A/HRC/14/26 94. From the reports of the Special Rapporteur’s predecessors and her own experience, the Special Rapporteur concludes that there is an imperative and urgent need for the systematic and continued international human rights law education of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers. They should be given the opportunity of continuing education in international human rights principles, norms, rules and jurisprudence, from the United Nations and regional organs and treaty bodies, and from the United Nations special procedures on issues such as the due process of law or the right to a fair trial. Judges, prosecutors and lawyers must be given the necessary information on the possibilities of application, at the domestic level, of international human rights principles, norms and standards. 95. In the opinion of the Special Rapporteur, this problem should be tackled in two stages. First, a global thematic study should be carried out at the international level to assess the human rights education and continuing training of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers currently in place. This would provide the scientific basis for a second stage, an international conference on the methods for the legal human rights education and training to be provided. 96. In this context, it seems necessary to determine the internal and structural features of domestic judicial systems that affect their capacities to contribute to the implementation of international and regional human rights principles, norms and standards. 97. Judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers must be adequately educated and informed on a regular and continuing basis on new developments in international human rights law, principles, standards and case law. 98. The legal education and continuing training of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers is a theme which should be sustained. States should establish compulsory, periodic and continuing legal education for judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers, particularly in the area of international human rights law, and in countries affected by armed conflicts, particularly in the area of international humanitarian law and transitional justice. Particular attention should be given to the methods for the domestic application of international human rights law. B. Recommendations 99. The Special Rapporteur submits to the Human Rights Council the following recommendations: (a) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, should support initiatives whereby the education and continuing education of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers on international human rights law will be strengthened. Such initiatives should ensure the integration of human rights principles, norms and standards in their efforts to strengthening national justice systems and institutions; (b) The development of human rights education programmes for judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers is crucial to ensuring a solid foundation for democracy and the rule of law. International cooperation, including that provided by OHCHR, should be encouraged and supported; (c) Continuing learning on international case law and national case law relevant to human rights should be supported. An international database should be 20 GE.10-12622