The Special Rapporteurs

Please choose from one of the above chapters.

Freedom of religion or belief

mandate	To investigate and report upon freedom of religion or belief, and to recommend remedial measures for situations including: · harassment · arbitrary arrest and detention · torture and ill-treatment · violations of the right to life · desecration or destruction of places of worship, religious sanctuaries, property or cemeteries · abuse of anti-blasphemy laws · violations of the right to freedom of movement · violations of the right to freedom of expression The Special Rapporteur will transmit communications to governments and can make investigative visits to examine situations.
mandate created	1986
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2004
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights and General Assembly
current post holder	Mr Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October for the Commission on Human Rights report, July for the General Assembly report
assistant’s name	Ms Jacqueline Nzoyihera
ROOM NUMBER	(no room assigned at time of going to press)
telephone	00 41 22 917 9000 (direct line not allocated at time of going to press)
fax	00 41 22 917 9018
e-mail	j.nzoyihera.hchr@unog.ch
further reading	UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
other remarks	See also special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summar or arbitrary executions, special rapporteur on torture, working party on arbitrary detentions, and special rapporteur on freedom of expression.

Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

mandate	To examine, report upon, take the necessary steps to prevent, and make recommendations for the prevention of · violations of the right to life arising from the death penalty · deaths in custody · deaths due to the use of force by law enforcement officials (e.g. police, soldiers, bailiffs etc) · death threats and fear of execution carried out without the sanction of the courts (extrajudicial executions) · violations of the right to life during armed conflicts · expulsions to a country where the person’s life is in danger · genocide · failure to investigate violations of the right to life · failure to compensate victims of such violations Any of these violations by a government can happen because of their actions, omissions, or collusion. Perpetrators can include governments and paramilitary groups or private individuals co-operating with or tolerated by the government.
mandate created	1982
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2001
type of mandate	thematic/investigative, but will only entertain complaints arising since 1992. Priority is given to cases arising in the current year.
reports to	Commission of Human Rights
current post holder	Ms Asma Jahangir Pakistan
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October to be sure of being in next report, but submissions can be made at any time
assistant’s name	Mr Henrik STENMAN
room number	3-010
telephone	00 41 22 917 9128
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	hstenman.hchr@unog.ch
relevant un leaflet(s)	Summary or Arbitrary Executions Fact Sheet No. 11/Rev.1
further reading	UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions UN Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officia

Torture

mandate	· to examine questions relevant to torture · to seek and receive credible and reliable information on such questions · to make urgent appeals for clarification to governments on behalf of individuals who may be being or be at risk of being tortured - see urgent cases · to send allegations for clarification to governments on behalf of alleged victims of torture and to make recommendations with a view to prevent further violations. · to make fact-finding missions to countries
mandate created	1985
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2004
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights and to the General Assembly on general trends falling within his mandate
current post holder	Professor Sir Nigel Rodley (United Kingdom)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October to be sure of being in next report, but submissions can be made at any time
assistant’s name	Mr J-N BEUZE
ROOM NUMBER	3-052
telephone	00 41 22 917 9174
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	jnbeuze.hchr@unog.ch
relevant un leaflet(s)	Methods of Combating Torture Fact Sheet No. 4
further reading	Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman on Degrading Treatment or Punishment Istanbul Protocol – see UN website Torture Reporting Handbook, University of Essex The Prevention of Torture in Europe, series of handbooks by the Association for the Prevention of Torture, http://www.apt.ch
other remarks	See also committee against torture. If torture results in death, see also special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Independence and impartiality of judges and lawyers

mandate	· to investigate, record and report upon attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials · to record and report upon measures taken to protect and enhance the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials · to make concrete proposals for protecting and enhancing their independence · to study important and topical questions of principle relevant to the mandate and make proposals
mandate created	1994, following the work of a predecessor at the Sub-Commission, 1989-1993
mandate expires/is due for renewal	2003
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights
current post holder	Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	mid November
assistant’s name	Ms Carla EDELENBOS
ROOM NUMBER	3-060
telephone	00 41 22 917 9241
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	cedelenbos.hchr@unog.ch
further reading	UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers UN Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors Report of his mission to the UK: E/CN.4/1998/39/Add.4 and follow-up reports: E/CN.4/1999/60, E/CN.4/2000/61 and E/CN.4/2001/65

