A/HRC/18/41
of cooperation, transparency and accountability are integral to ensuring a robust system to
enhance the capacity of the Council to address human rights situations on the ground. The
national human rights institution of the country concerned would be entitled to intervene
immediately after that country during the interactive dialogue following a mandate holder’s
presentation of a country mission report. OHCHR will continue to maintain information on
special procedures in a comprehensive and easily accessible manner and any act of
intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate with the United
Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights was strongly
rejected.
16.
More transparency in special procedures resources and funding was a recurring
theme throughout the review, and the outcome highlights the need for full transparency in
this context, while recognizing the importance of ensuring the provision of adequate and
equitable funding to the special procedures according to their specific needs through the
regular budget. The Human Rights Council recognized the continued need for extrabudgetary funding and welcomed further voluntary contributions, which should be, to the
extent possible, unearmarked.
17.
Participants agreed with the principle of transparency, and emphasized the
importance of greater interaction to address misconceptions. Cooperation by States, through
timely responses to requests for visits, including when a standing invitation has been
issued, and communications were considered essential, and it was suggested that
assessment of cooperation might be useful. Feedback was requested on the expectations of
States in relation to constructive dialogue. It was suggested that outgoing mandate holders
might provide a list of qualities required for incoming mandate holders to assist in
selection. The modalities of how the comments of the State concerned would be included as
an addendum to the country mission reports of mandate holders as required by the review
outcome were raised. Concern was expressed that Council decision 17/119 on the follow-up
to resolution 16/21 with regard to the universal periodic review, which emphasized that the
second and subsequent cycles of the review should focus on, inter alia, the implementation
of accepted recommendations and the development of human rights situations in the State
under review, could result in the weakening of special procedures recommendations that
had not been accepted by the State under review. The point was made that these
recommendations and any follow-up, such as communications or recent country visits,
should be included under the rubric of the development of human rights situations in the
State under review. Follow-up to special procedures recommendations was raised, as was
the role of special procedures in following up on universal periodic recommendations and
those of the treaty bodies, particularly in the light of the plethora of recommendations
directed at States.
VI.
A.
Thematic issues and working methods
Strengthening follow-up, working with external support and enhancing
information-sharing
18.
Strengthening mechanisms and structures for follow-up and implementation of
recommendations, working with external support, enhancing information-sharing among
mandate holders, with OHCHR, and other stakeholders, and common issues relating to the
five special procedures working groups were discussed by mandate holders and OHCHR.
1.
Strengthening mechanisms and structures for follow-up to and implementation
of recommendations
19.
Participants noted that the primary responsibility for implementation rested with
States. Mandate holders and United Nations entities had a strong interest and responsibility
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