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Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 126c
- Paragraph text
- [National human rights institutions should:] Commit the regional network to which they belong to holding meetings with regional networks of human rights defenders so that together they can plan joint action to protect defenders and promote the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and guidelines on human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 126b
- Paragraph text
- [National human rights institutions should:] Participate in the follow-up to recommendations by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 126a
- Paragraph text
- [National human rights institutions should:] Take effective measures to protect human rights defenders when they are in danger;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 125c
- Paragraph text
- [The United Nations should:] Ensure that resident coordinators provide human rights defenders who are subjected to threats with systematic support and protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 125b
- Paragraph text
- [The United Nations should:] Ensure that specific measures relating to human rights defenders are included in its programmes and activities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 125a
- Paragraph text
- [The United Nations should:] Ensure that all agencies and programmes of the Organization are made more aware of the question of human rights defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124p
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Undertake to implement Council resolution 24/24 on reprisals, allowing the designation of a high-level focal point to the United Nations, and, where appropriate, also designate a national focal point responsible for dealing with the question of reprisals at the national and international levels.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124o
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Devote a chapter specifically to the question of human rights defenders in their national or international reports on the human rights situation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124n
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Provide embassies with funds earmarked for human rights defenders and facilitate access by defenders to international funding;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124m
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] In the case of countries that have adopted guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders, ensure that their embassies undertake a proper assessment of the effectiveness of their implementation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124l
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Undertake to implement and translate into their national language and local languages the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in order to enable all human rights defenders to obtain access to it;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124k
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Ensure that any legislation criminalizing activities in defence of human rights through cooperation with international mechanisms is repealed;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124j
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Ensure that acts of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders who cooperate with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights and with international human rights bodies are firmly and unequivocally condemned;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124i
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Ensure that human rights defenders can participate without hindrance in the mechanisms of the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations, particularly within the framework of the universal periodic review and reports to the human rights treaty bodies;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124h
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Establish a national human rights institution or reform an existing institution in accordance with the Paris Principles and give it a mandate covering the protection and promotion of human rights defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124g
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Provide State officials, particularly those who are in direct contact with communities of human rights defenders, with the necessary training on their role and rights and on the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124f
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Pay particular attention to the most exposed groups: those who work for economic, social and cultural rights or minority rights; environmental defenders; defenders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex rights; women defenders and those who work for women's rights; defenders who work in the area of business and human rights; those who work in an area exposed to internal conflict or a natural disaster; defenders living in isolated regions; and defenders working on past abuses, such as the families of victims of enforced disappearance;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124e
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Invite the Special Rapporteur to pay short follow-up visits, either directly or on the occasion of seminars, lectures or panel discussions, in order to enable him to consider the best way of assisting States to implement recommendations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124d
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Extend an open invitation to the Special Rapporteur, allow him to conduct any visit that he wishes to undertake without restricting its duration or scope, and enable him to move around the country, outside the capital, particularly in countries with extensive territories, so that he can meet human rights defenders who are isolated and cannot travel;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124c
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Respond more satisfactorily to communications received from the Special Rapporteur, by providing him with any information required, thereby facilitating a better understanding of the situations addressed in such communications and putting a stop to threats or rights violations directed at human rights defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124b
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Combat impunity for threats and violations aimed at human rights defenders by mounting impartial enquiries and ensure that their perpetrators stand trial and that victims obtain compensation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 124a
- Paragraph text
- [Member States should:] Ensure that human rights defenders can exercise their functions within a national framework properly supported by the appropriate legislative and regulatory texts, taking into account regional and national specificities, and remove the obstacles that some national laws may place in the path of legitimate activities to promote and protect human rights engaged in by human rights defenders, with a view to providing them with more effective protection;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 123
- Paragraph text
- He intends to publish, at the end of his first three years in the mandate, an assessment of the implementation of his vision and his priorities, together with information on the difficulties and obstacles encountered, and to share this assessment with the members of the Council.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 122
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the extension of his mandate and will bear in mind the preamble and recommendations of resolution 25/18, which he sees as constituting the focus of his work in the future.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 121
- Paragraph text
- This first report to the Council constitutes a road map for the Special Rapporteur to establish a way forward for the activities that he has begun to undertake. The first regional consultations have given him a clear vision of the manner in which he will carry out the task entrusted to him by the Council.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 120
- Paragraph text
- While observing the working rules applying to special procedures mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur intends to interpret his mandate as widely as possible in order to make it as effective as possible, basing his approach on the results obtained by his predecessor and on the knowledge acquired and the working methods used. He means to explore new avenues and innovative working techniques, where that seems appropriate, and to inform the Council of his activities on a regular basis.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 119
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur confirms his intention to devote a large part of his time and energy to carrying out his work, with a view to serving the cause in which he believes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 118
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to engage in specific work in the area of reprisals, on the basis that any person who cooperates with the United Nations or international organizations, or who reports abuse or human rights violations, may be considered a defender, in view of his or her activities to protect rights and freedoms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 117
- Paragraph text
- He wishes to note the need to move to greater oversight and action to ensure respect for the standard-setting agreements and rules of procedure of the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which explicitly prohibit reprisals by State and non-State players.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 116
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is very mindful of this issue and wishes to help raise the awareness of the international community, particularly as regards the role that the United Nations should play in dealing with the issue and getting States to face up to their responsibility.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 115
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur emphasizes the importance of the joint statement by Botswana and a group of 47 States in March 2014 at the twenty-fifth session of the Council, which refer to the call by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for organizational coherence and a systematic approach by the United Nations to protect civil society actors and organizations better.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 114
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recalls that, in their joint statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2013, the special procedures mandate holders expressed their profound concern regarding reprisals against persons who cooperated with them. Calling for a firm response to such reprisals, they said that they supported the designation of a United Nations focal point on the issue and looked forward to such a designation as soon as possible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 113
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recalls the joint statement made on 15 March 2012 by the rapporteurs on human rights defenders of the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on reprisals against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate with the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He welcomes the determined attitude adopted by the President of the Council in calling on all States to combat such reprisals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 112
- Paragraph text
- At the same meeting, the question of reprisals was raised by the Special Rapporteur in a dialogue with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, whom he informed of the failure by some resident coordinators to show their commitment to human rights defenders or to support requests for protection from some witnesses. The special procedures mandate holders emphasized the role of resident coordinators in this connection, including the need that, as senior representatives of the United Nations on the ground, they should support special procedures mandate holders dealing with cases of reprisals against persons with whom they had been in contact and should conduct the necessary follow-up when the mandate holders have left the country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 111
- Paragraph text
- The question of reprisals was addressed a number of times at the annual meeting of special procedures mandate holders. Special rapporteurs gave first-hand accounts of reprisals against human rights defenders with whom they had worked during their visits or who had been dissuaded by the police from meeting them. The Special Rapporteur raised this question with the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the meeting and he wishes here to express publicly his recognition of the fact that the High Commissioner has referred directly in his public statements in a number of countries to cases of human rights defenders who have been threatened.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has noted with concern the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights (A/HRC/27/38), which is an annual report on reprisals against individuals or groups of individuals who have cooperated with the United Nations in the field of human rights, including the special procedures. This document is important for its symbolic value, even though it discusses only a small number of cases.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has been struck by the number and the gravity of the threats directed at human rights defenders who make direct contact with regional or international organizations devoted to the protection and promotion of human rights in order to inform them of a situation or to report human rights abuses or violations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- According to statements that he heard at his first consultations in Geneva and at regional consultations, such attacks may take a variety of forms: personal threats or threats against members of defenders' families, smear campaigns, death threats, physical attacks, kidnapping, judicial harassment, murder and other forms of police harassment or intimidation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- At his meetings with human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur has constantly heard reports of reprisals against those who have spoken to the United Nations, made statements, sent documents or messages, or cooperated with it. Reprisals or the threat of reprisals can take very sophisticated forms and States themselves have become aware of the power of reprisals to muzzle human rights defenders or prevent them from speaking out.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- He wishes to use the same communication techniques to enhance his interaction with human rights defenders and to consider how best they can communicate more directly with him.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- He has started to publish a regular opinion column in various media and will do the same in the national and international press, either on his own or jointly with other mandate holders or regional mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- While acting in accordance with the working rules of special procedures mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur intends to make the visibility of his mandate and the work of human rights defenders a high priority, using all the means at his disposal. He intends to step up his communication activities with a view to raising awareness in the mass media, the social media and elsewhere of the importance of human rights defenders and their work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is conscious of his responsibility to speak out loud and clear in support of the rights of human rights defenders against those who challenge them and to remind everyone that those who promote and defend human rights are ipso facto defenders, even if they are not members of an organization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- During the first regional consultations, the human rights defenders expressed the importance of visibility for their situation and their role. They said they wished to see greater prominence given to positive stories about their work, their successes, the problems they face, the means of protection, national good practices, the effectiveness of protection mechanisms and thematic analyses and any other elements required to develop their activities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Lastly, the Special Rapporteur intends to join others in drafting a guide to good practices and to put every effort into the dissemination of good practices, which, when they are widely disseminated, so as to reach even the most isolated human rights defenders, can have a multiplier effect in protecting and promoting the right to defend human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Seminars, round tables, forums and other forms of consultation have been organized on every continent to train human rights defenders, to teach them protection techniques and to protect their means of communication against surveillance risks. Such meetings provide an opportunity for exchanges of good practice and the Special Rapporteur will, where possible, respond positively to invitations made to him to participate in such meetings.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- Some States and groups of countries have developed their own tools, guidelines, national legislation and visa or relocation mechanisms to prevent violations of the rights of human rights defenders more effectively and to protect those who need protection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- At the same time, the Special Rapporteur is well aware of the link between protection activities and promotion activities. He has been struck, during regional consultations, by the extraordinary vitality of human rights defenders, specialized NGOs and networks of defenders, who, over the 16 years since the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, have been able to develop and improve the mechanisms of protection, international solidarity and rapid reaction in the face of threats and attacks by, for example, using state-of-the-art technologies and social networks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- The effective protection of human rights defenders and the follow-up of specific cases will be one of the main features of the Special Rapporteur's activities, whether through communications or urgent appeals, country visits or short follow-up visits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur will take the opportunity to offer technical assistance, based on best observed practices, in order to provide the government with the appropriate tools to implement recommendations more effectively.