A/HRC/7/28
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87. The review of countries is based on three reports. One is prepared by the Government
while the other two are produced by OHCHR, one of which is a compilation of United Nations
information while the other is a summary of contributions by various stakeholders, including
civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
88. The Special Representative invites Governments to include in their pledges made at the
time of their election to the Human Rights Council commitments on the implementation of the
Declaration. Information on the fulfilment of these commitments should then be included in their
reports through the UPR. The Special Representative equally encourages other stakeholders,
including defenders, to submit contributions on the situation of human rights defenders that will
be included in the stakeholders’ report prepared by OHCHR.
3. Complementarities with international and regional mechanisms
89. International and regional human rights mechanisms play an important role in
strengthening the impact of the work of the Special Representative.
90. Special procedures mandate-holders follow up on each other’s work and build on
their respective findings and recommendations. Joint activities take place at all levels, from
day-to-day communications to press releases, joint country visits and reports. The advice and
recommendations of independent experts on countries that would benefit from official visits
of mandate-holders prompted the realization of some missions, including those undertaken by
the Special Representative. To quote but one example, the Special Rapporteur on the
independence of judges and lawyers, in his report on his mission to Brazil, included among his
recommendations a country visit by the Special Representative.13 One year later, the Special
Representative visited Brazil. Similarly, the suggestions of the Special Representative prompted
requests of invitations by other mandate-holders.
91. At the regional level, several mechanisms and instruments have been established and
adopted to increase the protection of human rights defenders - the Special Rapporteur on Human
Rights Defenders of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights; the Unit for
Human Rights Defenders within the secretariat of the Inter-American Commission for Human
Rights; the enhanced mandate of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the forthcoming
declaration on human rights defenders of the Council of Europe; the Unit on Freedom of
Association within the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR); and the 2004 European Union
Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders.
13
“In view of the threats and acts of violence against judges, lawyers and defence attorneys,
especially those working on cases involving social issues (such as land, indigenous or
environmental issues), the Special Rapporteur recommends that the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders should visit the country”
(E/CN.4/2005/60/Add.3, para. 106).
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