In accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, composed of 18 experts serving in their personal capacity and nominated by States Members of the United Nations following States’ consultations with national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, are to be elected by the Council by secret ballot from the list of candidates whose names have been submitted in accordance with the agreed requirements.
The geographic distribution of members is as follows:
(a) Five from African States;
(b) Five from Asia-Pacific States;
(c) Two from Eastern European States;
(d) Three from Latin American and Caribbean States;
(e) Three from Western European and other States.
All Member States of the United Nations may propose or endorse candidates from their own region. When selecting their candidates, States should consult their national human rights institutions and civil society organizations and, in this regard, include the names of those supporting their candidate (see paragraph 66 of the annex to Council resolution 5/1).
The technical and objective requirements for the submission of candidatures are described in the Council decision 6/102, and include:
(a) Recognized competence and experience in the field of human rights;
(b) High moral standing;
(c) Independence and impartiality.
When selecting their candidates, States are requested to apply the following guidelines on technical and objective requirements for the submission of their candidates:
(a) Competence and experience:
(i) Academic studies in the field of human rights or related areas, and/or experience with and exposure to leadership roles in the human rights field at the national, regional or international levels;
(ii) Substantial experience (at least five years) and personal contributions in the field of human rights;
(iii) Knowledge of the United Nations system and of institutional mandates and policies related to the work in the area of human rights, as well as knowledge of international human rights instruments, norms and disciplines; familiarity with different legal systems and civilizations will be preferable;
(iv) Proficiency in at least one official language of the United Nations;
(v) Availability of time to fulfil the work of the Advisory Committee in an effective manner, both to attend its sessions and to carry out mandated activities between sessions;
(b) High moral standing;
(c) Independence and impartiality: individuals holding decision-making positions in Government or any other organization or entity which might give rise to a conflict of interest with responsibilities inherent to the mandate will be excluded; elected members of the Advisory Committee will act in their personal capacity;
(d) Other considerations: the principle of non-accumulation of human rights functions at the same time is to be respected.
In electing members of the Advisory Committee, the Human Rights Council should give due consideration to gender balance and appropriate representation of different civilizations and legal systems.
The members of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-election once (see paragraph 74 of Council decision 6/102).