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- The procedure will be that discussion panels will be set up with the stakeholders of the country concerned to address the situation in that country and identify the best way of ensuring more effective follow-up to recommendations. When such a discussion panel is arranged, the country authorities will be officially informed through their permanent mission and the Special Rapporteur will request the government to hold bilateral discussions, which will make it possible to gain a better understanding of the status of implementation of recommendations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- Follow-up to country visits will also be an important element of the Special Rapporteur's activities. He intends, where possible, to increase the number of short visits that he makes in order to ask State authorities about follow-up to recommendations and urgent appeals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- The previous mandate holder showed the useful role that national human rights institutions can play in the follow-up to recommendations and the treatment of individual cases (see document A/HRC/22/47). The Special Rapporteur intends to make accredited national institutions privileged partners in following up recommendations in general but also in specific cases, as required.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- To a greater or lesser degree, all the stakeholders have a special responsibility to follow up communications and cases, but particularly governments, because they are responsible for preventing human rights violations, threats and attacks against human rights defenders and for taking action against impunity by prosecuting those responsible for human rights abuses.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to conduct and publish a study specifically relating to the follow-up to communications and on the impact that a failure by States to respond has on the situation of human rights defenders. He will regularly remind States that fail in this way of the number of cases to which they have not responded.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to make the question of follow-up one of the major features of his activities and will regularly provide the Council and the General Assembly with detailed information on any failure to respond by regularly reporting on the follow-up to communications.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Follow-up is important because, by drawing attention to cases that have had a positive outcome, it shows the good practices that can be reproduced or duplicated in order to increase the chances of obtaining positive results in a larger number of cases. Where possible, the Special Rapporteur will include positive stories in his reports in order to show the relevance or effectiveness of a good practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the pace of interventions should not be speeded up, otherwise it might be forgotten that the Special Rapporteur and his team have acted in hundreds of cases in the past, each one relating to an individual story that requires a specific response; silence is the worst possible response.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- The current procedure is to send an automatic acknowledgement of receipt in response to a communication, without, however, stating what use will be made of that communication. The Special Rapporteur considers that this is not sufficient and he intends to look into how the communications system can be improved so as to make it more relevant and enable a faster and more appropriate response to be sent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- At his first consultations with human rights defenders, it became clear how pressing the issue of the follow-up of cases actually is. Few of the human rights defenders know whether a file that they have sent to a mandate holder has been received and what use has been made of the communication. While preserving the necessary confidentiality of information received and the use made of it, the Special Rapporteur considers that, at the very least, a formal acknowledgement of receipt should be made to any person, organization or network that has sent a communication or referred a case for action by the mandate holder, in accordance with the code of conduct and confidentiality that the Special Rapporteur observes with governments.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- The database of communications sent to States and their replies shows to what extent a large number of governments do not reply adequately to communications, urgent appeals or letters of allegation, however well documented. Their replies do not always cover the situation or the case concerned but simply set out the situation, often in very general terms, without really addressing the seriousness of the cases in question.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends, where relevant, to act more closely with country mandate holders to increase the effectiveness of the protection provided to human rights defenders in the countries for which they are responsible and will explore with them the possibility of extending the good practices of some mandate holders who include a specific section on the situation of human rights defenders in their reports.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur hopes to develop a series of joint activities, as appropriate, with other thematic mandate holders also dealing with cases of threats, attacks or violations of the rights of human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- While preserving the independence of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur intends to extend his partnership with the mandate holders that have the mandates closest to his own, in the interests of ensuring better protection for human rights defenders and drawing the attention of the international community to the methods used by States to suppress or hinder the activities of human rights defenders. He will suggest forms of joint or concerted action with these two other mandate holders, which may eventually lead to joint activities or country visits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Undue restrictions on freedom of expression or opinion are often imposed by States to prevent human rights defenders expressing themselves or engaging in activities to protect and promote fundamental rights and freedoms. That is one of the topics covered in the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has been struck by the number of cases that relate not only to his own mandate but also to freedom of association or freedom of expression. Restricting freedom of assembly and association is often one of the first measures used by States to suppress human rights defenders and prevent them from promoting and protecting rights and freedoms. The recent reports submitted to the Council by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the numerous complaints received show that this trend is still on the increase, as the Council also noted in the preamble to its resolution 25/18. The Special Rapporteur intends to strengthen cooperation with other mandate holders and suggest new forms of collaboration.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes all the initiatives taken by States or intergovernmental organizations, including the European Union, OSCE, Norway, Switzerland and the United States to draw up guidelines for their diplomatic missions on the protection of human rights defenders. Such initiatives are more than welcome, because they testify to a real will, over and above formal commitments, to promote a national or intergovernmental policy in support of human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur calls on all States to follow this good practice and to designate within each of their diplomatic missions a focal point who is known to human rights defenders and who can translate such guidelines into reality.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- In view of the threats and risks to which human rights defenders living in isolated areas are exposed, the Special Rapporteur intends to make a particular effort to make sure that the Declaration reaches them so that they can benefit from the protection it provides.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- At every meeting, the Special Rapporteur will ask the authorities of the countries that he visits about measures taken to promote awareness-raising and training activities relating to the Declaration in order to enable officials, agencies, authorities and the judiciary to implement the provisions of the Declaration and thus promote better understanding and respect for individuals, groups and organs of society engaged in promoting and defending human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Among the activities that he will pursue, therefore, the Special Rapporteur will pay special attention to the promotional aspects of the Declaration and will encourage States, international organizations and other parties to make an additional effort to make steady progress in translating it into more national and local languages. He will continue to lobby permanent missions and other stakeholders to remind them that, in paragraph 10 of its resolution 62/152, the General Assembly encourages States to translate the Declaration into their national languages and to take measures to improve its dissemination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Sixteen years after its adoption by the General Assembly, the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders has been very widely disseminated and promoted by the various stakeholders. Significant efforts have been made to translate it into an ever-growing number of national and local languages. Despite this, it is still too little known by those responsible for its implementation, namely governments, or by those who could benefit from it, namely human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Lastly, with regard to cooperation with other stakeholders, the Special Rapporteur would like to recall the vital role played by the media and the social media in promoting the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the effective protection of defenders. Numerous cases of journalists who have reported on or written articles about human rights violations, and also cases of whistle-blowers and bloggers, have come to the attention of the Special Rapporteur, who considers them to be human rights defenders, in that they meet the criteria set out in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. He means to extend and strengthen his cooperation with the media as part of the implementation of his mandate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur does not rule out the idea of appearing before national courts as a third party in individual cases or in amici curiae briefs with the appointed counsel, where appropriate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to draw on lessons learned from his cooperation with regional courts to establish the effectiveness of his activities as a third party in individual cases or in amici curiae briefs with the aim of providing regional courts with more information.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to develop cooperation with regional courts, which, thanks to interim measures, among others, successfully provide protection for human rights defenders, particularly those threatened with refoulement or return to countries at risk. He has already been in contact with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Council of Europe about this. There is significant evidence to show the effectiveness of such measures when they are adopted by States.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- These organizations do remarkable work in protecting and training human rights defenders on the ground, but such training must be extended and should not be given only to defenders who live in the capitals or other large cities. The first regional consultations highlighted a pressing need for training, for which the Special Rapporteur counts on the relevant NGOs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- While acting in accordance with the working rules of special procedures mandate holders and upholding the independence required of each of them, the Special Rapporteur intends to continue and develop his excellent relations with international, regional and national NGOs working for the protection of human rights defenders, particularly NGOs that are specifically involved in the protection or relocation of defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- National human rights institutions accredited with "A" status should play a primary role in protection and should take responsibility for following up recommendations addressed to their government by the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations. The Special Rapporteur counts on their active participation in the preparation and follow-up of visits that he will undertake in their countries, including the short follow-up visits mentioned earlier in this report.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- The previous Special Rapporteur highlighted the specific role that national human rights institutions could play in the promotion and protection of human rights defenders (see document A/HRC/22/47). The Special Rapporteur intends to develop closer ties with human rights institutions both individually and collectively through the International Coordinating Committee, regional networks or national institutions to ensure publicity for the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has initiated extremely promising contacts with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, who both requested him to maintain coordination in Europe with their respective mandates. The same applies to OSCE, which, with the publication of its guidelines on human rights defenders, has provided its member States with a useful tool.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- If States fail to take action, therefore, regional mechanisms should, where they exist and where possible, be in a position to take action to ensure the protection of human rights defenders. Unfortunately, by contrast with Africa and the Americas, there is no specific mechanism in Europe or Asia.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers that the principle of subsidiarity should apply to the protection of human rights defenders. It is the responsibility of States, above all, to protect defenders by such means as the adoption of legislative or regulatory measures aimed at their protection. The Special Rapporteur intends to redouble his efforts to convince governments to introduce specific national measures, as Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire and Mexico have done. He intends to hold consultations and publish a study on this topic, with a view to showing the effectiveness of national mechanisms to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and the measures that should be taken to improve their efficiency.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Regional organizations can and must play a role in the protection of human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur's predecessors initiated and developed good relations with the African and inter-American mechanisms. The Special Rapporteur participated with interest in the inter-mechanism consultation, held in Paris, where the parties explored avenues for closer cooperation, which will need to be assessed before their scope is extended. Such cooperation could take a number of different forms: joint public appeals, joint missions or the publication in the media of joint opinion columns.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Relations with United Nations country teams on the ground, with specialized institutions and with bodies of the United Nations system could be strengthened in order to ensure that, acting in accordance with their individual mandates, they can contribute more effectively to the protection of human rights defenders. At the first regional consultation, troubling evidence was put forward on the absence of responses, or inadequate responses, from some United Nations staff members concerning the protection-related needs of human rights defenders. In his next report on regional consultations, the Special Rapporteur will provide the Council with more detail and put forward possible courses of action.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations system has a vital role to play in contributing, to a greater or lesser extent, to the protection of human rights defenders who are exposed to risk. This applies particularly to peacekeeping missions, where they have a specifically human rights mandate, such as the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINOSA), the United Nations Office in Burundi and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONASCO). The Special Rapporteur intends to make contact with heads of peacekeeping missions and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York to present his mandate and set out possible areas of cooperation to ensure better protection for human rights defenders facing conflict, internal disturbances or post-conflict situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- States have primary responsibility for protecting human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur intends to make technical cooperation with governments a central feature of his activities, where this is possible and desirable. Such activities may take place in Geneva, with the permanent missions, but the Special Rapporteur notes that he is available to travel to capitals for meetings with representatives of governments that are willing to cooperate with him.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- There are many parties involved in the promotion of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and their protection: States, above all, and then the United Nations, regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, national human rights institutions, NGOs, regional human rights courts and the media.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to consider extending the protection mandate entrusted to him as widely as possible and to go to great lengths in exercising his mandate, where necessary, in order to keep the Council and the General Assembly informed. Like his predecessors, he will seek to develop new and even more sophisticated methods to help protect the rights of human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Human rights defenders are often exposed to the same threats and attacks, but some are more exposed or more threatened, or are subjected to particular attacks, in the form of smear campaigns, intimidation, stigmatization, threats to their families, defamation, accusations, ridicule or red tape.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has noted with great interest that, over the past few years, human rights defenders have been active in ensuring that the protection promised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is extended to new threats to human dignity. As a result of their work to combat gender-related violence against women, they argue that rights should be protected also within the household and the community. They contend that multinational corporations should be held morally and legally liable for their actions and omissions that deprive men and women of their fundamental rights. They are working to ensure that universal access to primary education and antiretroviral treatment becomes a fundamental right and is not treated as a service that is dependent on charitable action or an aspect of economic development.