At a glance

The complaint procedure addresses consistent patterns of gross and reliably attested violations of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, occurring in any part of the world, and under any circumstances (Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007). The procedure is impartial, objective, efficient, victim-oriented and conducted in a timely manner.

Who can submit a complaint?

The complaint procedure of the Human Rights Council is the only universal complaint procedure addressing all human rights and all fundamental freedoms in all United Nations Member States. Any individual, group of individuals, or non-governmental organization can submit a complaint.

Who can you make a complaint against?

A complaint can be submitted against any of the 193 Member States, whether or not the country has ratified any particular treaty or made reservations under a particular instrument.

Confidentiality

The procedure is confidential.

The complainant may make a request for confidentiality of some information, but the complaint must not be anonymous. Should complainants request that their identity be kept confidential, it will not be transmitted to the State concerned.

In accordance with paragraph 106 of resolution 5/1, both the author of the communication and the State concerned are informed of the proceedings at each stage.

For more information, please visit the FAQ