INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS UN Human Rights Council Challenges for Its Next Presidency THEODOR RATHGEBER December 2014 n The UN Human Rights Council(HRC) is the main UN body for the promotion and protection of human rights. Compared to its predecessor, the Commission on Hu­man Rights, the HRC has managed to shed light on human rights issues that previ­ously went largely unnoticed. Nevertheless, the HRC is continually criticized for not living up to its normative principles and for insufficiently protecting victims of human rights violations. n In 2015, Germany holds the Presidency of the HRC. While Germany cannot change the weak authority of the HRC simply by decree, its presidency can still make a dif­ference. In order to ensure the success of its presidency, the German HRC President should:(a) be an honest broker to guarantee the functions as well as the reputation of the Council;(b) provide space and time for systematic follow-up procedures in relation to recommendations and outcomes by Special Procedures and the Univer­sal Periodic Review; and(c) strengthen the linkages with other similar international institutions, such as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and increase the interactivity with the UN Security Council. n The HRC Presidency must oppose the intentions of states to obstruct and prevent the participation of civil society stakeholders in UN institutions. The more extensi­vely such steps are embedded in and fostered by a coherent human rights policy by the respective government, the better are the prospects for a substantial outcome. Germany’s exposed role at the international level is an asset in this regard in de­monstrating that it is possible to make human rights into an interest of state.