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- This is a central feature of the kind of communications received by the mandate holders on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and on the situation of human rights defenders and also by other mandate holders, such as the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances or the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- During his first consultations in Geneva and Brussels and the bilateral discussions that he held with representatives of regional networks of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur was struck by the repeated statements drawing his attention to the groups that were most exposed: those working on economic, social and cultural rights and minority rights; environmental defenders; defenders of LGBTI rights; women defenders and those who work for women's rights; defenders who work in the area of business and human rights; those who work in an area exposed to internal conflict or a national disaster; defenders living in isolated regions; and those working on past abuses, such as the families of victims of enforced disappearance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- In addition to consultations with human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur will, with a view to making a more detailed analysis, continue to schedule meetings with State representatives when they are in Geneva or in other countries to participate in discussions, round tables or lectures. The aim of such meetings is, first, to hear their comments and points of view on how trends are developing, the effectiveness of protection mechanisms and the impact of national laws on the protection of human rights defenders. Such meetings will also make it possible to discuss with State representatives, as indicated by Council resolution 25/18, the fact that in some instances, national security and counter-terrorism legislation and other measures, such as laws regulating civil society organizations, have been misused to target human rights defenders or have hindered their work and endangered their safety in a manner contrary to international law. There will also be room to discuss the use of legislation to hinder or limit unduly the ability of human rights defenders to conduct their work. This is one of the themes on which the Special Rapporteur will be working in the near future.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Such regional consultations will provide material for the country visits that the Special Rapporteur is currently preparing. The outcome of these regional consultations will inform the next report that the Special Rapporteur will submit to the General Assembly in 2015, which should promote reflection among Member States on the future direction of the mandate. The report will contain a series of recommendations intended for all the stakeholders, aiming at ensuring a faster, more personal and more effective response to the protection-related needs of human rights defenders throughout the world.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Part of the discussion focuses on national legislation. This helps the Special Rapporteur understand the best ways of providing States with technical cooperation and enabling them to develop specific national legislation to ensure better protection for the work of human rights defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Where relevant, discussions are held on how human rights defenders perceive the effectiveness of the regional mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and of the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the guidelines issued by a number of other countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Such consultations provide an opportunity to bring together human rights defenders from a specific region working on various themes and topics and to share with them information on the human rights situation. In addition to the sharing of experiences and good practices, these consultations provide a unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness of protection mechanisms from the point of view of human rights defenders and to establish what they expect from the mandate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- At these consultations, a systematic presentation is made of the mandate, its objectives, its working methods, the options open to human rights defenders and the possibilities provided by the mandate to protect them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- In accordance with Council resolution 16/5, under which the Human Rights Council decided to study trends, developments and challenges in relation to the exercise of the right of anyone, acting individually or in association with others, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Special Rapporteur began his time in office by holding a series of regional consultations, at which he met about 40 human rights defenders at a time, region by region, and undertook a detailed consideration with them of national and regional trends, the threats facing specific groups, the reprisals to which they are subject and the methods of protection developed over the past few years, in order to assess their relevance and to develop them either on a case-by-case basis or in a more systematic way. The first consultation was held in Tunis in October 2014, followed by a consultation in Tbilisi, Georgia, in November 2014 and another in Manila, Philippines, in December 2014. Consultations will be held in the Americas and Africa in the first half of 2015.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes that, like his predecessors, he will be able to carry out his basic task of protecting human rights defenders more effectively if he keeps up to date with friends and constants in this area.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur 2015, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- This section sets out the way in which the Special Rapporteur envisages implementing his mandate. It constitutes a road map for the activities that await him over the coming years.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Workplan and Future Activities of the Special Rapporteur
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/HRC/28/63
Document
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers it an absolute priority of the mandate to continue transmitting urgent appeals to States with regard to individuals reported to be at risk of torture, as well as communications on past alleged cases of torture. However, having recently taken up his functions, the Special Rapporteur notes with serious concern that the resources allocated to the mandate are not sufficient to respond to the ever-growing number of urgent requests for intervention on behalf of individuals. The Special Rapporteur therefore appeals to the Human Rights Council, as well as to its members individually, to take every possible measure to allow the Special Rapporteur to carry out the mandate effectively.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will always endeavour to engage in an open, respectful and constructive dialogue with States and other international, regional and non-governmental stakeholders, and aim to gain mutual trust and consolidated understanding of all relevant perspectives, concerns and challenges before drawing any conclusions or trying to identify the most suitable manner of action.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is of the firm view that there is no better deterrent to torture than a strong national will to combat and prevent such abhorrent abuse. In addition to visiting places of detention, therefore, the Special Rapporteur will use the opportunity of fact-finding visits to encourage States to take effective legislative, administrative and judicial measures to prevent torture. In particular, wherever necessary, the Special Rapporteur will call upon States to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocol thereto and to establish independent and professional national preventive mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Throughout his tenure, the Special Rapporteur intends to continue some of the thematic work streams initiated by his predecessors, such as the envisaged protocol on non-coercive interviewing and other issues arising in the area of police custody and pretrial detention. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur will also endeavour to widen the protection space for victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. To that end, he intends to take up a number of issues that have not yet received systematic attention from the international community, such as torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment occurring in relation to forced migration, in extra-custodial settings and at the hands of non-State actors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Therefore, the first priority of the Special Rapporteur will be to unequivocally reaffirm the absolute and universal prohibition of all, and any, forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, to further clarify the contours and meaning of these terms in the light of the evolving challenges marking the contemporary international environment, and to call on States and non-State actors alike to renounce, and to prevent impunity for, any such practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- At the same time, the Special Rapporteur cannot ignore that, despite more than three decades of dedicated work of the mandate and countless other international, governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are still rampant in most, if not all, parts of the world. In particular, the Special Rapporteur observes with alarm that, since the turn of the century, the rise of transnational terrorism, organized crime and other actual or perceived threats has given way to an increasing tolerance for violent political narratives and popular beliefs that not only trivialize torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment but even promote and incite their use in the name of national security and the fight against terrorism.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also wishes to salute the outstanding work accomplished by his predecessors since the establishment of the mandate in 1985. He intends to consolidate and build on their achievements throughout his tenure.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that the mandate is part of a wider system and looks forward to working in close cooperation with the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, other special procedure mandate holders, regional anti-torture mechanisms, States and civil society actors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment sincerely thanks the Human Rights Council for the confidence in him demonstrated by his nomination. He is aware of the great responsibility of his office and is fully committed to carrying it out to the best of his ability and for the benefit of humanity as a whole.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- In sum, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that international law must protect every human being from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, whoever the perpetrators may be. Throughout his tenure, the Special Rapporteur will therefore aim to contribute to closing the protection gap for victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at the hands of non-State actors, including by advocating for the mutual reinforcement of human rights and international humanitarian law obligations. In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur is also willing to explore, to the extent appropriate and practicable, the benefits of engaging in a direct dialogue with non-State actors, including de facto authorities, other armed groups and private companies, to achieve a positive impact on the ground. The Special Rapporteur will also endeavour to further contribute to the ongoing discussions on holding non-State actors accountable for human rights violations, including for acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- In addition, an increasing number of States delegate part of their law enforcement, intelligence and military operations to private military or security companies. Outsourced tasks and functions may range from the protection of specific persons, objects and infrastructure to running facilities for the processing of asylum seekers or even entire detention facilities for criminal suspects and convicts, and may even include the use of force. In this environment, allegations of individual contractors' involvement in serious human rights violations - including participation in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - continue to emerge. It is therefore important to recall that States cannot absolve themselves from international legal responsibility for acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment carried out by private military or security contractors operating on their behalf.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- As far as the due diligence of territorial States is concerned, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that the exercise of control by an organized armed group as de facto authority over the population of a State does not deprive the people living in this territory of their rights. States therefore have a due diligence obligation to protect individuals under their jurisdiction from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on the part of non-State actors. Thus, even where armed groups have brought part of the national territory under their control, Governments are not absolved from doing everything feasible in the circumstances to protect their citizens from torture and ill-treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- This focus area raises questions of the due diligence of States as well as, to a certain extent, of the direct obligations of non-State actors as far as the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is concerned. It should be recalled that, although non-State actors are not directly bound by human rights treaties, there are other treaty provisions prohibiting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that may be directly binding on them. Most notably, under international humanitarian law, both States and non-State actors are absolutely prohibited from resorting to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for reasons related to an armed conflict. Moreover, any person resorting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment amounting to a war crime, a crime against humanity, or even genocide is subject to prosecution under international criminal law. Arguably, the universal prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can also be based on a general principle of law, namely what the International Court of Justice referred to as "elementary considerations of humanity". According to article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, such general principles of law constitute an independent source of international law along with treaties and custom.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- So far, steps taken by the mandate to combat torture have focused almost entirely on States as potential perpetrators. Yet organized armed groups, private military and security contractors, mercenaries, foreign fighters and other non-State actors are increasingly engaged in conduct that adversely interferes with human rights, including the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. For the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to retain its practical relevance, however, it must also provide for practical protection against violations on the part of non-State actors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- In interpreting the relevant legal provisions, the Special Rapporteur will be guided, among other sources, by State practice, international jurisprudence and two soft law instruments widely recognized to reflect generally recognized conditions and modalities governing the use of force by law enforcement officials: the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The Special Rapporteur intends to conduct his thematic work in this area based on consultations and expert meetings with relevant stakeholders and experts, and building on earlier analyses by other special procedure mandate holders who explored similar issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur therefore aims to clarify how terms such as "torture", "cruel", "inhuman" and "degrading" should be interpreted within the context of extra-custodial use of force, particularly in view of potential justifications such as law enforcement, crowd control, or self-defence or defence of others. He will also examine how this subject area interrelates with the protection of other fundamental rights such as, most notably, the right of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and the right to life. Further, the Special Rapporteur plans to examine the extent to which the use of certain types of weapons, riot control devices or other means and methods of law enforcement would have to be considered intrinsically cruel, inhuman or degrading in the light of their immediate to long-term consequences.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- In the past, the attention of the mandate has focused predominantly on fighting the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against persons deprived of their liberty. It has not yet systematically examined the extent to which the use of force by law enforcement officers and other officials outside the context of detention (so-called extra-custodial use of force) can come within the purview of the mandate. The question is particularly relevant where State officials resort to unnecessary, disproportionate or otherwise excessive force without, however, directly infringing the right to life. While it is clear that States must be in a position to use all appropriate means, including necessary and proportionate force, with a view to maintaining public security and law and order, experience shows that it is precisely in situations where force is used in insufficiently controlled environments that the risk of arbitrariness and abuse is highest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to contribute to the ongoing reflection on the links between forced migration and torture. To this end, he hopes to conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders with a view to preparing a thematic report addressing the specific issue of torture and ill-treatment faced by migrants and refugees. Through this report, the Special Rapporteur hopes to contribute to the overall efforts of the international community towards the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration by 2018.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Finally, the Special Rapporteur is also interested in researching how to better assist States in preventing and investigating acts of torture and other ill-treatment suffered by refugees, asylum seekers and other irregular migrants at the hands of non-State actors such as traffickers and smugglers.