<P> The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations System inter-governmental body responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world . Its 47 seats are filled by member states elected for three - year terms . </P> <P> The UNHRC is the successor to the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR), and is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly . The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations' special procedures . </P> <P> The General Assembly established the UNHRC by adopting a resolution (A / RES / 60 / 251) on 15 March 2006, in order to replace the previous CHR, which had been heavily criticised for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members . However, many of the current 47 UNHRC member states are criticised for poor human rights . </P> <P> The UNHRC addresses human rights - related situations in all UN member states . The UNHRC also addresses important thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities . </P>

When did un formed the human rights committee (now named as the human rights council)