<P> On 18 June 2007, one year after holding its first meeting, the UNHRC adopted its Institution - building package, which provides elements to guide it in its future work . Among the elements was the Universal Periodic Review . The Universal Periodic Review assesses the human rights situations in all 193 UN Member States . Another element is an Advisory Committee, which serves as the UNHRC's think tank, and provides it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues, that is, issues which pertain to all parts of the world . A further element is a Complaint procedure, which allows individuals and organizations to bring complaints about human rights violations to the attention of the Council . </P> <P> "All victims of human rights abuses should be able to look to the Human Rights Council as a forum and a springboard for action ." - Ban Ki - moon, UN Secretary - General, 2007 </P> <P> The members of the General Assembly elect the members who occupy the UNHRC's 47 seats . The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms . The seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups as follows: 13 for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for Eastern Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), and seven for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). The previous CHR had a membership of 53 elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) through a majority of those present and voting . </P> <P> The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership . The suspension process requires a two - thirds majority vote by the General Assembly . The resolution establishing the UNHRC states that "when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto", and that "members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights". </P>

As of april 2017 which nation is not part of the un security counsel