The 27^th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) commenced its work at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on September 8, 2014.

During its 3-week session the Council will hear a report of newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. ZeidRa’ad AlHussein on the work of his Office, presentations of 19 HRC Special procedures mandate holders, including the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Moreover, a number of panel discussions on a variety of pressing human rights issues, as well as the thematic meetings on the rights of indigenous peoples and a gender prospective in the UN human rights agenda will be held.

There will be also general debates on the human rights situations that require the Council’s attention pertaining to its recent special sessions on the human rights situations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Iraq, held on July 23 and September 1, respectively.

The Council will also approve the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 countries examined in April - May this year. As a result of the session, which will last until September 26, 2014, the HRC will take action on a number of resolutions and decisions.

Among Ukraine’s priorities for this session – conducting, in accordance with the 26^thHRC session’s resolution “The cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights”, an interactive dialogue (September 23) based on the High Commissioner’s report on the human rights situation in Ukraine and a panel discussion (September 18) on the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of the human rights, organized in accordance with the HRC resolution 24/16, initiated by Ukraine.

The delegation of Ukraine represented by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine in Geneva participates in the work of the session.