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur fully endorses the long-standing jurisprudence and doctrine stating that the absolute prohibition against refoulement contained in the Convention against Torture is stronger than that found in refugee law under article 33 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. This absolute prohibition means that persons may not be returned even when they may not otherwise qualify for refugee status under the 1951 Convention or domestic law. Accordingly, non-refoulement under the Convention against Torture must be assessed independently of refugee or asylee status determinations, so as to ensure that the fundamental right to be free from torture or other ill-treatment is respected even in cases where non-refoulement under refugee law may be circumscribed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur will also closely monitor the conditions under which some irregular migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, are being returned to their countries of origin or relocated to countries of transit under readmission agreements negotiated with countries that may have committed gross human rights violations, including torture. In doing so, the Special Rapporteur will advocate for the full application of article 3 of the Convention, which provides that no State party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he/she would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and that for the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Of particular interest to the Special Rapporteur's mandate will be the use by many, if not all, Governments of detention as a migration management tool in arrival, transit and removal centres. During his fact-finding visits, the Special Rapporteur intends to visit places where irregular migrants are held with a view to ensuring that they are not subjected to treatment and conditions of detention amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that monitoring both official and de facto places of detention where irregular migrants are held would be instrumental for assisting authorities in addressing possible cases of abuse and improving the conditions of life of this population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- In this context, the Special Rapporteur intends to look with a renewed degree of scrutiny into the particular risks of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment faced by irregular migrants in today's world. He will do so keeping in mind the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted by the General Assembly on 19 September 2016, in which States committed to protect the human rights of all refugees and migrants.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- This rise in the number of forced displacements is paralleled by a growing and worrying tendency around the world to criminalize irregular migration, to deter applications for asylum and to detain people on the move. In this context, refugees, asylum seekers and other irregular migrants have become more vulnerable to human rights violations, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- Conflicts, violence, persecution, poverty and food insecurity are driving unprecedented waves of people to cross international borders in a desperate search for safety. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2015 alone, 65.3 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide, the largest number since the Second World War.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is interested in conducting a global survey on how States implement such safeguards. He will actively cooperate with Governments during his tenure to identify challenges and best practices and to encourage States to live up to their obligations to fully implement relevant safeguards in order to make detainees' rights a reality rather than an aspiration.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Procedural safeguards have been developed to counter the risk of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and their implementation is key to eradicating such abuse in practice (see A/HRC/13/39/Add.5, para. 81). Among the most basic but important safeguards is the immediate and adequate registration of any arrest and detention, as well as the prohibition on holding anyone in unofficial places of detention. Other guarantees include the detainees' right to have prompt access to independent legal counsel and medical assistance and to have their families notified of their arrest. In addition, each individual has the right to challenge the legality of his/her detention and treatment before an independent court. There must be formal procedures by which a detainee is informed of his/her rights, so as to enable him/her to enjoy those rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- International law requires that States guarantee the effective protection of persons at risk of torture and ill-treatment, in particular persons deprived of their liberty who are under the complete control of the detaining authorities. Indeed, arrest and deprivation of liberty are inherently associated with a risk of intimidation, torture and other ill-treatment, and experience shows that this risk is especially high in the very early stages of custody and detention. At times, initial police custody or remand detention is extended beyond the legally permissible period, thus making the detained individual particularly vulnerable to abuse. Moreover, while the physical and psychological conditions of detention in police custody may be acceptable for periods up to 48 hours, they often are completely inadequate for housing persons for any longer periods.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur intends to take the work of his predecessor a step further and commits to contribute actively, in consultation and cooperation with other stakeholders, to the development of universal guidelines on investigative interviewing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur proposed that the first step in the development of universal guidelines on investigative interviewing would be to hold a broad public consultation. In parallel, OHCHR was tasked by the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 31/31, to organize an intersessional seminar to exchange national experiences and best practices on the implementation of effective safeguards to prevent torture and other ill-treatment during police custody.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the proposal put forward by his predecessor in his last report to the General Assembly (A/71/298) in which he advocated for the development of universal guidelines for investigative interviewing practices. These would be grounded in fundamental principles of international human rights law and would identify a set of standards for non-coercive interviewing methods and procedural safeguards that ought, as a matter of law and policy, to be applied at a minimum to all interviews by law enforcement officials, military and intelligence personnel and other bodies with investigative mandates.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Law enforcement officers and officials from other investigative bodies are obliged to respect and protect the inherent dignity and physical and mental integrity of all persons, including suspects, witnesses and victims. Nevertheless, the use of torture, other ill-treatment, coercion and intimidation against persons in custody and during interviews continues unabated in most if not all regions of the world. This is so not only despite the universal and absolute prohibition of such practices, but also despite scientific and historical evidence that abusive and coercive techniques elicit unreliable information and have adverse operational, institutional and public safety consequences.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- An initial stocktaking and risk-assessment process was thus launched in 2016 by several civil society organizations that have been working with the Istanbul Protocol in practice. The Special Rapporteur on torture, as one of the four core United Nations mechanisms dedicated to eradicating torture, will actively contribute to this review process in the coming years. The stocktaking exercise aims to assess the current global experience with using and implementing the Istanbul Protocol and to identify obstacles and possibilities for strengthening its use.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The Istanbul Protocol is a uniquely and fundamentally important tool for the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment around the world. Discussions have started in recent years about how to strengthen and enhance the Protocol to better support torture victims' pursuit of justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- The Istanbul Protocol was developed in the span of three years of analysis, research and drafting undertaken by more than 75 forensic physicians, psychologists, human rights monitors and lawyers representing 40 organizations and institutions from 15 countries. It became an official United Nations publication in 1999.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Istanbul Protocol is the first set of international guidelines for the forensic investigation and documentation of torture. It sets standards and procedures for the assessment of persons who allege to have been subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment, for investigation of alleged torture cases and for reporting such findings to the judiciary and other investigative bodies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- In all his endeavours, the Special Rapporteur will promote adherence to, and ratification of, core relevant human rights treaties. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur will also promote so-called soft-law standards such as, but not limited to, the Nelson Mandela Rules, the Body of Principles for the Protection of all Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, the Bangkok Rules, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and other relevant instruments. Ultimately, the Special Rapporteur will prioritize results-based pragmatism rather than formalism without, however, compromising on applicable norms, terms and standards. Therefore, the primary focus of the Special Rapporteur will not necessarily be to achieve universal ratification of relevant treaties, but rather to advocate for the implementation, in actual practice, of norms, procedures and mechanisms for the effective prevention of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- While the legal framework around torture is uniquely developed, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that certain terms relating to the prohibition of torture that are relied upon require reaffirmation and clarification. For example, while the Convention expressly defines torture in its article 1 (1), no such definition exists of "other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" as a whole, or of its separate elements. A former Special Rapporteur has argued that "the distinguishing factor is not the intensity of the suffering inflicted, but rather the purpose of the conduct, the intention of the perpetrator and the powerlessness of the victim" (see A/HRC/13/39, para. 60). Thus, based on the work undertaken by his predecessors, the Special Rapporteur will aim to further illuminate and interpret the exact parameters and obligations surrounding the absolute prohibition of torture. With a view to contributing to the doctrine on the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur will also endeavour to further clarify the criteria and thresholds rendering a particular treatment or punishment "cruel", "inhuman" or "degrading". In doing so, the Special Rapporteur will aim to ensure that the protection space offered to victims of torture and other ill-treatment remains adequate in the light of the fast-evolving challenges marking the contemporary international environment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The prohibition of torture is absolute and non-derogable, meaning that "no exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture". The prohibition of torture must not be limited or balanced against any other right or concern, and States are not permitted to derogate from their obligations even in times of emergency or armed conflict (see A/HRC/13/39/Add.5, paras. 41-42). Likewise, the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is considered to be non-derogable and, therefore, must be observed in all circumstances. The gravity of torture also finds expression in the attendant obligations on States to adopt effective legislative, administrative, judicial and/or other measures to prevent acts of torture or other ill-treatment in any territory under their jurisdiction, the obligation to criminalize acts of torture, and the customary international law obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish all acts of torture and other ill-treatment as codified, inter alia, in the Convention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a core principle of international law. The legal framework around this subject matter is one of the most developed in international human rights law, and the particular atrocity of torture is reflected in the distinct position its prohibition takes in international law. Acts of torture and other ill-treatment are not only prohibited as a matter of universal and regional treaty law, but the prohibition is also a norm of customary international law and is considered to have the rare status of a peremptory norm of international law (jus cogens).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur will always endeavour to engage in an open, respectful and constructive dialogue with States and other international, regional and non-governmental stakeholders and aim to gain a consolidated understanding of all relevant perspectives, concerns and challenges before drawing any conclusions or trying to identify the most suitable manner of action.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- In the view of the Special Rapporteur, the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment may well constitute the most fundamental achievement of mankind, and any tolerance, complacency or acquiescence in such practices, however exceptional and well argued, will inevitably lead down a slippery slope towards complete arbitrariness and brute force, a disgrace for all of humanity. During his tenure, therefore, the primary focus of the Special Rapporteur will be to unequivocally reaffirm the absolute and universal prohibition of all, and any, forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; to further clarify the contours and meaning of these terms in the light of the evolving challenges marking the contemporary international environment; and to call on State and non-State actors alike to renounce, and to prevent impunity for, any such practices. The Special Rapporteur intends to complement these efforts with reports on certain thematic focus areas relevant to the mandate, some of which are outlined below.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur feels compelled to recall that today, after a century marked by two world wars and some of the most outrageous atrocities in human history, thousands of prisoners, war victims, migrants and other vulnerable men, women and children are still being abused, exploited, murdered or simply left to die every day in a no man's land of indifference; that there are still States openly practising or advocating interrogation methods based on the infliction of excruciating pain and anguish and on the irreparable destruction of human beings; that there are still Governments finding no fault in sacrificing justice for political convenience by choosing not to prosecute officials suspected or known to have resorted to, ordered, justified or enabled the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and that a growing number of States are refusing to subject their citizens to international criminal jurisdiction even for the most barbarous of international crimes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Men
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- At the same time, the Special Rapporteur cannot ignore a troubling discrepancy between, on the one hand, the professed consensus opinions, solemn declarations and commitments made by States at the diplomatic level and, on the other hand, the disillusioning reality of millions of victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Despite more than three decades of dedicated work of the mandate and countless other international, governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are still rampant in most, if not all, parts of the world. The Special Rapporteur observes with alarm that, since the turn of the century, the rise of transnational terrorism, organized crime and other actual or perceived threats has given way to an increasing tolerance of violent political narratives and popular beliefs that not only trivialize torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, but even promote and incite their use in the name of national security and the fight against terrorism.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- In the course of the past three decades, the mandate has contributed significantly to the steady development, expansion and consolidation of an impressive institutional and normative anti-torture framework. This includes, most notably, the growth of a tightly knit treaty-based system including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Committee against Torture, the Optional Protocol to the Convention and the Subcommittee, national preventive mechanisms in various countries as well as the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. It also includes the development of standard-setting instruments such as the revised United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), the Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Protocol), the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. It further includes the establishment of a plethora of courageous, competent and effective civil society organizations and, not least, an incessant stream of judicial decisions and resolutions adopted by universal and regional bodies unequivocally condemning any form of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur wishes to express his sincere acknowledgement of and gratitude for the outstanding work accomplished by his predecessors since the establishment of the mandate in 1985. Throughout his tenure, he intends to consolidate and build on their achievements, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 25/13 and in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council and the Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that the mandate is part of a wider system, and wishes to continue to work in close cooperation with the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and other special procedure mandate holders as well as with regional anti-torture mechanisms, States and civil society actors. He intends to ensure that the synergies between the guardians of the protection against torture are not only preserved but, if possible, developed even further.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Working methods, thematic priorities and vision for a meaningful anti-torture advocacy
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- A/HRC/34/54
Document
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122p
