A/HRC/5/21 page 27 REGULAR SESSIONS Number of sessions Rule 2 The Human Rights Council shall meet regularly throughout the year and schedule no fewer than three sessions per Council year, including a main session, for a total duration of no less than 10 weeks. Assumption of membership Rule 3 Newly-elected member States of the Human Rights Council shall assume their membership on the first day of the Council year, replacing member States that have concluded their respective membership terms. Place of meeting Rule 4 The Human Rights Council shall be based in Geneva. SPECIAL SESSIONS Convening of special sessions Rule 5 The rules of procedure of special sessions of the Human Rights Council will be the same as the rules of procedure applicable for regular sessions of the Human Rights Council. Rule 6 The Human Rights Council shall hold special sessions, when needed, at the request of a member of the Council with the support of one third of the membership of the Council. PARTICIPATION OF AND CONSULTATION WITH OBSERVERS OF THE COUNCIL Rule 7 (a) The Council shall apply the rules of procedure established for committees of the General Assembly, as applicable, unless subsequently otherwise decided by the Assembly or the Council, and the participation of and consultation with observers, including States that are not members of the Council, the specialized agencies, other