The UN Human Rights Council meets in Geneva on Monday,with issues such as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the occupied Palestinian Territories on the agenda. The 47 member states are set to discuss a report on the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, while a debate is also scheduled on Iranian attacks on states in the Gulf.
The council is tasked with ensuring that human rights are upheld across the world. Whilst it can condemn human rights violators, it has no means of imposing sanctions. The council always includes countries that are themselves accused of human rights violations. These currently include China, Cuba and Ethiopia. The countries are elected by the UN General Assembly for a three-year term on the basis of a geographical quota. The 62nd session of the Human Rights Council is due to last until July 7.
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