Human Rights Council under the Commission on Human Rights of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Institutional Perspectives in the Digital Era

The article examines the institutional prerequisites for the establishment and strengthening of the Human Rights Council under the Commision on Human Rights of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a response to the challenges of digitalization. The study analyzes potential scenarios for institutionalization, including expert advisory bodies with a gradual expansion of competencies, taking into account the specific approaches of member states to the perception of human rights. Particular attention is paid to adapting human rights mechanisms to the digital environment, including the protection of digital sovereignty, the introduction of electronic document management, overcoming the politicization of human rights discourse, and the harmonization of norms in cyberspace. In addition, the article discusses promising forms of cooperation among ombudspersons and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of the SCO member states. The author also gives recommendations for digitalization of human rights monitoring, including the use of artificial intelligence for data analysis and the creation of a unified platform for exchanging best practices, which would enhance the Council’s effectiveness amid geopolitical challenges.