On 18 June 2007, one year after its first meeting, the Human Rights Council adopted its "Institution-building package" (resolution 5/1) which details procedures, mechanisms and structures that form the basis of its work. Among those mechanisms the following
subsidiary bodies directly report to the Human Rights Council:
The Council also established the following
subsidiary expert mechanism to provide the Council with thematic expertise and
forums providing a platform for dialogue and cooperation. These bodies focus mainly on studies, research-based advice or best-practices. They meet and report annually to the Council:
The Council further established the following
open-ended intergovernmental working groups to elaborate and/or negotiate and finalize new draft legal instruments or to make recommendations on the effective implementation of existing instruments:
The Council also establishes the
Special Procedures mandates and appoints the respective mandate holders, which report annually to the Council from a thematic or country-specific perspective.