A/HRC/10/31 page 6 mandate-holders, through the organization of information sessions for groups of mandateholders, as well as through individual inductions. 15. The special procedures are uniquely placed to act as an early warning system in relation to situations involving serious human rights violations, stemming from their ability to monitor the situation in any country of the world in the context of their specific mandates. I am encouraged by the fact that, in recent years, with the support of my Office, mandate-holders have developed consistent approaches to serious crisis situations and engaged in a reflection on the systematization of collective responses in cases where certain situations could spiral into grave human rights violations. There has been an increase in joint activities by mandate-holders in the form of joint communications, joint missions and joint statements. 16. I am pleased to note that the special procedures have contributed to the special sessions of the Council. One example was the special session held in May 2008 dedicated to “the negative impact on the realization of the right to food of the worsening of the world food crisis, caused inter alia by the soaring food prices”. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food had called for this event, which constituted the first ever thematic session of the Council. 17. In the context of recent crisis situations, the Council has tasked several thematic mandate-holders with specific country reporting functions. For instance, the Council has requested on two occasions seven mandate-holders to examine, within their respective mandates, the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to report thereon to the Council. Most recently, the Council has mandated all relevant special procedures and other mandate-holders to urgently seek and gather information on the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the Council. 18. I encourage the Council to take immediate, decisive and appropriate action on the recommendations submitted by the special procedures in response to crisis situations. I also encourage the Council to consider how it can provide mandate-holders and my Office with sufficient capacity and resources so that important activities in the context of emerging or actual crisis situations are not undertaken at the expense of the capacity and resources required to carry out the regular monitoring mandates of the special procedures. III. DEVELOPMENTS IN STRATEGIC THEMATIC AREAS A. Combating discrimination 19. OHCHR provides leadership within the United Nations system in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and in promoting the principle of equality and non-discrimination. Combating all forms of discrimination is a standing priority of the Office. In addition to the dedicated Anti-Discrimination Unit, several other parts of the Office work on the promotion of the rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples and minorities, and focus on women and gender issues as well. 20. As part of the general anti-discrimination agenda outlined in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Office has undertaken several key activities to implement the mandates set out in the agenda (further elaborated in chapter VI), among them providing