The Human Rights Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, in replacement of the former United Nations Commission on Human rights. The Human Rights Council, as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, is made up of 47 United Nations Member States with its Membership distribute based on equitable geographical distribution: 13 seats for African States, 13 seats for Asia-Pacific States, 8 seats for Latin American and Caribbean States, 7 seats for Western European and other States and 6 seats for Eastern European States. Members of the Council are elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through secret ballot, and serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms. China has served as the Member of the Council from 2006 to 2012, from 2014 to 2016 and from 2017 to 2019.

The mandates of the Council include: to promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; to address situations of violations of human rights and make recommendations thereon; to promote the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system; to promote human rights education and learning as well as advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building, to be provided in consultation with and with the consent of Member States concerned; to serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights; to make recommendations to the General Assembly for the further development of international law in the field of human rights; to submit an annual report to the General Assembly, etc.