A/HRC/21/51
of special procedures mandates and create an environment for dialogue with States and
other actors. Noting that 31 of the 90 standing invitations to special procedures were linked
to the universal periodic review, he stated that the input of special procedures was essential
at the various stages of the review process, including the compilation of information,
follow-up with States on implementation of recommendations and assessment of
implementation. The participants appreciated the opportunities of the universal periodic
review, but expressed some reservations, including that the review might overshadow other
human rights mechanisms and undermine special procedures recommendations. Ways to
strengthen the participation of special procedures in the review process, for example,
through the attendance of country-specific mandate holders at the sessions of the Working
Group on the Universal Periodic Review where those countries were being reviewed or
where a thematic mandate holder had conducted a recent visit to the State under review or
through mandate holders highlighting important concerns to be reflected in the compilation
report, were suggested. Participants also stressed that lessons learned from the first cycle
should be compiled.
22.
The President of the Human Rights Council pointed to the achievements of, and the
challenges confronting, the Council. She indicated that the Council had taken measures to
facilitate interaction with national human rights institutions, including by providing for
participation by means of video messages, a practice that would be introduced for nongovernmental organizations. Cases of reprisal against human rights defenders following
interaction with the Council, the special procedures and other human rights mechanisms
had been reported. She and the Council Members had taken a strong stance against such
actions. The participants praised the President for her response and agreed that more should
be done to ensure that those cooperating with the United Nations in the field of human
rights do not face intimidation and reprisals, including by further operationalizing the
mandate of the Council and its mechanisms.
23.
The President stated that human rights mainstreaming was an area where the Human
Rights Council, with the help of special procedures, could be more proactive. She would
propose that the high-level panel on mainstreaming to be convened at the twenty-second
session of the Council focus on mainstreaming human rights in humanitarian contexts.
Cooperating with other United Nations entities and United Nations country teams in
thematic and country-related issues was considered essential. She also suggested that
further measures should be taken to increase the visibility of special procedures on the
ground. The President encouraged the special procedures to integrate technical cooperation
aspects as they fulfilled their mandates, and observed that other United Nations entities
could play a valuable role by supporting the implementation of special procedures
recommendations. Follow-up to the recommendations made by special procedures and at
the universal periodic review required strengthening; cooperation with regional
mechanisms was a way to exchange information and ensure follow-up to special procedures
recommendations. The President referred to the second cycle of the review and encouraged
mandate holders to consider the calendar of scheduled reviews when planning country
visits.
24.
It was noted that interaction and coordination with inter-governmental bodies based
at Headquarters, such as the General Assembly and the Security Council, could be
improved, with participants highlighting recent examples of human rights issues being
taken up by those bodies. As the third pillar of the United Nations, alongside peace and
security, and development, human rights should be mainstreamed in these bodies. The
prevention and early warning role of special procedures was discussed, as were ways to
ensure that information on human rights concerns, particularly those on the ground, was
available in a timely manner and duly considered. Special procedures should continue to
address sensitive human rights issues in order to move debate forward on those areas. The
8
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents