The Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a body within the UN made up of 47 states which are responsible for advocating and defending human rights throughout the world.[27] The 47 member states are elected for three-year terms by the UN General Assembly and seats are distributed based on equitable geographical distribution.[28] Since the UNHRC was founded in 2006, France has been a member three times (2006-2008, 2009-2011, 2014–2016)[29] and plays an active role in UNHCR missions even when it is not a member.[30] France is determined to promote humanist diplomacy in response to new 21st century threats and violations it sees to universal human rights.[31] As such, on the 22nd of February 2020, France Diplomacy announced its candidacy to the Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 term on Twitter.[32] Four days later, on the 26th of February, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, presented France’s candidacy for the council at the opening of its 43rd session in Geneva:[33]