International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions permit debate and pass resolutions on specific country situations. This pressure was resisted and the GA resolution provides explicitly for the HRC to undertake this role. In addition to the broad functions relating to promotion of human rights, the HRC is also to “address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon”.62 The HRC also has a mandate to “promote the effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system”.63 3. BASIC OPERATING PRINCIPLES The GA decided the following basic operating principles for the HRC. • “[T]he work of the Council shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights”.64 • “[T]he methods of work of the Council shall be transparent, fair and impartial and shall enable genuine dialogue, be results oriented, allow for subsequent follow-up discussions to recommendations and their implementation and also allow for substantive interaction with special procedures”.65 • The HRC should “[c]ontribute, through dialogue and cooperation, towards the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to human rights emergencies”.66 A general view of participants at the 16th session of the Human Rights Council. UN Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré. 62 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 3. 63 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 3. 64 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 4. 65 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 12. 66 GA Resolution 60/251; OP. 5(f). 28 | Chapter 5: Human Rights Council