A/HRC/35/31 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 9 June 2017 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-fifth session 6-23 June 2017 Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers* Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Diego García-Sayán, prepared pursuant to Council resolution 26/7. The report is the first submitted by the Special Rapporteur since his appointment on 5 December 2016. In the report, the Special Rapporteur presents his perspective on the mandate. In doing so, he recalls the origins of the mandate and its framework, and the role of the Special Rapporteur. He then presents an overview of the thematic work of his predecessors. Finally, he presents a few specific issues of concern that he will pay particular attention to during his tenure, particularly the issue of corruption and organized crime. * The present document was submitted late so as to reflect the latest information. GE.17-09457(E) 