Violence against Woman

mandate	Violence against women, its causes and consequences: ·in the family – including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women ·in the community – including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution ·as perpetrated or condoned by the state – including during times of armed conflict.
mandate created	1994
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2003
type of mandate	thematic/reporting
reports to	Commission on Human Rights
current post holder	Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October
assistant’s name	Ms Christina SAUNDERS
ROOM NUMBER	3-042
telephone	00 41 22 917 9150
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	csaunders.hchr@unog.ch
relevant un leaflet(s)	Discrimination against Women: the Convention and the Committee Fact Sheet No. 22 Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children Fact Sheet No.23
further reading	The following reports: E/CN.4/1995/42 E/CN.4/1996/53 and Add.1 and Add.2 E/CN.4/1999/54 E/CN.4/1999/68 and Add.4 E/CN.4/2001/68 and Add. 1 – 5 E/CN.4/2001/73 and Add. 1 – 2 Also, reports by the Special Rapporteur on Systematic Rape, Sexual Slavery and Slavery-like Practices during Armed Conflict and the Special Rapporteur on the Situation regarding the Elimination of Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and the Girl Child
other remarks	See also committee on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women commission on the status of women

Toxic Waste

mandate	To undertake, in consultation with the relevant United Nations bodies and organisations and the secretariats of relevant international conventions, a global, multidisciplinary and comprehensive study of existing problems of and solutions to illicit traffic in and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes, in particular in developing countries, with a view to making concrete recommendations and proposals on adequate measures to control, reduce and eradicate these phenomena. In particular, the Special Rapporteur will examine: ·persons killed, maimed or otherwise injured in developing countries through the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes; ·the question of the impunity of the perpetrators of these crimes, including racially motivated discriminatory practices, and measures to bring them to an end; ·the question of rehabilitation of and assistance to victims; ·the scope of national legislation in relation to transboundary movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes; ·the question of fraudulent waste-recycling programmes; ·the transfer of polluting industries, industrial activities and technologies from the developed to developing countries; ·ambiguities in international instruments that allow illegal movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes; and ·any gaps in the effectiveness of the international regulatory mechanisms.
Mandate created	1995
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2001
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights
current post holder	Ms Fatma-Zorha OUHACHI-VESELY (Algeria)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 –14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October
assistant’s name	Ms Affaf ABBASS (until April 2002)
ROOM NUMBER	4-061
telephone	00 41 22 917 9244
fax	00 41 22 917 9003
e-mail	aabbass.hchr@unog.ch

Freedom of Expression

mandate	·the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression ·to investigate discrimination, threats, violence , harassment, persecution and intimidation of people exercising or promoting the right to freedom of expression or opinion, especially professionals working in the field of information ·to seek and receive information from governments, NGOs, and others with relevant knowledge ·to make recommendations on ways and means to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression
mandate created	1993
mandate expires/is due for renewal	2002
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights
current post holder	Mr Abid Hussain (India)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	September
assistant’s name	Ms Sylvie Saddier-Calame
ROOM NUMBER
telephone	00 41 22 917 9331
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	ssaddier.hchr@unog.ch
further reading	The Special Rapporteur’s 1995 report, E/CN.4/1995/32 explores his remit in depth, and his 1996 report, E/CN.4/1996/39, develops the theme. See also his more recent reports: E/CN.4/1997/31, E/CN.4/1998/40, and E/CN.4/1999/64. He undertook a mission to the UK and Ireland in 1999 – E/CN.4/2000/63/Add.3 (UK) and Add.2 (Ireland)

Contemporary forms of Racism

mandate	The Special Rapporteur reports annually on contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance with particular reference to discrimination affecting black people and Arabs, and to anti-Semitism. In recent years he has also paid attention to the situation of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers.
mandate created	1993
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2001
type of mandate	thematic/reporting
reports to	Commission of Human Rights
current post holder	Mr Maurice GlÈGlÈ-Ahanhanzo (Benin)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 –14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October
assistant’s name	Mr Daniel Atchebro
room number	4-025
telephone	00 41 22 917 9271
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
e-mail	datchebro.hchr@unog.ch
further reading	Using the international human rights system to combat racial discrimination, Amnesty International, see p. 26
other remarks	See also committee on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Also see special rapporteur on religious intolerance, especially in relation to Islam, which this Rapporteur has referred to him. The Special Rapporteur undertook a mission to the UK from 13 - 23 November 1995 – see his report E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.4

Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

mandate	· sale of children · child prostitution · child pornography
mandate created	1990
mandate expires/ is due for renewal	2004
type of mandate	thematic/investigative
reports to	Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly
current post holder	Mr Juan Miguel PETIT (Uruguay)
un address	Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations United Nations 8 -14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
submissions by	October
assistant’s name	Ms Jennifer PHILPOT-NISSEN
ROOM NUMBER	3-042
telephone	00 41 22 917 9148
fax	00 41 22 917 9006
E-MAIL	jphilpot.hchr@unog.ch
relevant un leaflet(s)	The Rights of the Child Fact Sheet No. 10 Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children Fact Sheet No. 23
other remarks	See also committee on the Rights of the child, working group on contemporary forms of slavery, and special rapporteur on violence against women. There is also a Working Group on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, not covered in this guide (see Appendix B), reporting to the Commission, that is developing a draft Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on these matters. It does not deal with complaints.