With the end of 2014, the Czech Republic concluded its elected term in the Human Rights Council (HRC), the United Nations’ principal human rights body which replaced the often criticised Commission for Human Rights in 2006. Members of the Human Rights Council should be first of all countries that lead by example in protection and promotion of human rights.

Throughout the three-and-a-half-year-long membership (June 19, 2011 - December 31, 2014), the Czech Republic advocated for the need of defending human rights and strengthened its good human rights reputation in the world. The Czech Republic was an active member with clear views and a distinctive voice – the Czech initiative on equal participation in political and public affairs brought an important new theme to the Council’s debates and the importance of the rights to freedom of assembly and association was highlighted by two resolutions co-authored by the Czech Republic. Moreover, during the year of 2014, it served as one of the vice-chairs of the Council. The Czech Republic paid special attention to country-specific resolutions aimed at improving grave human rights situation in countries such as Belarus, Myanmar/Burma, Sudan, Eritrea or DPRK. Apart from these, the Czech Republic took part in various debates, interactive dialogues and negotiations of other resolutions as well.

With this positive experience, the Czech Republic has already announced its next candidature to the UN Human Rights Council for the term of 2019-2021.