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Trustful partnerships between the policymakers responsible for the health sector and civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, academia and professional associations, constitute one of the cornerstones of effective health systems, and act as a guarantee for the full realization of the right to health and related rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122o
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Violence, as a public health problem, needs to be addressed with concerted efforts by all actors as a human rights challenge, having a detrimental impact on the health of individuals and societies. There should be no excuse or justification for any form of violence;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122n
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The rights of persons with disabilities are of a special relevance to the right to health and should be protected and promoted through the lens of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In that regard, the role of health-care services and professionals and the role of the biomedical model need to be reconsidered;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122m
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The effective promotion and protection of the rights of children and adolescents offers huge potential for the full realization of the right to health in our societies. Synergies between the right to survival and right to holistic development need to drive cross-sectoral policies and accountability mechanisms;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122l
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Mental health is relevant to many key elements of the post-2015 agenda and the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals; and it should be a new priority in public policies addressed in parity with physical health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122k
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] There is no health without mental health. Good mental health means much more than the absence of mental impairment. Modern understanding of mental health includes good emotional and social well-being and healthy non-violent relations between individuals and groups with mutual trust, tolerance and respect of the dignity of every person;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122j
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Achieving universal health coverage is one of the main goals and processes for the post-2015 agenda; and commitments made in the Alma-Ata Declaration and Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion should be reaffirmed and revitalized by all stakeholders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122i
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Primary care needs to be strengthened as a crucial cornerstone of health system, enabling the effective use of discoveries of modern medicine and public health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122h
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The role of health sector is becoming increasingly important, including for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular of marginalized groups. The health sector should take the leadership in the promotion of "health in all policies" approach;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122g
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The policy approach, if implemented effectively and creatively, opens up valuable opportunities for social innovations, through the empowerment of individuals, communities and societies at large;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122f
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The analysis of the functioning and financing of health-care systems, and the need to ensure the right to available, accessible, acceptable and good-quality health-care services remain crucial;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122e
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] The meaningful participation and empowerment of all stakeholders should be promoted, in particular of groups in vulnerable situations, and effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms need to be in place to ensure the full realization of the right to health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122d
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Unequivocal political will to apply human rights principles and standards to normative frameworks and public policies is key in addressing existing imbalances and power asymmetries in the formulation and implementation of health-related public policies;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122c
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Inequalities and discrimination remain a crucial factor impeding the full realization of the right to health threatening the healthy development of individuals and societies;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122b
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] History and evidence show that selective approaches to human rights reinforce the cycle of poverty, inequalities, social exclusion, discrimination and violence and are detrimental to the full enjoyment of the right to health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 122a
- Paragraph text
- [In that connection, at the outset of his tenure, the Special Rapporteur would like to put forward the following observations:] Departure from universal human right principles and standards, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and from evidence provided by the modern public health approach is a major obstacle for effective realization of the right to health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 121
- Paragraph text
- States have the primary responsibility to ensure a conducive environment for the full realization of the right to health, and related rights. But the role of other stakeholders is crucial in this respect.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 120
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, the past 12 years have implied the consolidation of the framework of the right to health, based on the key role of human rights in policymaking. The Special Rapporteur hopes to continue contributing to the full realization of the right to health and related rights by providing guidance on how to address current challenges and how to exploit existing opportunities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 119
- Paragraph text
- Over the past few decades, measurable improvements have been made in health indicators and the realization of the right to health worldwide. This has enabled important progress in development goals, and the introduction in many countries of health-related public policies with a human rights and modern public health approach.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 118
- Paragraph text
- The role of private companies, such as pharmaceutical ones, should also be highlighted. The work of previous mandate holders has been crucial to underline their duties with regard to right to health, in particular the Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines (A/63/263, annex). The Special Rapporteur will be addressing those issues with a view to ending unacceptable practices and entrenched misconceptions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 117
- Paragraph text
- The Edinburgh Declaration on medical education should be recalled and education and research reoriented to the basics of social medicine through training in community settings and fostering social sciences and qualitative methods, which are as relevant as biomedical sciences and quantitative research. That would help in restoring the balance with a holistic approach to promoting the health and well-being of individuals and societies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 116
- Paragraph text
- Strengthening the human rights dimension in health-care education curricula would be in the interests not only users of health services but also of medical doctors and other members of the health-care workforce. Medical education, as well as medical and health research, should help in providing tools to address imbalances when power asymmetries lead to too much focus on the tertiary level of health care, biomedical technologies and other components of the excessively exploited biomedical model.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 115
- Paragraph text
- Education in the health-care sector is one important element in that regard. The doctrine of the "five star doctor" needs to be reaffirmed in the light of translating modern values and scientific evidence into everyday medical practice. Modern medical doctors need to be not only good clinicians but also effective community leaders, communicators, decision makers and managers. That doctrine should be complemented by a strong human rights-based approach and evidence gained from the modern public health approach.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 114
- Paragraph text
- The role of medical doctors and other health-care professionals is also crucial. With the ongoing change of paradigm, from paternalistic top-down medicine to partnership between health-care providers and users, the medical profession should reconsider some of its traditional views. Health-care professionals need to strengthen effective self-regulatory practices and capacity-building activities within their professions so as to promote the best traditions of medicine and prevent ethical misconduct and human rights violations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 113
- Paragraph text
- It is crucial to strengthen the trust and cooperation between public institutions and those representing the State and civil society actors representing the general public, including the most disadvantaged groups of society. The importance thereof should not be underestimated. Civil society plays a key role as agent of change, advocates good practices, provides independent monitoring and, in many instances, provides necessary services. Trustful partnerships between government agencies, State-run health-care services and the non-profit sector, including civil society, constitute one of the cornerstones of effective health systems and act as a guarantee for the effective realization of health-related human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 112
- Paragraph text
- Civil society actors should be able to do their work for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to health, in safe and enabling environments and should not suffer from criminalization, stigmatization or harassment of any sort because of the work that they do (see the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, A/HRC/25/55). The Special Rapporteur believes that there is a clear and direct link between the environment in which civil society operates in a given country and the level of realization of basic rights and freedoms, not only of the public freedoms that are necessary to advocating for human rights, but also of the specific rights for which they advocate. If civil society actors are harassed or persecuted due to their work advocating for and promoting the right to health, that is a symptom of important gaps in the realization of the right itself.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 111
- Paragraph text
- The meaningful involvement of all actors and the empowerment of those who make use of services, especially the poor and other groups in vulnerable situations, is a crucial precondition for the full realization of the enjoyment by everyone of the right to health and other rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers the active and informed participation of all stakeholders to be one of the key elements of the analytical framework of the right to health. There is growing understanding and evidence that top-down relations between governments and local authorities and populations, including civil society, and paternalistic relations between health personnel and users of health-care services do not effectively contribute to the realization of the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 109
- Paragraph text
- The resilience and the protective factors in individuals, families communities and societies need to be promoted, and more investment in healthy human relationships, emotional and social well-being and social capital is required. The empowerment of all stakeholders - without exception - is an effective way of addressing major public health threats and violations of human rights, including the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 108
- Paragraph text
- The most powerful way of preventing the epidemics of violence and different forms of insecurity in the modern world is the provision of holistic support to all forms of family unit, including access to food, shelter, health care and education, but also the provision of basic parenting skills. The quality of relationships between individuals in society is an increasingly important element in the realization of the right to health and the prevention of the cycle of violence. The right to a healthy environment should include not only the physical environment, but also the emotional and psychosocial environment in all settings, family units, schools, workplace, communities and societies at large.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- Any form of violence, including collective violence, does not originate in a vacuum. Violence has roots in unhealthy relationships amongst individuals, and is reinforced by the failure to promote and protect good-quality human relations, starting with relationships between an infant and the primary caregiver. The cycle of violence is reinforced when children grow up - whether in families or in institutions - without having their basic needs satisfied, which include not only the need to survive, but the need to feel secure and thus to enjoy the right to healthy development.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- From the public health perspective, the cumulative effect of a large number of "mild cases" generates a heavier burden for the health of population than a smaller number of "severe cases". The practice of tolerating and justifying milder forms of violence can pave the way to severe violations of human rights, which can amount to grave violations and even atrocities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 105
- Paragraph text
- The human rights approach, together with the modern understanding of public health, warns against typifying violence into severe forms and those forms which are considered to be "milder" and thus perceived as not harmful. That can lead to the proliferation of practices which are justified as being "mild" forms of violence and thus tolerated or even recommended, such as domestic violence against women, female genital mutilation or the institutional care of young children.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- All forms of violence are harmful and detrimental to the health and development of human beings, starting from the youngest children. Early childhood adversities, including all forms of violence against children, such as physical and emotional abuse and chronic neglect, if they are not timely addressed by healthy public policies, can result in chronic diseases in the adult affecting both physical and mental health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 103
- Paragraph text
- Evidence has shown that, when violence is addressed proactively as a public health issue, there are more opportunities to break the cycle of violence, poverty and helplessness and, in the longer run, to significantly reduce the prevalence of all forms of violence, including collective violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- It was not until the end of the twentieth century that the close link between violence and health began to be sufficiently understood. Interestingly, as health and human rights came closer, a similar tendency could be observed by the turn of century when violence was finally seen as a public health concern. In 1996, the World Health Assembly declared violence as "a leading worldwide public health problem". Since then, the burden of violence has been documented and the effectiveness of programmes, with particular attention devoted to women and children and community-based initiatives, has been assessed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- Protection from all forms of violence is considered by the Special Rapporteur as a cross-cutting issue present in all key elements of the realization of the right to health. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has recently underlined, violence and human rights violations are often rooted in the deprivation and discrimination of individuals and communities. Such violations are not generated spontaneously but "result from policy choices which limit freedoms and participation, and create obstacles to the fair sharing of resources and opportunities". Violence needs to be addressed in a comprehensive and proactive way, not only as a cause of serious violations of human rights, but also as a consequence of a lack of political will to effectively invest in human rights, including the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- The issue of shared responsibility is as a crucial one. Representatives of professional health-care groups, including psychiatry, should agree that it is in the interest of all to de-monopolize the decision-making process and to develop mechanisms for sharing competences and responsibilities between actors, including providers and users of services, policymakers and civil society.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- A large number of persons with psychosocial disabilities are deprived of their liberty in closed institutions and are deprived of legal capacity on the grounds of their medical diagnosis. This is an illustration of the misuse of the science and practice of medicine, and it highlights the need to re-evaluate the role of the current biomedical model as dominating the mental-health scene. Alternative models, with a strong focus on human rights, experiences and relationships and which take social contexts into account, should be considered to advance current research and practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that a serious multi-stakeholder dialogue about the future models and practices of psychiatry is needed to address the situation in many countries where exceptions, allowing the restriction of the human rights of service users, sadly turn into rules, and persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities suffer from systemic or ad hoc violations of their rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- The history of psychiatry demonstrates that the good intentions of service providers can turn into violations of the human rights of service users. The traditional arguments that restrict the human rights of persons diagnosed with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, which are based on the medical necessity to provide those persons with necessary treatment and/or to protect his/her or public safety, are now seriously being questioned as they are not in conformity with the Convention.