Human Rights

Greece’s engagement in the Human Rights Council

Greece has supported, from the outset, the establishment of an effective and efficient Human Rights Council—one with enhanced status, a robust mandate, solid institutional structures, and credible membership—capable of ensuring that human rights occupy the central role envisioned in the UN Charter and reaffirmed by the 2005 World Summit Outcome. 

Greece holds Observer status in the Human Rights Council and has officially announced its candidacy for election as a member for the 2028–2030 term (elections to be held in New York in 2027). It actively engages in the work of the Council by participating in General Debates, panel discussions, and Interactive Dialogues with Special Procedure mandate holders. It contributes to joint initiatives and co-organizes side events on issues of shared interest. Moreover, Greece remains committed to full cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedure mandate holders and UN treaty bodies, including the timely submission of national reports and the implementation of concluding observations and recommendations, in its ongoing efforts to further advance the protection and promotion of human rights.

Greece demonstrates its strong engagement across a wide range of thematic areas, either by serving as the penholder of key resolutions—such as (a) the promotion of human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal, and (b) neurotechnology and human rights—or by actively participating in cross-regional core groups supporting resolutions on: (a) the safety of journalists, (b) cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage, (c) youth and human rights, (d) the right to work, (e) the human rights situation in the Russian Federation, and (f) the Human Rights Council’s contribution to addressing the human rights implications of drug policy.