The UN Human Rights Council, Denmark, and R2P—the Perfect Match?

The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) is under-researched and undervalued as a forum for the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) norm. This article analyses the HRC’s potential and, as a case study, how Denmark approached R2P and atrocity prevention during its first membership of the HRC (2019–21). Despite having a longstanding positive record on advancing R2P, Denmark did not make the norm an explicit priority for its HRC term. This article examines whether, despite that approach, Denmark did contribute actively to the implementation of R2P on the HRC. Special attention is given to Denmark’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review, Special Sessions of the HRC, interactions with special procedures under the HRC, and accountability measures adopted by the HRC. The article concludes that Denmark did advance R2P during its first membership and suggests lessons to be learnt for the upcoming Danish membership of the UN Security Council in 2025-2026.