The 49th UN Human Rights Council convened in Geneva from February 28 to April 1, 2022. It was the longest session in the Council's history and a particular test for multilateral diplomacy, not only because of the situation in Ukraine. In addition to the emergency session and the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, there were other important votes, including on the extension of the mandate of the UN High Commissioner to further investigate human rights violations in Belarus or the establishment of a group of human rights experts on Nicaragua. Numerous joint statements were delivered, including on the human rights situation in Russia and in Yemen. Meanwhile, China, once again spoke out in favor of a state-centered "human rights dialogue" and a modified role for the Office of the UN High Commissioner in order to avoid criticism and scrutiny.
