The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a UN body made up of 47 member states tasked with promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. The Council is the main platform for dialogue on human rights issues. It works to address violations and recommend solutions. It was created in 2006 to replace the Commission on Human Rights. The UNHRC has the authority to examine human rights situations, issue reports, and make recommendations. Periodically, the council reviews the human rights records of UN member states to identify areas for improvement. The UNHRC also appoints independent experts, known as Special Procedures, to investigate and report on human rights issues in specific countries or on specific themes. Today, the UNHRC continues to address and make recommendations for evolving human rights challenges, including conflict-related abuses, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

The promotion and protection of human rights in Belarus are major concerns for the UNHRC. Since the disputed 2025 presidential elections, the Belarusian government—led by long-time President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994—has been widely accused of restricting fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, assembly, and association. By 2026, over 1,000 individuals remained imprisoned on politically motivated charges. Many faced unfair trials, harsh prison conditions, and allegations of torture or ill-treatment. Journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders are frequently targeted, while many civil society organizations have been shut down or labeled as “extremist,” limiting public participation and access to information. In addition, a lack of independent investigations has led to little accountability for these abuses, creating a climate of fear and impunity. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN mechanisms continue to monitor the situation, support vulnerable groups, and call for greater protection, but progress has remained limited. For delegates, the key challenge is to promote accountability and protect fundamental freedoms while navigating issues of state sovereignty and international cooperation.

Emerging technologies are playing a bigger role in the work of human rights defenders (HRDs). HRDs use digital platforms to share information, organize movements, and expose human rights abuses. Satellite imaging can help monitor displaced populations, AI can identify evidence of abuse through image recognition, and forensic technology can help reconstruct crime scenes and hold perpetrators accountable. However, these technologies can also create serious risks. Authoritarian governments may use surveillance technology to monitor political dissidents, while “deepfakes” and other forms of misinformation can spread false information and weaken public trust. Human rights defenders, including activists, journalists, and lawyers, are often targeted by these harmful practices. Critical issues include the use of spyware and AI for surveillance, the responsibility of social media platforms to control harmful content, and the challenge of balancing national security with individual freedoms. These problems can be even more severe for women and Indigenous human rights defenders, who frequently face harassment and targeted attacks online because of their identities. As a result, many people believe that governments, private companies, and the international community all share responsibility for creating a safer and fairer digital environment. Recognizing the importance of this issue, the UNHRC has called for input from states, civil society groups, and private companies to better understand how emerging technologies affect human rights defenders and to guide future policy recommendations.