zealand)
- Rights of the child (focus: Children in armed conflict) (Uruguay on behalf of a group of States from Latin America and the Caribbean and European Union)
- Right to work (Egypt, Greece)
- Right to food (Cuba)
- Promotion of the enjoyment of cultural rights of all and respect for cultural diversity (Cuba)
- Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
- Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
- Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in the occupied Syrian Golan (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
Panels Relevant to Gender and Sexuality
- High-level panel discussion on the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action | Concept note
- Annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming
Theme: Role of new and emerging digital technologies in preventing and eliminating female genital mutilation | Concept note - Panel discussion on human rights and a culture of peace
- Concept note
- Panel discussion on financing sustainable development in line with economic, social and cultural rights obligations
- Concept note
- Annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Theme: Disability-inclusive infrastructure, including transport and housing
- Concept note
- Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child
- Theme: Rights of the child and violations of the human rights of children in armed conflicts
- Concept note
Interactive Dialogues and Reports related to Gender and Sexuality
- Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar
- Report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
- Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders
- Report on Defending dignity and claiming rights: human rights defenders hold firm to universal values as others desert them
- Special Rapporteur on housing
- Guiding Principles on Resettlement
- Independent Expert on foreign debt
- Report on International assistance and cooperation
- Special Rapporteur on food
- Report on land and the right to food
- Special Rapporteur on persons with disabilities
- Report on equal participation of persons with disabilities in political life
- Special Rapporteur on privacy
- International collection of personal data