The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee's Contribution to Global Human Rights

Abstract

In an attempt to explain the role of the Advisory Committee, this paper posits that it contributes to the international human rights system in two ways. First, the Advisory Committee influences human rights resolutions within the United Nations (UN) through its role as an epistemic community as well as through its agenda-setting power. Second, the Advisory Committee influences beyond the United Nations through the process of norm socializing and the experts' roles within their own nations. Through these methods, the Advisory Committee is able to contribute not only within the United Nations, but also beyond into the global realm of human rights.