The Human Rights Council concluded its sixtieth regular session, adopting 35 resolutions, one decision, and one Presidential Statement.

One of the most notable outcomes was the launch of a new initiative in Afghanistan. An independent investigative mechanism was established to collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of international crimes and other serious violations of international law. It will also prepare case files to support fair and independent criminal proceedings.

The Council also made several structural changes to its mandate system. The mandates of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons were merged into a single mandate, aiming to improve efficiency and better coordinate efforts on related human rights issues.

Seven country-specific mandates were renewed, extending monitoring and reporting for Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Sudan, Burundi, the Russian Federation, Cambodia, and the Central African Republic. At the same time, mandates for Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were concluded and replaced with resolutions focused on technical cooperation and capacity-building. Similar resolutions were adopted for Georgia, Yemen, and Libya.

The Council also addressed a wide range of thematic issues, including the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, the death penalty, the rule of law, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. It further considered economic, social, and cultural rights in contexts of inequality; the protection of women’s and children’s rights; the human rights impact of sea-level rise; preventable maternal mortality and morbidity; racism in sports; and the human rights implications of drug policy.