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- The Convention is challenging traditional practices of psychiatry, both at the scientific and clinical-practice levels. In that regard, there is a serious need to discuss issues related to human rights in psychiatry and to develop mechanisms for the effective protection of the rights of persons with mental disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- All persons with disabilities have a right to health, including to quality health-care services. In that regard, persons with disabilities should not be discriminated against and should enjoy that right in their communities as persons without disabilities do. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that all too often children and adults with different forms of disabilities are deprived of the full realization to the right to health. He will address that serious issue, with a particular focus on the rights of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- The human rights standards set forth by the Convention present a good opportunity to rethink the historical legacy of previous models and to move away from those health-care practices which are against human rights and the modern public health approach. There is a unique and historic opportunity to end the legacy of the overuse and misuse of the biomedical model.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- One of priorities of the Special Rapporteur will be to look into the role of the health sector and health professionals in the implementation of ambitious goals raised by the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He hopes to address that role in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, and other mandate holders and United Nations mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The life-cycle approach will be also be used in addressing the right of adolescents and youth to health; the role of family and parenting; mental-health issues and ways to prevent violence as a public health problem; and important issues around healthy ageing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The right to holistic development is another equally important element of the right to health of children. Children need to be protected through the promotion and protection of their economic, social and cultural rights. Furthermore, from the moment of birth, children should also be considered as citizens entitled to all rights, including civil rights and freedoms. Their right to health should be promoted not only through the prevention of child mortality and morbidity but also through the protection of children's right to holistic development.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- The launch of the technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce and eliminate preventable mortality and morbidity of children under 5 years of age (A/HRC/27/31) in 2014 is a serious attempt to put an end to the unacceptable epidemics of preventable deaths of infants. The human rights-based approach is critically important in that regard since child mortality is intimately linked with human rights of women and the widespread discrimination against vulnerable groups of population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Infants
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- The right to survival relates to the prevention of infant and under-5 mortality. Despite many achievements in the field of medicine, 6 million children under 5 die every year in the world. Those children do not die of unknown or incurable diseases or illnesses; they die because of the conditions in which they and their parents live and poor governance and accountability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Infants
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- In line with the life-cycle approach, the Special Rapporteur will dedicate his next thematic report to the challenges to, opportunities for and best practices in promoting the right to health in early childhood. He will analyse two interdependent and indivisible rights directly related to the right to health: the right to survival and the right to development during first five years of life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is planning to address right-to-health challenges using, among other methods, a life-cycle approach. Such an approach helps identify critical elements of challenges and opportunities for full realization of the right to health. It is during some important stages of the life course that the right to health needs to be particularly protected, since during those stages there is a greater risk of violations of human rights, including the right to health. On the other hand, interventions during those critical stages of life open up new opportunities and offer new health protective factors. The life-cycle approach can help in the prevention of chronic diseases in adult life through the effective protection of children from early childhood adversities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- There is overwhelming evidence that many children die too young from preventable causes and/or suffer high levels of violence and insecurity. Consequently, the health status, quality of life and well-being of many individuals, groups and entire societies worldwide remain unacceptably low. The Special Rapporteur believes that the life-cycle approach can be used as one method to identify the critical elements of the challenges and opportunities for the reduction of preventable deaths and the improvement of health indicators, well-being and quality of life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- This, once again, reflects power asymmetries between interest groups behind different forms of services and interventions, and a lack of transparency, monitoring and accountability in mental health-care systems. WHO recommendations are very clear about the five obligatory components of community-based care for persons with severe psychosocial disabilities, which comprise access to psychotropic medications, psychotherapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation and employment and supported housing. However, in many countries, a number of those components are not being implemented.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- In some regions, resources allocated to mental health care are used ineffectively and predominantly for maintaining large segregated psychiatric long-term care institutions and separate psychiatric hospitals. In such institutions, psychotropic medications are too often overprescribed, including as a measure of chemical restraint or even as a punishment. That is an example of an imbalance: when resources are used for biomedical interventions and institutionalization and not for the development of psychosocial interventions through community-based services meeting more closely the individual needs of people. Such imbalances feed ineffective systems, reinforce stigma and social exclusion and lead to systemic violations of human rights, sometimes amounting to torture or ill-treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Mental health deserves much more attention and must be effectively mainstreamed within the Sustainable Development Goals through the goals and benchmarks related to health and sustainable development. The high number of suicides and suicide attempts are an indicator that the mental health of individuals and population needs to be addressed very seriously. Concerted and effective measures need to be applied to substantively address this challenge and reduce the numbers of suicides, which have in many countries reached epidemic rates. The Special Rapporteur will further analyse the relevance of human rights in addressing suicide and other mental health issues as a public health challenge.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- One of the significant obstacles to the implementation of modern public mental-health principles is a lack of political will, including on global health agenda, to recognize the centrality of mental health in the full realization of the right to health and to implement the principle of parity between physical and mental health. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, despite clear evidence of the increasingly heavy burden of mental ill-health, many important stakeholders continue to marginalize this field of health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- However, after more than a decade since the publication of the landmark World Health Report 2001, mental health remains hostage to outdated attitudes and inadequate services. Studies show that, in many instances, there is either no access to mental health services at all, or those services are stigmatizing and violate human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The end of twentieth century brought two main messages to the international community. The first message was about the centrality of mental health in the modern health policies, based on the high burden of mental-health problems and mental disorders. The second message was that, contrary to the previous understanding, effective measures are possible if outdated traditions are abandoned and the modern public health approach is applied. In the twenty-first century there is no place for psychiatric institutions based on stigma and segregation, and there is a need, in words of G.H. Brundtland "to ensure that ours will be the last generation that allows shame and stigma to rule over science and reason".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- It is estimated that the burden of mental-health problems and mental disabilities constitutes 14 per cent of general burden of disease. However, compared with physical health, mental health is given inadequately low priority and insufficient human and financial resources.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- By investing in the good mental health of children and youth, a substantial contribution is made not only to the sustainable development of our economies, for which good emotional and cognitive abilities are needed, but also the root causes of intolerance and social exclusion are addressed and healthy and cohesive societies promoted.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- The modern understanding of mental health includes good emotional and social well-being, healthy non-violent relations between individuals and groups, with mutual trust of, tolerance of and respect for the dignity of every person. In that regard, promoting good mental health should be a cross-cutting priority relevant to the sustainable development agenda, as it is of concern to many of its elements, including the protection of dignity and people in order to ensure healthy lives and strong inclusive economies; promote safe and peaceful societies and strong institutions; and catalyse global solidarity for sustainable development (see A/69/700).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur would like to highlight two key messages of the modern public mental-health approach. Firstly, there is no health without mental health. Secondly, good mental health means much more than absence of a mental impairment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- The modern public mental health approach, which emerged in the global scene in the end of twentieth century with a critical mass of new evidence on the importance of mental health and the effectiveness of integrated approaches, still faces enormous challenges. It is regrettable that, in many countries and regions of the world, modern mental health care is still not available. Moreover, in countries which can afford to give resources to mental-health services, those resources are often used to support segregated psychiatric institutions where stigmatizing and human rights-unfriendly services are provided.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The historical divide, both in policies and practices, between mental and physical health has unfortunately resulted in political, professional and geographical isolation, marginalization and stigmatization of mental health care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- All international and national actors should be mobilized to reaffirm and revitalize the decisions of the historic International Conference on Primary Health Care and International Conference on Health Promotion. The full enjoyment of the right to health can only be operationalized through human rights-friendly and culturally relevant health promotion policies that empower people to increase control over their lives and improve their health and well-being.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The sustainable implementation of a modern public health approach is not only in line with human rights, but is also a powerful way to develop and strengthen social justice and social cohesion. In that regard, the importance of universal health coverage cannot be overestimated. Since the International Conference on Primary Health Care, there have been many achievements, but also failures. Universal coverage is a central component of healthy public policies and its global achievement should be seen as one of the main goals for the post-2015 agenda. However, the Special Rapporteur thinks that a broader holistic approach is needed so that none, in particular those in vulnerable situations and in most need of health care, are not excluded neither de jure nor de facto from access to quality services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- If that does not happen, power asymmetries and imbalances may lead to scenarios where (a) preference in allocating budgets is given to expensive biomedical technologies which are not necessarily used in an ethical and cost-effective way; (b) there are increased incentives for corruptive practices when expensive specialized health-care interventions in public sector do not serve those in most need; (c) the filters (tiers) in health-care systems do not properly function, and mild cases flow into specialized care, placing the entire health-care system at risk of poor management of the principles of medical ethics and health economics. That has negative impact on the full realization of right to health and generates negative public health outcomes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that primary care and the modern public health approach often lose the battle for resources to the biomedical model and vertical programmes of treatment of diseases through specialized health care. When resources are allocated to specialized health care, that may reinforce power asymmetries and funding imbalances, which often favour powerful groups representing vested interests in the health sector and industry. States, when meeting their obligation to protect, respect and fulfil the enjoyment of the right to health, should be aware of, and be willing and able to address, such power asymmetries. They should also provide mechanisms for independent monitoring, as such mechanisms are essential tools in ensuring accountability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Without a well-established infrastructure of primary health care, all achievements of modern science and the practice of medicine might be compromised and could be misused. When health policy chooses to prioritize specialized services, the latter tend to function without the necessary ethical and human rights safeguards, leading to barriers in access to services for people and groups who have more health needs or to the ineffective use of those services, or to both.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- Primary care is to be strengthened in the twenty-first century as the crucial cornerstone of modern medicine and public health. The Alma-Ata Declaration and Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion should be reaffirmed and the root causes of the relative failure to achieve commitments to "health for all by 2000" should be sought.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- In the context of the post-2015 agenda, the right to health framework can be a useful and powerful analytical and operational tool for the transition to the Sustainable Development Goals. And the Sustainable Development Goals can be instrumental for the effective and holistic realization of the right to health, if human rights are effectively incorporated in their conceptualization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- However, current rates of preventable deaths among newborns, children under 5 and adults are still unacceptably high. Universal health-care coverage is still a dream for many. The realization of the right to health is impeded by many factors, and most of them are related to inequalities, and selective approaches to human rights principles and existing scientific evidence. This can and must be addressed with the strong commitment by States and concerted efforts by all stakeholders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Infants
