A report issued today assesses the work of the council to date on a number of key issues, including its inability to address the world's most egregious human rights abuses.
Freedom House also urges the council to recommend strongly that the United States be more engaged.
The report was released prior to the council's third session, which will begin on November 27 in Geneva.
Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor says the council's track record after the first six months is extremely disappointing.
The UN Human Rights Council was created in March 2006, replacing the UN Commission on Human Rights.