A/HRC/28/41
including the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, who
officially addressed the Commission.
IV. Twenty-first annual meeting of special procedures
34.
The twenty-first annual meeting focused on issues relating to the special procedures
system. Mandate holders exchanged views with the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, the Deputy Secretary-General, the Special Advisers of the SecretaryGeneral on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect, the Special Envoy
of the Secretary-General on Climate Change and the President of the Human Rights
Council, and representatives of United Nations entities, States, the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights, the International Coordinating Committee of National
Human Rights Institutions and civil society organizations.
35.
During the meeting, the participants (see annex VIII) elected by acclamation the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, as Chairperson of
the Coordination Committee for the 2014-2015 cycle. The Chairperson of the Working
Group of Experts on People of African Descent, Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France, was
elected Rapporteur of the annual meeting and member of the Coordination Committee. The
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, the
Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic,
Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum, and the Chairperson of the Working Group on the issue of
human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, Michael Addo,
were endorsed as members of the Committee. The former Chairperson of the Coordination
Committee and Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons,
Chaloka Beyani, will remain an ex officio member for the coming year.
A.
Methods of work
36.
During the meeting, mandate holders discussed their methods of work and areas for
improvement, including through enhanced coordination, strategic partnerships and the use
of information technologies.
1.
Country visits and strategies
37.
Mandate holders welcomed the increasing number of Member States issuing
standing invitations to special procedures. They noted, however, that in practice, they still
faced difficulties in visiting the countries to which they had been invited. It was suggested
that the attention of the President of the Council be drawn to instances where States deny
access to requests for visits so that appropriate action could be considered. Mandate holders
also regretted the practice of some States that deny access to certain mandate holders while
inviting others to visit.
38.
Participants also discussed specific issues affecting country-specific mandate
holders, particularly when denied access to the State under consideration. They reiterated
the need to be able to monitor and follow up the human rights situation as requested by the
Council as its “eyes and ears”. The recommendation was also made that the Council use its
influence to assist country-specific mandates to carry out their functions adequately.
39.
Participants identified the need to improve coordination among mandate holders and
to keep each other informed when planning visits to avoid numerous visits to a single
country. It was also recommended that country-specific and thematic mandate holders be
more closely coordinated when the latter intend to visit a State which is already the subject
of a special procedures mandate.
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