This course provides a comprehensive and current overview of the great variety of institutions and actors constituting the United Nations human rights system.  The focus will be on charter-based and treaty based institutions, mechanisms and processes involved in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the Human Rights Council and its machinery and the treaty bodies such the Human Rights Committee. Against the background of the growing recognition of the interface between security, development and human rights concerns, the discussion will also extend to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the expanding interest of the Security Council in human rights matters.