A/HRC/43/2 Part Two Summary of proceedings I. Organizational and procedural matters A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Human Rights Council held its forty-third session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 24 February to 13 March 2020 and from 15 to 23 June 2020. The President of the Human Rights Council opened the session. 2. In accordance with rule 8 (b) of the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council, as contained in part VII of the annex to Council resolution 5/1, the organizational meeting on the forty-third session was held on 10 February 2020. 3. At the 1st meeting, on 24 February 2020, the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, addressed the plenary. 4. At the 15th meeting, on 2 March 2020, the Human Rights Council observed a minute of silence in memory of the late Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Idriss Jazairy. 5. At the 22nd meeting, on 6 March 2020, the Human Rights Council observed the International Women’s Day. At the same meeting, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights made a statement. Also at the same meeting, the representative of Finland (also on behalf of Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay) made a statement. At the same meeting, the representative of the non-governmental organization Center for Reproductive Rights made a statement (also on behalf of Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, International Planned Parenthood Federation, International Service for Human Rights, Plan International, Inc., Rutgers, Stichting CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom). 6. At the 24th meeting, on 9 March 2020, the Human Rights Council observed a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 virus ourbreak. 7. At the 30th meeting, on 12 March 2020, the Human Rights Council decided to suspend the forty-third session of the Council on 13 March 2020 until further notice, as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 virus outbreak. 8. At the 35th meeting, on 15 June 2020, the Human Rights Council decided to resume the forty-third session of the Council from 15 June 2020. 9. At the same meeting, the Human Rights Council approved the postponement of the 36th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. 10. At the 40th meeting, on 17 June 2020, the Human Rights Council observed a minute of silence in memory of all victims of racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests. GE. 9