A/HRC/43/51/Add.3 Annex Abbreviations ICCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights LGBTI - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation UDHR- Universal Declaration of Human Rights UN- United Nations UPR – Universal Periodic Review CAT - Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Abréviations DUDH- Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme EPU - Examen Périodique Universel LGBTI- Lesbiennes, gays, bisexuelle, bisexuels, transgenres, intersexuels NU- Nations Unies ONG – Organisation non-gouvernemental PIDCP - Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques CAT - La Convention contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants Who is a defender? 1. “Human rights defender” is a term used to describe people who, individually or with others, act to promote or protect human rights. Human rights defenders are identified above all by what they do and it is through a description of their actions and of some of the contexts in which they work that the term can best be explained. For more information, please see: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SRHRDefenders/Pages/Defender.aspx. Communications 2. The Special Rapporteur takes up, with the States concerned, individual cases of human rights violations committed against defenders. Where does the information come from? 3. Information on such cases is received through a variety of sources including individual defenders, NGOs and United Nations agencies. What happens when the information reaches the Special Rapporteur? 4. As information arrives the Special Rapporteur first seeks to determine if it falls within the mandate. 5. Secondly, every effort is made to determine the probable validity of the allegations of human rights violation and the reliability of the source of the information. Often, important details may be missing from the information initially received and the OHCHR staff supporting the Special Rapporteur’s mandate contact sources to collect additional information. 6. Thirdly, the Special Rapporteur then makes contact with the Government of the State where the alleged violation is thought to have occurred. Contact is usually conducted through an “Urgent appeal” or “Allegation” letter addressed to the State’s diplomatic mission with 105