Special Rapporteur
Encyclopedia
Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations
within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The role's title is French
, and its correct spelling would be Rapporteur Spécial in its singular form and Rapporteurs Spéciaux in its plural form, but this does not appear in use by the United Nations' English language publications. The mandate by the United Nations has been to "examine, monitor, advise and publicly report" on human rights
problems through "activities undertaken by special procedures, including responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing advice on technical cooperation at the country level, and engaging in general promotional activities." However, the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures Internal Advisory Procedure to Review Practices and Working Methods (25 June 2008) manual simply calls these individuals mandate-holders. Other applications of the role include "Special Representative of the Secretary-General" or "Independent Expert", or a working group
usually composed of five members, one from each region of the planet.
They do not receive any financial compensation for their work, but they receive personnel and logistical support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
.
To mark Human Rights Day
in 2006, the 37 Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives and Independent Experts issued a joint statement on the importance of human rights in the fight against poverty.
Aside from fact-finding missions, Rapporteurs regularly assess and verify complaints from alleged victims of human rights violations. Once a complaint is verified as legitimate, an urgent letter or appeal is sent to the government
that has allegedly committed the violation.
Other controversies between the Special Rapporteurs and the Council include the introduction of a code of conduct which initially disallowed the Special Rapporteurs from addressing the media. However a compromise has been reached and a code of conduct now exists for the Special Rapporteurs.
Countries and Territories
Themes
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The role's title is French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and its correct spelling would be Rapporteur Spécial in its singular form and Rapporteurs Spéciaux in its plural form, but this does not appear in use by the United Nations' English language publications. The mandate by the United Nations has been to "examine, monitor, advise and publicly report" on human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
problems through "activities undertaken by special procedures, including responding to individual complaints, conducting studies, providing advice on technical cooperation at the country level, and engaging in general promotional activities." However, the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures Internal Advisory Procedure to Review Practices and Working Methods (25 June 2008) manual simply calls these individuals mandate-holders. Other applications of the role include "Special Representative of the Secretary-General" or "Independent Expert", or a working group
Working group
A working group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms . The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years...
usually composed of five members, one from each region of the planet.
Appointment authority
Appointed by the UN Secretary General, these mandate-holders act independently of governments. The earliest such appointment was the 1980 Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances responding to Commission on Human Rights resolution 20 (XXXVI). The first Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions reporting to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1982/35 begun work in 1982.They do not receive any financial compensation for their work, but they receive personnel and logistical support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
.
To mark Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.The date was chosen to honor the United NationsGeneral Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the first global enunciation of human rights...
in 2006, the 37 Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives and Independent Experts issued a joint statement on the importance of human rights in the fight against poverty.
Role description
Special Rapporteurs often conduct fact-finding missions to countries to investigate allegations of human rights violations. They can only visit countries that have agreed to invite them.Aside from fact-finding missions, Rapporteurs regularly assess and verify complaints from alleged victims of human rights violations. Once a complaint is verified as legitimate, an urgent letter or appeal is sent to the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
that has allegedly committed the violation.
Role application
Thematic Special Rapporteurs are typically appointed to serve for 3 years, after which their mandate can be extended for another 3 years. Country Special Rapporteurs are appointed to serve for 1 year, and their term is renewed every year.Controversies
In June 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council, which replaced the UN Commission on Human Rights, extended the mandates of all Special Rapporteurs by one year to enable it to conduct a review of the mandates and seek ways of strengthening their roles. However, Special Rapporteurs for countries which did not approve a Special Rapporteurs (Cuba, Belarus, Burma and North Korea) have been under question and the mandates of the Special Rapporteurs for Cuba and Belarus have not been renewed.Other controversies between the Special Rapporteurs and the Council include the introduction of a code of conduct which initially disallowed the Special Rapporteurs from addressing the media. However a compromise has been reached and a code of conduct now exists for the Special Rapporteurs.
Current Thematic and Country mandates
Currently, there are 36 Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives and Independent Experts who serve under the following country and thematic mandates:Countries and Territories
- Burundi - Fatsah OuguergouzFatsah OuguergouzFatsah Ougergouz is an Algerian jurist who is a Justice on the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights and was Secretary of the International Court of Justice.He holds several other positions:...
