A/HRC/33/26 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to its decision 31/115, the Human Rights Council held a high-level panel discussion on 13 June 2016 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council, focused on its achievements and challenges. 2. The panel discussion was chaired by the President of the Human Rights Council, Choi Kyonglim. It opened with statements by the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. 3. The meeting provided an opportunity for States, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to underline and reiterate the commitment to the universal promotion and protection of human rights for all, and to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the Human Rights Council. 4. The panel was moderated by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore. The panellists included the nine former presidents of the Human Rights Council: Joachim Rücker (Germany), Baudelaire Ndong Ella (Gabon), Remigiusz Achilles Henczel (Poland), Laura Dupuy Lasserre (Uruguay), Sihasak Phuangketkeow (Thailand), Alex Van Meeuwen (Belgium), Martin I. Uhomoibhi (Nigeria), Doru Costea (Romania) and Luis Alfonso de Alba (Mexico) (by video message); as well as former Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, and United Nations Advocate at Human Rights Watch, Laila Matar. II. Opening session 5. The President of the Human Rights Council noted in his opening remarks that, since its first session 10 years ago, the Council’s work in promoting and protecting human rights had indeed led to significant results worldwide, but the Council was still young and much work still remained for it to reach its full potential. The victims and the vulnerable looked to the Council for protection and the world pleaded with it to find solutions to grave situations. Every person deserved to fully enjoy their human rights. As the world’s premier body on human rights it was the Council’s duty to make that a reality. 6. The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the universal periodic review, which shone a light on all corners of the world and presented, for the first time, a picture of the global state of human rights. The Council’s special procedures had played a pivotal role in highlighting specific human rights issues around the globe and had helped shape the Council’s agenda to cover an impressive breadth of themes. They fostered critical national discourse on human rights and also acted as early warning and action mechanisms. The Council also played a role in sounding alarm bells ahead of impending or worsening crises, drawing global attention to deteriorating situations through its special sessions, seeking urgent responses and reminding States to fulfil their human rights obligations by placing victims in the centre. The Council was also a force for responding to protracted crises. Its commissions of inquiries and fact-finding missions underscored the need for accountability and stressed the importance of combating impunity and ensuring justice. The Council had amplified the vital voice of civil society and the grassroots activists who complemented its own work. Finally, its discussions in Geneva had stimulated debates in the Security Council and the General Assembly in New York, strengthening the links between peace and security, development, and human rights – the three pillars of the United Nations. 2