The Human Rights Council in Geneva is the United Nations’ most important human rights committee
worldwide have no access to clean water.
applying to be re-elected for the 2016 – 2018
Germany is helping to change this situation
cycle. In 2015, Germany in the person of Am-
by spending 400 million euros annually on
bassador Joachim Rücker became Chair of
several projects. Access to water, one of the
the Council for the first time. The German
more recent human rights issues, is the focal
diplomat was elected President by the 47
point of German development cooperation
members of the Human Rights Council for
in 27 countries.
one year. The Human Rights Council’s most
important tool is the Universal Periodic Re-
In 2012, Germany became a member of the
view, which provides all UN member states
UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switz-
with an opportunity to declare what actions
erland, for the second time, and is currently
they have taken to fulfil their human rights