Week in Numbers
15 mandates issued statements
8 statements issued
8 countries subject to statements
UN human rights experts responsible for one country-specific and 14 thematic Special Procedures mandates issued eight statements during the week, including two joint statements, one end-of-mission press release concerning a visit that concluded last week, and two media advisories announcing country visits. These mandates are (name of country or issue concerned in parentheses; * indicates country visit, ** indicates joint statement):
1. Arbitrary detention (Bahrain**)
2. Central African Republic country mandate (Central African Republic)
3. Executions (Bahrain**)
4. Human rights defenders (Italy**)
5. Independence of judges and lawyers (Bahrain**)
6. International solidarity (Italy**)
7. Migrants (Italy**)
8. Poverty (United Kingdom*)
9. Privacy (Argentina*, Ecuador/United States)
10. Racism (Italy**)
11. Slavery (Togo*)
12. Terrorism (Bahrain**)
13. Toxics (Canada*)
14. Torture (Bahrain**, Italy**)
15. Trafficking in persons (Italy**)
The statements issued during the week concerned eight countries. Special Procedures experts began a visit to Canada this week and will visit Togo starting next week. The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights released his report on his mission to the United Kingdom last fall; the report is scheduled to be formally presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 28 June. The concerned countries are (name of mandate who issued statement concerning that country or issue in parentheses, asterisk indicates country visit):
1. Argentina (privacy*)
2. Bahrain (executions, terrorism, torture, independence of judges and lawyers, arbitrary detention)
3. Canada (toxics*)
4. Central African Republic (country mandate)
5. Ecuador/United States (privacy)
6. Italy (migrants, torture, trafficking in persons, human rights defenders, racism, international solidarity)
7. Togo (slavery*)
8. United Kingdom (poverty*)
Special Procedures mandate holders took up various issues this week, including a draft decree in Italy that would introduce fines against those who assist migrants and refugees at sea, imminent executions of two persons who were sentenced in unfair trials in Bahrain, attacks against civilians in the Central African Republic, and poverty in the United Kingdom.
Mandate-holders raised individual cases in the statements on Bahrain and Ecuador/United States.
Public Consultation
The following is a non-exhaustive list of Special Procedures who are calling for input or submission into their upcoming report or country visit (please click on hyperlink for more details):
The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing is calling for inputs for her next report to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on the theme of “the right to adequate housing for indigenous peoples” — Deadline 31 May 2019.
The Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material is calling for inputs for her next report on the theme of “safeguards for the protection of the rights of children born from surrogacy arrangements” — Deadline 31 May 2019.
The Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is calling for inputs for his report to the 74th session of the General Assembly with a focus on “marginalisation and exclusion from socio-cultural environments” — Deadline 31 May 2019.
The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is calling for inputs for his next report to the General Assembly on the theme of antisemitism — Deadline 7 June 2019.
The Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment is calling for inputs for his next report to the General Assembly, focusing on the theme of safe climate — Deadline 8 June 2019.
The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights will conduct an official country visit to Malaysia from 12 to 22 August 2019, and seeks information on poverty and the realization of human rights in Malaysia — Deadline 14 June 2019.
The Independent Expert on foreign debt is calling for contributions to his next report to the Human Rights Council on the theme of “private debt and human rights” — Deadline 31 July 2019.
Nomination, Selection and Appointment
Call for applications for the vacancy of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic has been published. Deadline: 26 June 2019. For more information, visit this link: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/SP/Pages/HRC42.aspx.
List of statements issued during the week (hyperlinked to full text)
1. Italy: UN experts condemn bill to fine migrant rescuers (20 May 2019)
2. UN experts call on Bahrain to halt executions of two individuals amid torture allegations (21 May 2019)
3. UN expert laments UK’s ‘doubling down on failed anti-poor policies’ (22 May 2019)
4. UN expert on contemporary forms of slavery to visit Togo (23 May 2019)
5. Argentina: Expert finds significant progress in privacy protection, but says more must be done (23 May 2019)
6. UN expert to examine Canada’s record on hazardous substances and wastes (23 May 2019)
7. UN expert on privacy seriously concerned by Ecuador’s behaviour in Assange and Moreno cases (23 May 2019)
8. Central African Republic: UN expert condemns deadly attacks, calls for greater civilian protection (24 May 2019)
Background
Special Procedures form the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system. They are appointed and mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to conduct independent fact-finding and monitoring to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Serving in their individual capacity and without receiving a salary for their work, they are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. These experts monitor, research and report annually to the Council and the General Assembly on issues relevant to their mandate, conduct country visits, conduct public and private advocacy, consult with and seek input from various actors, and communicate with governments, businesses, international organisations and other actors on individual cases, laws and policies, and other relevant issues of concern. As of November 2017, there are 56 Special Procedures (44 relating to thematic issues and 12 relating to countries or territories) with currently 80 mandate-holders. For more information, see: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx
