The first election of the members of the newly established Human Rights Council (HRC) was held by the General Assembly on 9 May 2006. Terms of office began on 19 June 2006 and 1/3 of members are renewed every year afterwards for a three-year term.  [ see full details on HRC membership ]

"Special procedures" is the general name given to the mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights and assumed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Currently, there are 28 thematic and 10 country mandates (as of Jan. 2008). The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights provides these mechanisms with personnel, logistical and research assistance to support them in the discharge of their mandates. [ full text on "special procedures" ]