As part of the review of the Special Procedures system, the United Nations Human Rights Council has established a new appointment process for Special Procedures mandate-holders.
The new appointment process, spelled out in Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 (A/HRC/5/21), has several stages. The basis of the appointment process is a roster of eligible candidates, based on technical and objective requirements, to be prepared, administered and regularly updated by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The establishment of the Special Procedures roster has the potential to expand the pool of persons identified as qualified to hold Special Procedures' mandates, to improve the involvement of NGOs and other actors in the nomination process at the national level and to make the process of nominations and appointments more transparent.
The appointment of independent, impartial, competent and expert men and women from all regions of the world to the Special Procedures mandates is key to a well-functioning system of Special Procedures and to the ability of the Human Rights Council to protect and promote human rights.
The importance of highly-qualified candidates has been recognised by Human Rights Council in its resolution 5/1 which states that the appointment process should ensure that "eligible candidates are highly qualified individuals who possess established competence, relevant expertise and extensive professional experience in the field of human rights".
For the most competent candidates to be appointed it is crucial that the Special Procedures roster, which will constitute the primary pool of eligible candidates, is extensive and broadly representative with many potential candidates from all regions and both sexes. It is important that the Special Procedures roster is advertised widely at the national, regional and international level and through different networks and that all stakeholders including Governments, NGOs and relevant professional networks send names of eligible candidates to OHCHR to be included on the roster. Governments should call publicly for candidates, e.g. through newspaper advertisement, and consult civil society nationally before nominating candidates.
Suggestions for the Special Procedures roster should be based on the technical and objective requirements for eligible candidates for mandate holders, adopted by the Human Rights Council on 27 September 2007 (Decision 6/102). Amnesty International has developed a checklist interpreting each requirement.
Amnesty International calls on Governments, NGOs and relevant professional networks to send names of eligible candidates to OHCHR for inclusion in the roster.
Amnesty International does not take a position in favour or against any candidate. Consequently, Amnesty International will not put forward names for inclusion on the roster.
Send nominations directly to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Use the standardised form provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
By email: hrcspecialprocedures@ohchr.org
By fax: +41 (0) 22 917 9011
Or by post:
HRC Secretariat, c/o Orest Nowosad
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Room PW 4-093
Palais des Nations
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)22 917 9223
Please do not send names of candidates to Amnesty International.
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Technorati