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Since the end of nineteenth century, science and the practice of medicine and public health have created enormous opportunities for preventing premature mortality and improving the health and well-being of individuals and societies. Many scientific discoveries have been successfully put into practice, resulting in an overall increase of life expectancy, a reduction in maternal and child mortality, a successful combat against many infectious diseases and a general improvement of the quality of life of the world's population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals is a unique opportunity to rethink achievements and assess the remaining challenges affecting the right to health and well-being of individuals and societies. In the decade between 2000 and 2010, an estimated 3.3 million deaths from malaria were averted and 22 million lives were saved in the fight against tuberculosis. Access to retroviral therapy for HIV-infected people has saved 6.6 million lives since 1995. At the same time, access to child and maternal health care has improved steadily.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- With all this in mind, the Special Rapporteur is considering the analysis of the following themes as some of his priorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- This does not mean that role of health sector should be restricted to specialized health care. On the contrary, the scenario of ministries of health preoccupied mainly with meeting the need of specialized health-care services is an outdated one. The role of the health sector is becoming increasingly important in areas such as health promotion, prevention of health problems and protection of human rights, especially within health-care services, with particular attention given to the situation of marginalized groups. In the promotion of a "health in all policies" approach, the health sector should take the lead and share responsibility for societal health with other sectors.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the role of the health sector and that of other sectors in improving the health of individuals and populations must also be balanced. A modern understanding of the effective realization of right to health requires a "health in all policies" approach. To fully achieve goals, such as to reduce infant or under-5 mortality, improve mental health, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases or promote the health of older persons, all sectors and all branches responsible for public policies need to be involved.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- All key elements of health-care systems must be balanced. That includes the relationships between the curative and preventive aspects of health care, so that power asymmetries do not weaken primary care and preventive medicine. The modern public-health approach should be strengthened and a right balance between all elements of the health-care system should be ensured so that the implementation of health policies is not dominated by vertical "disease-based" programmes and specialized health-care services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- There is no hierarchy among human rights, and any attempt to restrict or undermine, intentionally or unintentionally, any of the basic human rights can have a harmful impact on individual and societal health and well-being. That is why the best way of "vaccinating" health-care systems and policy decisions against a departure from agreed principles and standards is to systematically apply a human rights approach in full accordance with universal principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human rights conventions and treaties.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Another example of an unbalanced approach to human rights is when the full realization of the right to health is hindered by undue restrictions in the enjoyment of civil and political rights. That approach can lead to a failure in the implementation of the principles of participation and empowerment and it undermines the crucial role that civil society can play in promoting societal health and well-being.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- The Ebola crisis has provided meaningful lessons with regard to many elements of the right to health. It has questioned our preparedness for emergencies at national, regional and global levels. It has raised important issues, such as access to information, trust in public authorities and safety of medical personnel, and it has reminded us of the importance of upholding the human rights of the affected populations in the context of public safety concerns. The Ebola crisis has once again raised issue of the responsibility and social accountability of key actors, including pharmaceutical companies, and the need for strong public leadership in addressing global health challenges.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- A recent example of the detrimental effect of inequalities has been the Ebola epidemic in countries of Western Africa with weak health-care systems which were not able to adequately respond. One of the lessons learned from that and other epidemics is the importance of social medicine which, since the nineteenth century has highlighted that many diseases and epidemics are social diseases in their origin; therefore, primary prevention should properly address the social determinants of health and the context in which epidemics emerge.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- In this regard, the Special Rapporteur will continue highlighting the need to reduce poverty and inequalities, including those within and between regions and countries. He will do so by analysing the root causes of the gap between opportunities and reality, between evidence, policies and practices and between obligations of duty bearers and effective implementation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The right to health approach, as a part of human rights-based approach, has emerged during recent decades as a powerful tool to reinforce the global goal of improving the health and well-being of populations. However, it can also be used to monitor and prevent those underlying health conditions and tendencies within health-care systems which may lead to violations of human rights and to a negative impact on the health of individuals and societies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Many examples have been presented by the health and human rights movement of economic, social and cultural rights being neglected since they were perceived as not requiring immediate action based on erroneous interpretations of the fact that they were subject to progressive realization. That tendency to undermine importance of economic, social and cultural rights has led, and continues to lead, to a detrimental combination of poverty, inequalities and disempowerment of large groups of population, who will consequently suffer from poor health status and barriers to accessing health-care services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Lessons should be learned from past and present experiences, which demonstrate that any hierarchy among human rights, a prioritizing of one right or one group of rights over another, leads to detrimental outcomes and systemic violations of human rights. Selective approaches deprive certain groups of basic rights and undermine the meaningful participation and empowerment of all stakeholders. Such participation and empowerment are crucial preconditions for positive public policy outcomes, which are based on the particular attention given to those in vulnerable situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned about instances of unbalanced policies and practices which seriously undermine the full enjoyment of the right to health. Those imbalances can lead to an artificial hierarchy and a selective approach to human rights prioritizing one group of rights over another, or can set different human rights standards for different groups of the population. Some imbalances and power asymmetries are present within the different elements of health systems; for example, primary care often fails to compete for budget allocations with specialized medicine. These imbalances have also historically led to disparities in investing in physical and mental health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The imbalances in health-related policies and practices are often a result of power struggles and an outcome and sign of a lack of transparency, accountability and political will to follow established principles and standards. Such imbalances emerge often as a consequence of a departure from a holistic approach to human rights. This is reinforced by power asymmetries between stakeholders and interest groups within and outside of health sector. These selective policies and practices tend to lead to ineffective health policies and ineffective, even harmful, health-care practices and to violations of human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- The implementation of evidence-based medicine and public health science is often hindered by the departure from such evidence, resulting in unbalanced and selective policies and practices that hamper the full realization of human rights, including the right to health. One way to analyse the challenges to and opportunities for the effective realization of right to health is to focus on the need to balance the important elements of the right and to prevent tendencies and incentives which lead to power asymmetries and unfair policies and practices.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The "policy approach", if implemented effectively, creates valuable opportunities for social innovations through the empowerment of citizens, families, communities and societies at large. By using modern concepts of health promotion and public health, this approach can also facilitate the meaningful participation of all stakeholders and reinforce the protective factors and resilience of individuals and communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- The cooperation between sectors can also be beneficial to facilitate access to preschool education, especially for children of families at risk, and enable community readiness to accept and integrate children and adults with disabilities into all of the everyday life of the community. This approach can also offer opportunities for adolescents and youth at risk to find alternatives to youth violence by engaging them in community programmes that support recreation centres for older persons, thus contributing to the reinforcement of intergenerational links and improving the quality of human relationships in general.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- There are good health practices worldwide that emerge when culturally and socially appropriate programmes are used, involving and empowering individuals, families and communities. These practices challenge traditional barriers between health, education, social welfare and other sectors. For example, effective programmes can be developed to enable community support for preventing violence, particularly violence against women and domestic violence. Community-based initiatives and neighbourhood prevention activities can also be designed to provide education for first-time parents, focusing on child-parent relationships. Support to family planning activities can be put in place to prevent early or unwanted pregnancies through the provision of comprehensive sexuality education and information, and by providing access to a varied range of contraception methods.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- This departure from universal human rights principles and this selective approach, ignoring or not adequately addressing one or more rights of a group of the population, reinforces cycles of poverty, inequalities, social exclusion, discrimination and violence, and in the longer run has a negative impact on the health and development of society in general.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is concerned that this tendency to take a selective approach to human rights has its most detrimental effects on those groups of population which face de jure or de facto discrimination. These groups suffer from social exclusion, stigmatization and humiliation, which has a negative impact to their health status. They are often deprived of access to health support and the care services they need, and of meaningful participation in processes that affect them. These are the groups in most need of quality and human rights-friendly health-care services precisely because of their situation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- For example, such a retrogressive tendency has been observed in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and with regard to discrimination against groups in vulnerable situations, including children, documented and undocumented migrants, persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. In his reports and through his other activities, the Special Rapporteur will highlight the need and importance of applying the principle of the interdependence and indivisibility of human rights, and will underline how essential this is for the full realization of the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- LGBTQI+
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Despite the work of many who have convincingly highlighted the need and benefits to adhere to universal human rights principles, there continues to be a tendency to apply and justify a narrow and selective approach to human rights, including to the right to health. That tendency has been accentuated during the last decade and questions the very essence of universal human rights principles and standards.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- All too often, the failure to put basic principles into practice is not linked to financial obstacles, but is mostly owing to prevailing attitudes among stakeholders that are not in line with human rights and public health principles. The Special Rapporteur will focus on the "implementation gap" but he will continue to underline, interpret and link the fundamental universal human rights principles and standards with the everyday practice of effective investment in individual and societal health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- One the objectives of the Special Rapporteur will be to examine the "implementation gap". The human rights-based approach can be very effective in implementing health policies and practices. However, while the fundamental principles and the main processes and mechanisms of the right to health are well identified, there still remains a significant gap between the formulation of health policies and their effective implementation in everyday practice. While the formulation of health policies may be satisfactory from the perspective of the right to health, their effective implementation remains a significant challenge.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Departure from universal human rights principles and standards, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration, and from evidence provided by the modern public health approach is a major obstacle for effective realization of the right to health. The Special Rapporteur will use the right to health framework to identify good practices in the operationalization of modern principles of health promotion. He will underline the possible synergies between the human rights and the modern public health approaches for the realization of the right to health worldwide.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The approach that the Special Rapporteur will prioritize is what he calls the "policy approach", which focuses on health and health-related policies, including the analysis of processes and outcomes of policies as they are formulated and implemented. It will consider whether or not these policies are based on human rights principles and modern public health approaches, including solid scientific evidence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- There are different and equally relevant ways to apply a human rights-based approach for improving the health of individuals and populations, and to promote the right to health in everyday practices. One such approach is looking at normative frameworks, including at the role of legislation and litigation through courts, which inter alia underlines the importance of the justiciability of the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- In the current context of the shaping of the Sustainable Development Goals, the realization of the right to health is extremely relevant, both as precondition for, and as an outcome of, a successful process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and their main elements.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur will continue applying a gender perspective in his work, with a special focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights as an integral part of the right to health. He will apply a life-cycle approach to his work, paying special attention to the needs of the children and adolescents in the realization of the right to health, and the needs of other groups in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities. He will continue paying attention to the issue of access to medicines, including access to essential and controlled medicines, and its human rights dimensions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Building on the work of his predecessors, the Special Rapporteur will advocate for the application of the right to health framework to strengthen health systems, emphasizing the need to place the well-being of individuals and communities at the centre of health policies. He will look at processes within health systems - at how things are done and the actors involved - with particular attention devoted to access to information, participation and accountability mechanisms in place (see A/HRC/7/11, paras. 38-64).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- The right of everyone to physical and mental health can only be realized through concerted and sustained efforts, and shared responsibility by all stakeholders at national, regional and universal levels. It requires an unequivocal commitment to the realization of universal human rights principles as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and human rights law and standards.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- In the words of Jonathan Mann "the human rights framework provides a more useful approach for analysing and responding to modern public health challenges than any framework thus far available with the biomedical tradition". The Special Rapporteur will address the most important issues related to the discharge of his mandate with that in mind.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur concurs with his predecessors that a comprehensive right-to-health approach is necessary, which includes decriminalization of sexual orientation and gender identities, certain behaviours and health status, as well as the establishment of conducive legal and administrative frameworks with emphasis on human rights education, meaningful participation and empowerment of the groups targeted, and serious efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination in society as a whole.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Other thematic reports have explored the enjoyment of the right to health and the underlying determinants, including water and sanitation, occupational health, the right to health in conflict, unhealthy foods, and the right to health of migrants, older persons and persons with psychosocial disabilities (including the key issue of informed consent).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- During the past 12 years, the work of the mandate has also paid special attention to two other key elements of the analytical right-to-health framework: monitoring and accountability. Without monitoring and accountability, all human rights norms and obligations are likely to become empty promises. Accountability in respect of the right to health and a health system is often quite weak (see A/63/263). Judicial accountability has been highlighted by the work of the mandate (see A/69/299) but other forms of accountability, such as health impact assessments, have also been addressed, including during country visits (Romania, Sweden and Uganda).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The important issue of access to medicines has also been part of the work of the mandate. Medical care in the event of sickness and the prevention, treatment and control of diseases depend to a great extent on timely access to quality medicines. Despite progress made, an estimated 2 billion people still lack access to essential medicines. There remains an intrinsic link between poverty and the realization of the right to health, where developing nations have the greatest need and the least access to medicines. Previous mandate holders, including Anand Grover, have given details of the different dimensions of the issues, such as: the role and responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies; the impact of intellectual property laws and free-trade agreements; and the implications and elements of a right-to-health approach to access to medicines (see A/63/263, A/HRC/17/43 and A/HRC/23/42).