The UN has created a brand new human rights body.  On 15 March 2006, the General Assembly adopted resolu- tion A/Res/60/251 by an overwhelming majority to establish a Human Rights Council. Elections for the new 47- member intergovernmental body will be held on 9 May, with the first session set to take place in Geneva from 19 –30 June 2006. This briefing paper looks at a human rights system in transition.