Summary:

The UN Human Rights Council will appoint a host of human rights experts in 2014.

NB: The deadline for applications/nominations has been extended to 21 November.

UN Special Procedures are a vital way for the UN Human Rights Council - and the rest of the world - to find out about human rights violations. They examine, monitor, advise and publicly report on human rights abuses in countries or territories or on major themes, such as the right to education or enforced disappearances.

A host of Special Procedure mandates are up for grabs next year. Some of these address children's rights exclusively, but even those with a broader mandate have a children's rights angle to their work because all human rights standards apply to children.

How does the process work?

Individuals with the relevant expertise apply for the various positions, then a Consultative Group (a group of States selected each year) shortlists applications and forwards their recommendations to the President of the Human Rights Council. The President in turn selects one of the candidates and the Council approves or rejects the choice. Read more about the process here. 

This gives the children’s rights community an opportunity to nominate - and lobby their governments to vote for - candidates with a background and interest in children’s rights. Posts to be filled in 2014 include:

Thematic mandates

• Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

• Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

• Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights defenders

• Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

• Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

• Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences

• Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

• Working Group on Enforced Disappearances

• Expert Mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples

• Independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights

• Independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty

• Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation

• Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living

• Special Rapporteur on the right to food

• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples

Country mandates

• Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Central African Republic

• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

• Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967

• Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia

- View full details here.

The deadline for individual applications is Thursday 21st November (after an extension). More details about the process and who can apply can be found here.

Applications can be made through this page: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/HRC25.aspx

As part of our efforts to position children’s rights on the broader human rights agenda, CRIN monitors the appointment processes for top UN jobs. Click here for more on our transparency campaign.

Further information

• Special Procedures Explained http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=18043&flag=report
• CRIN's Human Rights Council news page: http://www.crin.org/chr/news/

Previous CHR News items

• 07/03/2013: UN: UN expert in human rights and counter-terrorism asks for truth and accountability
• 29/04/2011: UN: Human Rights Council passes resolution on Syria in Special Session
• 21/04/2011: UN: Syria should not be allowed on UN Human Rights Council, rights groups urge
• 09/03/2011: UN: Schedule announced for Day on the Rights of the Child 2011
• 02/03/2011: UN: General Assembly suspends Libya from Human Rights Council

Organisation Contact Details:

UN Human Rights Council
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/

Last updated 13/11/2013 15:43:50

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.