Special Procedures

Special Procedures is a generic term designating a series of human rights protection mechanisms established by the now defunct Human Rights Commission and taken over by the Human Rights Council when the latter replaced the Commission in 2006.  

They have the responsibility to investigate, monitor and make public the situation of human rights concerning either a particular issue or concerning any given country. Each special procedure is set up by a specific resolution which is regularly reviewed. It is through these resolutions, which set up each of these procedures, that their mandate is precisely defined. In carrying out its mandate, the special procedures can perform several tasks such as processing individual complaints, carrying out research and offering advice on technical cooperation.

Special procedures can take the form of working groups, where generally speaking there is a member from each of the five geographic zones, or that of individuals working alone (special rapporteurs, special representative of the General Secretary, independent experts).These position are held by persons who are renowned for their integrity and competence in the field of human rights. In all cases they act in their own name and therefore must be able to work independently.  

Most of these mechanisms are in a position to receive individual complaints of concrete violations of human rights, within the limits of their respective mandates. When this happens, they take note of the allegations which are then published in their periodic reports. However and most importantly, they can issue urgent appeals in favour of victims and/or write to the authorities of the governments being accused in order to obtain further information and answers to their questions on the cases processed.

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