Special Thematic Procedures

"Special Procedures" is the name given to the mechanisms established by the Commission on Human Rights and then assumed by the Human Rights Council to address specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Mandate holders, that can be individual (called "Special Rapporteur", "Special Representative of the Secretary-General" or "Independent Expert") or working groups usually composed of five members, have to examine, monitor, advise and publicly report on human rights situations in specific countries or territories (country mandates), or on major phenomena of human rights violations worldwide (thematic mandates). Currently, there are 31 thematic and 8 country mandates. Mandate-holders are established and defined by the resolution creating them, they serve in their personal capacity and have an independent status (For more information on this topic see Fact sheet N.27 - under revision). Mandate holders also carry out country visits to investigate the situation of human rights: they normally send a letter to the Government requesting to visit the country, and, if the Government agrees, an invitation to visit is extended, but some countries have also issued "standing invitations", which means that they are, in principle, prepared to receive a visit from any special procedures mandate holder.

With Resolution 5/1 (Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council) of 18 June 2007, the Human Rights Council adopted provisions on the selection of mandate holders and reviewed all special procedures mandates. In June 2007, the Council also adopted Resolution 5/2 (Conduct for special procedures mandate holders). At the Annual Meeting of special procedures in June 2008, special procedures mandate holders adopted their Manual, setting guidelines on the working methods of special procedures, and an Internal Advisory Procedure to review practices and working methods, by which the Code of Conduct and other relevant documents, including the Manual. At its 8th session, the Human Rights Council adopted a Presidential statement concerning the terms of special procedures mandate holders and their compliance with the Code of Conduct.

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