, Independent Expert on Human Rights (2010– ) - Cambodia - Surya Prasad Subedi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights (2009– )
- Haiti - Michel Forst, Independent Expert on human rights (2008– )
- Myanmar - Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on human rights (2010– )
- North Korea - Marzuki Darusman, Special Rapporteur on human rights (2010– )
- Palestinian Territories - Richard Falk, Special Rapporteur on human rights (1993–xxxx), (March 26, 2008– )
- Somalia - Shamsul Bari, Independent Expert on human rights (2008– )
- Sudan - Mohamed Chande Othman, Special Rapporteur on human rights (2005– )
- Iran - Ahmed ShaheedAhmed ShaheedAhmed Shaheed is a Maldivian politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 2008 to December 2010; previously, he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for two years, from 14 July 2005 until August 20, 2007....
, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights (2011- )
Themes
- Adequate Housing - Raquel Rolnik (2008– )
- Contemporary Forms of Slavery Gulnara Shahinian (2007– )
- Cultural Rights Farida Shaheed (2009-)
- Education - Kishore Singh (2008– )
- Effects of Economic Reform Policies and Foreign Debt on Human Rights - Cephas Lumina (2008– )
- Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary executions - Christof HeynsChristof HeynsChristof Heyns is a Professor of Human Rights Law, Co-director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Pretoria and United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.-Education:...
(2008– ) - Right to Food - Olivier De SchutterOlivier De SchutterOlivier De Schutter is a legal academic and human rights expert. A Harvard graduate now resident in Belgium, he was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food by the Human Rights Council in March 2008 and assumed his functions on 1 May 2008...
(2008– ) - Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association - Maina Kiai (2011– )
- Freedom of Opinion and Expression - Frank William La RueFrank William La RueFrank William La Rue is, as of December 2010, the currently serving UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, a position he has held since August 2008. He is the founder of the Center for Legal Action for Human Rights , a Guatemalan...
(2008– ) - Freedom of Religion or Belief - Heiner Bielefeldt (2010– )
- Human Rights Defenders - Margaret Sekaggya (2008– )
- Independence of Judges and Lawyers - Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva (2008– )
- Minority Issues - Gay McDougallGay McDougallGay J. McDougall was Executive Director of Global Rights, Partners for Justice . In August 2005, she was named the first United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues.- Early years :...
(2008– ) - Physical and Mental Health - Anand GroverAnand GroverAnand Grover is a lawyer known for legal activism in Indian law relating to homosexuality and HIV. He is a member of the Lawyers Collective.-United Nations work:...
(2007– ) - Protecting Human Rights while Countering Terrorism - Martin ScheininMartin ScheininMartin Scheinin is the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism. He was selected for this position after serving for eight years as member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the independent expert body monitoring states' compliance with the...
(2005– ) - Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance - Githu MuigaiGithu MuigaiGithu Muigai is the Attorney General of The Republic of Kenya. He holds a bachelor's Degree in Law degree from the University of Nairobi a masters degree in International Law from Columbia University School of Law. and was awarded a doctorate degree in law in November 2002...
(2008– ) - Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography - Najat M’jid Maala (2008– )
- Torture - Juan E. Méndez (2008– )
- Trafficking in Persons - Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (2008– )
- Violence against WomenSpecial Rapporteur on Violence Against Women its Causes and ConsequencesOn 4 March 1994 the Human Rights Council passed Resolution 1994/45 on the question of integrating the rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and the elimination of violence against women. This Resolution established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Violence...
- Rashida Manjoo (2009– ) - Human Rights and Access to Safe Drinking water and Sanitation - Catarina de Albuquerque (2008- )
- Human Rights and International Solidarity - Rudi Muhammad Rizki (2005– )
- Human Rights and the Illicit Movement of Toxic Waste - Calin GeorgescuCalin GeorgescuCălin Georgescu is a Romanian expert on sustainable development and strategic planning. In his capacity as Executive Manager of the National Centre for Sustainable Development , he was assigned by the Romanian Government to coordinate the preparation of two consecutive versions of the National...
(2008– ) - Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises - John RuggieJohn RuggieJohn Gerard Ruggie is the Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and Affiliated Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School...
(2005– ) - Human Rights of Indigenous People - James Anaya (2008– )
- Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons - Chaloka Beyani (2010– )
- Human Rights of Migrants - François Crépeau (2011– )
See also
- United Nations Human Rights Committee
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsThe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
- United Nations Commission on Human RightsUnited Nations Commission on Human RightsThe United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
- United Nations Human Rights CouncilUnited Nations Human Rights CouncilThe United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
- Special RapporteurSpecial RapporteurSpecial Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council....