Opinions or views expressed by the Council to the referring institution or the Forum are only advisory and are not, in any sense, legally binding. The Council's views may contain recommendations or suggestions as to how they might be implemented but the Council cannot instruct the Forum or Member institutions on their activities or require them to take any particular actions. The Council shall be comprised of eminent jurists who have held high judicial office or senior academic or human rights appointments. Each member institution of the Forum may nominate one national of its own country to serve on the Council. Each member jurist serves a five-year term, which may be renewed once.
Members serve in their personal capacity independent of their governments.
Members are not able to delegate their functions to any other person. The Council shall appoint one of its members as the President of the Council, it being desirable to rotate the Presidency to the extent possible. The President of the Council is responsible for coordinating requests for advice, determining whether an issue is within the Council's jurisdiction and for arranging meetings of the Council. The President may refer a request for an opinion to the full Council or to a board of at least three members of the Council, as appropriate. The majority of work undertaken by the Council shall be conducted by correspondence.