česky  english 

Advanced search
hr_1
Photo: (@MZV)

Human rights

Human rights are one of the three main pillars of the United Nations. They also represent a longstanding priority of the Czech foreign policy. The Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic in Geneva contributes to the implementation of these important tasks. Furthermore, it presents the Czech Republic as an active, trusted and consistent country. 

Geneva hosts the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as many human rights Treaty Bodies.

Protection and promotion of human rights is a longstanding priority of the Czech foreign policy. The human rights foreign policy of the Czech Republic focuses on human rights mechanisms, civil society including human rights defenders, freedom of opinion and expression including freedom of the media, participation, the rule of law, equality and non-discrimination and human rights in employment and in the environmental context.

The Czech Republic is currently a Member State of the UN Human Rights Council for the term expiring on 31 December 2023.  Previously, it served as a Member during the first year of the Council's existence (2006-2007), from 2011 to 2014 and from 2019 to 2021. The Czech Republic is an active country in the Council, taking part in general debates and interactive dialogues as well as in negotiations of resolutions. At the September sessions of the Council in 2013, 2014 and 2018, the Czech Republic authored and negotiated a resolution on equal political and public participation that were adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by a large number of countries. In 2022 and 2019, it presented in cooperation with other countries resolutions on freedom of peaceful assembly and association which were adopted by consensus. It has presented its candidature to the Council for the elections in 2024. 

57th session of the Human Rights Council opened

thumb

UN Human Rights Council concludes its 56th session

The UN Human Rights Council concluded its 56th session, which ran from 18 June to 12 July 2024. During the last week, the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic delivered a national address on the situation in Ukraine in an interactive… more ►

UN Human Rights Council concludes its 56th session

thumb

The UN Human Rights Council concluded its 56th session, which ran from 18 June to 12 July 2024. During the last week, the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic delivered a national address on the situation in Ukraine in an interactive… more ►

The UN Human Rights Council concludes its 55th session

thumb

The UN Human Rights Council concludes its 55th session, which lasted six weeks. During the last week, Permanent Representative Václav Bálek delivered a national address on the situation in Ukraine in an interactive dialogue with the High… more ►

Czech Republic at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council

thumb

The 55th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council is taking place from 26 February to 5 April. The Czech Republic will attend the session as an observer and will continue to actively participate in the negotiation of resolutions. more ►