The 61st regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) officially commenced on February 23, 2026, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Set to run until March 31, 2026, this five-week marathon of diplomacy arrives at a moment of profound global instability. Delegates from 47 member states, alongside hundreds of civil society observers, have gathered to address an ambitious agenda that seeks to reconcile traditional human rights protections with the rapid emergence of 21st-century threats, ranging from algorithmic bias to climate-driven displacement.
The opening high-level segment was marked by a sober assessment of the “financial paralysis” currently gripping the United Nations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk opened the proceedings with a stark warning about the underfunding of global rights mechanisms. Addressing the assembly on the first day, Türk remarked, “We cannot afford a human rights system in crisis. Behind every number lie human lives saved or improved, every single day.” He emphasized that the Office of the High Commissioner is currently in “survival mode,” operating under a $400 million funding gap for its 2026 voluntary budget.
Navigating Conflict and Accountability
Central to the HRC61 agenda is a focus on ongoing atrocities and the pursuit of international accountability. The Council is scheduled to review harrowing reports from Fact-Finding Missions regarding Sudan, specifically the “genocidal campaign” in El Fasher. In his opening address, Türk highlighted the urgency of these investigations, stating, “The spirit of the struggle for peace, justice and freedom is still very much alive.” Beyond Sudan, the session will hold interactive dialogues on the deteriorating situations in Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, where the rights of women and girls continue to face systematic erosion.
The Council will also weigh the extension of several critical mandates, including the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. On February 20, 2026, just days before the session began, more than 120 civil society organizations issued a joint letter urging the Council to maintain its scrutiny of South Sudan to prevent further “atrocity crimes.” This push for continuity reflects a broader theme of the 61st session: the refusal to let “fatigue” dictate the international response to long-standing humanitarian crises.
Emerging Frontiers: Technology and the Environment
As the Council looks toward the future, the 61st session features a significant pivot toward the impact of new technologies. A key panel discussion on the role of emerging digital technologies in preventing female genital mutilation (FGM) underscores the Council’s effort to modernize its toolkit. Furthermore, the High Commissioner recently asserted that “human rights are the foundations for AI that benefits humanity,” signaling that the Council will spend much of March debating how to regulate algorithmic surveillance and ensure digital privacy in an increasingly automated world.
Environmental justice has also secured a primary spot on the 2026 docket. The Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is expected to present a landmark report focusing on clean air and public health. This follows a trend of “climate-human rights mainstreaming” that has gained momentum since the adoption of the right to a healthy environment in 2022. The session aims to bridge the gap between environmental policy and human dignity, particularly for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by industrial pollution.
Ultimately, the 61st session is being viewed as a litmus test for the UN’s ability to remain relevant in a fragmented geopolitical landscape. As the session moves toward its closing meetings in late March, the international community will be watching to see if the Council can move beyond rhetoric to enact meaningful resolutions. With mandates for food security, adequate housing, and the protection of human rights defenders all up for renewal, the outcomes of these five weeks will set the global human rights standard for the remainder of the decade.
