A/HRC/4/43
page 10
39.
It was highlighted that the Human Rights Council would have to address not only each
individual mandate but also the nature, structure and functioning of the system. It was argued
that the Council should not embark on the review of mandates until it had established sound
objective criteria on the basis of which such a review should be undertaken.
40.
Concerning the numerous and complex issues to be addressed in the context of the
review, representatives of civil society would be presenting concrete proposals to the Council
and share already existing documents with mandate-holders. It was stressed that
mandate-holders should also have a collective position with regard to these fundamental issues
and embark in a dialogue with the Council with a view to strongly defending the fundamental
principles that have successfully guided the special procedures system. In this context the role of
the Coordination Committee was emphasized by many participants. Mandate-holders were in
particular invited to think about ways in which they would like the Human Rights Council to
consider their reports, and the type of interaction which would be desirable during the Council’s
sessions; the periodicity of reports; and the type of outcome of the discussions of the latter. It
was reiterated that in the context of the review of mandates it was crucial to consider the issue of
follow-up and implementation, in particular it had to be considered how special procedures could
assist the Council in follow-up and vice versa.
41.
The importance of ensuring the integration of special procedures’ findings and
recommendations into the work of the Human Rights Council was repeatedly raised. The work
of special procedures should in particular not only be integrated in UPR, but also into the other
activities of the Council, including when it addresses gross human rights violations or, provides
emergency responses and technical cooperation. For special procedures’ work to be able to feed
into the work of the Human Rights Council there was, on the one hand, a need to ensure
cooperation from Member States in allowing special procedures’ visits and responding promptly
to their communications and, on the other, a need for special procedures to adjust their methods
of work so as to be able to provide regularly qualitative and quantitative assessment of
cooperation on communications and on visit requests, as well as to formulate strategic and
precise recommendations indicating a time frame for implementation. It was suggested that, in
order to ensure that the wealth of information produced by mandate-holders is properly utilized
by all stakeholders, there should be a compilation of communications submitted by special
procedures by country.
42.
A representative of a national human rights institution (NHRIs) stressed how beneficial
the cooperation between special procedures and NHRIs is for both actors and provided concrete
examples of such cooperation. In particular they emphasized the role that NHRIs can have in
ensuring outreach during and after country visits and in providing follow-up to special
procedures’ recommendations.
43.
The following issues were stressed by various representatives of the civil society as
deserving specific attention from special procedures: human rights violations based on sexual
orientation and gender identity; gender equality; the rights of indigenous peoples; and women in
prison and children of imprisoned mothers.
44.
Numerous mandate-holders intervened to express deep appreciation for the support
received in the performance of their duties by the civil society and to thank NGOs for their
partnership for human rights protection and assistance in granting access to those affected.
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