A/HRC/21/45 I. Mandate and methodology A. Human Rights Council resolution 18/6 1. In its resolution 18/6 of 29 September 2011, the Human Rights Council established, for a period of three years, a new special procedure entitled ―Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order‖. The mandate holder is requested: (a) To identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of a democratic and equitable international order, and to submit proposals and/or recommendations to the Human Rights Council on possible actions in that regard; (b) To identify best practices in the promotion and protection of a democratic and equitable international order at the local, national, regional and international levels; (c) To raise awareness concerning the importance of promoting and protecting a democratic and equitable international order; (d) To work in cooperation with States in order to foster the adoption of measures at the local, national, regional and international levels aimed at the promotion and protection of a democratic and equitable international order through concrete proposals enhancing subregional, regional and international cooperation, including by holding subregional and regional consultations in that regard; (e) To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, other special procedures of the Human Rights Council, international financial institutions, as well as with other relevant actors representing the broadest possible range of interests and experiences, within their respective mandates, including by attending and following up on relevant international conferences and events; work; (f) To integrate a gender perspective and a disabilities perspective into his or her (g) To report regularly to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. 2. Pursuant to paragraph 17 of the above-mentioned resolution, the Human Rights Council requests the Independent Expert to present his first report to the Council at its twenty-first session. Bearing in mind that the mandate holder assumed his functions on 1 May, this initial report should be understood as a tour-d’horizon of the multiple aspects of the mandate. While the mandate may appear overbroad or abstract, the intention of the Council is to give practical application to human rights norms in the international order, thus requiring the mandate holder to formulate pragmatic solutions. The individual and collective dimensions of the resolution will be taken into account, recognizing the individual‘s entitlement to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and the inter-State commitment to respect one another‘s sovereignty, ensuring the equitable participation of all States in the international order, including global decision-making and equitable commercial and financial relations. 3. The mandate calls for the identification of obstacles and best practices and for the formulation of proposals and recommendations on possible action. While norms and mechanisms exist, an important implementation gap prevails. The mandate holder is consulting stakeholders and will formulate recommendations on ways to make the international order more democratic and equitable. He is committed to cooperate with other mandate holders to avoid duplication, recognizing, however, that ―duplication‖ in the field 4