A/HRC/4/20 page 3 CONTENTS Paragraphs Page I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1-5 4 II. ACTIVITIES ................................................................................ 6 - 17 4 A. Communications ..................................................................... 6-9 4 B. Visits ....................................................................................... 10 - 14 5 C. The situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran ......................... 15 - 17 6 ISSUES OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE .............................. 18 - 62 7 A. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur in armed conflicts .... 18 - 28 7 B. “Mercy killings” in armed conflict ......................................... 29 - 38 9 C. Imposing the death penalty only for the “most serious crimes” .................................................................................... 39 - 53 11 D. The prohibition of the mandatory death penalty ..................... 54 - 62 15 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... 63 - 66 18 III. IV. Annexes I. Mission requests outstanding as of 7 December 2006 ........................................... 19 II. Notes to the report .................................................................................................. 21