A/HRC/28/41
international order is supporting the work of the open-ended intergovernmental working
group on a draft United Nations declaration on the right to peace.
16.
Mandate holders contributed to the human rights debate, bringing to the attention of
the international community issues such as the use of drones in extraterritorial lethal
counter-terrorism operations;10 the trend of remotely piloted aircraft or armed drones and
emerging autonomous weapons systems;11 the use of mass digital surveillance for counterterrorism purposes;12 the implementation of the right to social security through the universal
adoption of social protection floors; 13 and the use of private military and security
companies.14
17.
The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment published a book containing essays from more than 30 international experts
reflecting on and expanding interpretations of his report on abuses in health-care settings.15
The report of the Special Rapporteur has indeed led to widespread debate on such issues as
palliative care, forced psychiatric treatment and gender assignment surgery for intersex
persons.
18.
Mandate holders witnessed positive developments in national legal and policy
frameworks. For example, following the visit of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in
persons, especially women and children to Seychelles, a prohibition of trafficking in
persons act was enacted. The law not only penalizes the crime of trafficking and makes
provisions for the protection and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking, but also established
a formalized interministerial committee to harmonize the State’s efforts to combat
trafficking in persons and to oversee the implementation of a national strategy and plan of
action on trafficking in persons based on the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur.
G.
Media outreach and public awareness
19.
During the period under review, 379 news releases and public statements were
issued, individually or jointly, by mandate holders. In addition, a number of web stories
were produced, as were three documentaries,16 on the visits of the Special Rapporteur on
the human right to water and sanitation, to Brazil; the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in
persons, especially women and children, to Italy; and the Special Rapporteur on the
promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, to Uruguay.
H.
Other activities
20.
Mandate holders continued to engage with numerous stakeholders and institutions
and to conduct several activities aimed at advocating for better protection of human rights.
21.
On 30 May 2014, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced
persons held an Arria Formula meeting with the Security Council on the theme “Protection
of internally displaced persons: challenges and role of the Security Council.” On 28
October, he also participated in an open debate of the Council on women, peace and
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
6
See A/68/389 and A/HRC/25/59.
A/HRC/26/36.
A/69/397.
A/69/297.
A/69/338.
A/HRC/22/53.
Available on the OHCHR website at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents