Home / Leveraging The System / The Human Rights Council / Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council

Special Procedures Of The Human Rights Council?

What are the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council?

Special Procedures are independent human rights experts that focus on various thematic human rights issues or country situations.

Their role is to monitor, examine, provide advice, and report on the human rights issues within their mandate. Special Procedures can conduct a range of activities including country visits followed by public reports of their visits for the Human Rights Council, thematic reports on issues of relevance to their mandate for the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, as well as advice to States on human rights issues related to their mandate. Special Procedures can also receive complaints of alleged human
rights violations.

A video on the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council is available below in English
(click on the image to open the link).

Video | 8:40

Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council

In depth…

There are different types of Special Procedures; they include independent experts, special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups, often referred to as ‘mandate-holders’. The UN Human Rights website contains more detailed information and resources on Special Procedures and their work, including:

The Directory of Special Procedures Mandate Holders, available in English
Country visits
Communications related to complaints of alleged human rights violations

Where can I learn more?

More information on the work of the Special Procedures is available at:
ohchr.org/special-procedures-human-rights-council

Special Procedures Youth Steps

What steps have the Special Procedures taken on youth?