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- On the issue of drug policy, the work of the Special Rapporteur's predecessors has shown that the current international system's punitive regime, which focuses on creating a drug-free world, has failed mostly owing to ignorance of the realities surrounding drug use and dependence (see A/65/255). There is a need for a shift in the current drug control regime away from substance-oriented policies and an increased focus on human rights. Evidence has shown that the criminalization of certain behaviours leads to a reluctance to seek help, including health-related services, and this should be a concern to the authorities. Pursuing overly punitive approaches has resulted in more health-related harms than those the authorities seek to prevent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Previous mandate holders have also looked into the negative impact of the criminalization of consensual same-sex conduct, of sexual orientation and gender identity, of sex work and of HIV transmission (see A/HRC/14/20). Such work has shown that punitive policies and criminalization are not effective and act as a barrier to access health services, fuel social stigma and exclusion and lead to poor health outcomes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, the work of the mandate has focused on the serious detrimental impact that the criminalization of identities, behaviours and health status can have on the full enjoyment of the right to health. Criminalization and restrictive laws are ineffective as public health interventions and fuel underreporting of health indicators. For instance, the work done has shown that legal restrictions on access to abortion services, comprehensive sexual and reproductive education and information, and contraception and family planning methods can have a serious detrimental impact on the enjoyment of the right to health. Evidence shows that this includes a negative impact not only on access to goods, services and information, but also on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and entitlements, and on the dignity and autonomy of individuals, in particular women (see A/66/254).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Previous work on the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including on maternal mortality, has shown that human rights when applied to public health policies can save lives by ensuring that health policies are equitable, inclusive, non-discriminatory, participatory and evidence-based (A/61/338, para. 29). Most of pregnancy-related deaths and many of the causes of under-5 mortality are avoidable. Those most at risk are groups living in poverty, groups in rural areas and women from ethnic and religious minorities or indigenous communities. Women and children must be placed at the centre of an integrated approach to sexual and reproductive health and their rights must be fully recognized.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- The work of previous mandate holders has underlined the need to respect, protect and fulfil the enjoyment of right to health and other related rights of those groups who appear to be in vulnerable situations and face discrimination in general, including in accessing health-care services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The work of the Special Rapporteur's predecessors has highlighted that one of most important obligations of immediate effect related to right to health is the duty to avoid discrimination. This means that, even in the presence of resource constraints, that obligation should not be subject to progressive realization. Discrimination and stigma are considered as social determinants in the enjoyment of the right to health, as social inequalities and exclusion shape health outcomes and contribute to increasing the burden of disease borne by marginalized groups. In addition, some health conditions, such as mental health or HIV/AIDS, may involve exposure to compounded forms of discrimination and reinforce existing inequalities (E/CN.4/2003/58, para. 59).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The work of the mandate has also addressed the challenges for States in realizing their obligations to ensure that adequate funds are available for health in national budgets, to safeguard an equitable allocation of health resources and to enhance international cooperation to promote sustainable international funding for health (see A/67/302).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Previous mandate holders have given details of the challenges and opportunities that arise from the right to available, accessible, acceptable and good-quality health-care services. In that regard, health-care systems are at the heart of the right to health and act as a fundamental building block of sustainable development, poverty reduction and economic prosperity (A/HRC/7/11, para. 12). The principles embodied in the Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (1978) and the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) remain relevant today.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The work of the mandate has addressed the challenges and opportunities related to progressive realization of the right to health and those obligations that have immediate effect. With regard to resource constraints and progressive realization, international human rights law recognizes that the realization of the right to health is subject to progressive realization based on resource availability. That is why a higher standard is required of a developed State today than is required of a developing State. However, all States are obliged to realize progressively the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In order to measure progress, indicators and benchmarks need to be identified, and the work of the first mandate holder in that regard continues to be very useful (see A/58/427 and E/CN.4/2006/58).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Throughout his tenure, the former Special Rapporteur Paul Hunt distinguished between judicially oriented and policy-oriented processes. Although the two approaches are closely related and mutually reinforcing, the former aims to promote and protect the right to health via the drawing up of rules and principles derived from case law, building up general guidance from the lessons learned via the resolution of particular disputes. Judicial and quasi-judicial forms of accountability exemplify this approach. The former Rapporteur also emphasized that the policy approach is not a soft option, on the contrary, it places a legal obligation on policymakers to ensure that a health system includes comprehensive health plans encompassing the public and private sectors, outreach programmes for the disadvantaged and numerous other features demanded by the right to health. The policy approach is not without accountability: it requires that policymakers are subject to judicial and non-judicial forms of review.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The first mandate holder identified three primary objectives for the mandate: to promote - and encourage others to promote - the right to health as a fundamental human right; to clarify the contours and content of the right to health; and to identify good practices for the operationalization of the right to health at the community, national and international levels (see E/CN.4/2003/58, para. 9). The then Special Rapporteur explored those three objectives by way of two interrelated themes: the right to health in relation to poverty, focusing on health-related Millennium Development Goals; and the right to health and the determinants of discrimination and stigma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The analytical framework that was developed consists of several key elements and has a general and inclusive application to all aspects of the right to health, including the underlying and social determinants of health and timely and appropriate medical care. The framework is intended to address the crucial question of what human rights in general, and what the right to health in particular, bring to policymaking process (see E/CN.4/2003/58, para. 9). That question remains valid today and will continue guiding the work of the Special Rapporteur.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- During the first years of the existence of the mandate, the first Special Rapporteur, in collaboration with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the World Health Organization (WHO), civil society and the academic sector, developed a framework for analysing the right to health with a view to making it easier to understand and apply to health-related policies, programmes and projects in practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The new Special Rapporteur was appointed in August 2014 and feels privileged to have been given the opportunity to assess the realization of the right to health in the coming years. He will make use of his voice and of all tools available to discharge his mandate and contribute to the full enjoyment of the right to health by all. In his first report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur focuses on the work of the mandate, including challenges and opportunities, and on how he sees the way forward in the discharge of his functions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health was originally established by the Commission on Human Rights in April 2002 in resolution 2002/31, and renewed in 2005 in resolution 2005/24. Subsequent to the replacement of the Commission with the Human Rights Council in June 2006, the mandate was endorsed and extended by the Council through resolutions 6/29, 15/22 and 24/6.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/HRC/29/33
Document
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 88d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages civil society to:] Help to develop national and regional defender networks and to strengthen existing networks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 88c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages civil society to:] Continue to send information to the Special Rapporteur on a regular basis, including on any draft legislation that may jeopardize the safety and the work of defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 88b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages civil society to:] Participate actively in promoting gender equality and combating all forms of discrimination against women human rights defenders, including in their own organizations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 88a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages civil society to:] Develop innovative measures to familiarize the general public with the work of defenders, including as part of the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 87d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that national human rights institutions:] Include coverage of the situation of defenders in the information submitted within the framework of the universal periodic review.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 87c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that national human rights institutions:] Participate in following up on the Special Rapporteur's recommendations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 87b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that national human rights institutions:] Take effective measures to protect human rights defenders when they are in danger;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 87a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that national human rights institutions:] Designate focal points within the institutions to monitor the situation of defenders in their country and hold regular meetings with those focal points;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 86d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages the United Nations to:] Disseminate the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the Special Rapporteur's reports through the various institutions and the regional and country offices, and develop training and information initiatives for State officials in order to raise their awareness of the role of defenders in the promotion and protection of human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 86c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages the United Nations to:] Develop a database to monitor the implementation of resolutions and laws that have an impact on the situation of defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 86b
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- [The Special Rapporteur encourages the United Nations to:] Continue to document and alert the international community to the numerous reprisals against defenders who cooperate with the United Nations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 86a
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- [The Special Rapporteur encourages the United Nations to:] Further promote the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders by ensuring that it is accessible to the greatest number of people;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85g
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Remove the obstacles that some domestic laws place on the legitimate activities of defenders engaged in promoting and protecting human rights, including by ensuring respect for the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85f
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Respond to requests for information sent by his office, particularly in respect of cases of defenders at risk, by providing any information necessary for an optimal evaluation of situations of concern;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85e
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Invite him to conduct official country visits, without limiting the duration or scope of such visits, inter alia, for the purpose of meeting with defenders who live in remote areas and cannot travel;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85d
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Develop holistic measures for protecting defenders based on the seven principles set out in his report to the Human Rights Council in March 2016 (A/HRC/31/55);
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85c
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Publicly recognize and support the work of defenders through publicity campaigns and specific communication and information initiatives;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Implement resolutions on the protection of defenders and monitor their continued implementation;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 85a
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- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Implement the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 84
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- Rather than constituting a static programme of action, the proposals contained in this report should be understood as key areas of focus. The Special Rapporteur wishes to retain some flexibility in responding to requests that might arise during his second mandate. It is important to pay particular attention to new trends and alerts from civil society and the various actors involved in protecting defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 83
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- When the Special Rapporteur took up his functions in 2014, he knew that the expectations regarding his mandate were at least as great as the threats to the individuals who defend human rights and freedoms. He sought to open new doors and to push the limits of the mandate. Having benefited from a vast number of meetings and activities conducted over the past three years, he would like to continue and intensify these initiatives and give them time to bear fruit. The activities covered in this report therefore represent a work in progress. The Special Rapporteur is particularly keen to strengthen initiatives to improve the implementation of recommendations and resolutions on the protection of defenders. To that end, he would like to develop tools to measure their implementation and to focus on strengthening the capacities of national actors to act on recommendations and resolutions and make them a reality on the ground.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 82
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- While there is no denying the current plight of defenders, the Special Rapporteur is conscious of the many initiatives carried out by committed individuals and institutions determined to improve the situation of defenders. He is convinced, now more than ever, of the need to develop synergies between the complementary roles of all stakeholders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 81
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- Today, recognizing the tragic and seemingly hopeless situations facing so many defenders is no longer the issue. Indeed, time and again, their plight has been reported, condemned and communicated by many. This dire situation does not allow us the luxury of sitting back and waiting. Let there be no doubt. It is our moral responsibility to embody the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it is urgent to take action. At the core of the Special Rapporteur's mandate is the duty to ensure that every effort is made so that people no longer have to die anywhere in the world for having defended human dignity and human rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 80
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- In just 20 years, the world that witnessed the signing of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders has undergone significant changes. Nevertheless, the hopes raised by that Declaration remain alive. The same is true of the legitimate aspirations of millions of people: to live in a society that is freer, more just, more egalitarian, and where every person is able to enjoy their human rights. Those who are fighting for this to become a reality should be recognized as the heroes of our time. All too often, defenders have sacrificed their lives and their families' safety so that we may have access to decent housing, good-quality education, or simply be able to vote or to express ourselves without fear. These brave women and men continue to be vilified, threatened and attacked throughout the world. Every day, every week, there are insidious attempts to destroy years of hard work aimed at better protecting defenders. When human rights defenders are attacked, it is ultimately democracy that comes under threat.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Women
- Year
- 2017
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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 79
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- The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, together with the Head of the New York Office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been appointed by the Secretary-General to lead the efforts of the United Nations to put a stop to reprisals against those who cooperate with the Organization on human rights issues. He hopes that this new initiative will enhance responsiveness and result in measures that have a direct impact on specific cases, and not limit themselves simply to recording the facts. According to Mukunda Kattel, Director of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-Asia): The mandate holder has helped to connect defenders in the field with international defender protection mechanisms. This link has proven essential for giving courage and energy to those who promote and protect human rights, sometimes in difficult or even adverse conditions. It has also put some pressure on States to respect their human rights obligations. Together, these various measures have made it possible to respond in part to the problem of reprisals and impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
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