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Remarks by Special Representative Hina Jilani at 2003 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum Human Rights First Analysis of UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders 
 United Nations Hina Jilani's presentation to the Third Committee, Nov. 2001 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders Mandate of the Special Representative Report of the Special Representative to the Commission, Feb. 2002 Report
of the Special Representative to Commission, Jan. 2001
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Save the U.N. Human Rights Investigators  April 11, 2007Torture, the sale of children, arbitrary detention, unlawful killings, extreme poverty and attacks against human rights defenders are all human rights violations that are investigated and often prevented by independent U.N. human rights investigators. The U.N. human rights investigators have been described as the “crown jewels” of the U.N. human rights system and as giving “a voice to the voiceless victims of abuses.” However, some governments want to strip these investigators of their independence and powers in a bid to prevent scrutiny of their own human rights violations. Without effective U.N. human rights investigators it will be easier for governments to get away with all manner of human rights crimes, including mass murder. Please sign our global petition and demand that governments on the U.N. Human Rights Council retain a strong system of human rights investigators. The Human Rights Council is set to vote on this issue by June 2007, so we need your help now. Just add your name, email address and country at this website: http://www.actforspecialprocedures.org Background The U.N. human rights investigators are collectively referred to as “Special Procedures” and are appointed by the new U.N. Human Rights Council. They are independent experts who volunteer their time to report on and prevent human rights violations. They are one of the most innovative and effective tools created by the U.N. to promote and protect human rights. The system of Special Procedures or human rights investigators is currently in jeopardy on a number of fronts. The Council is considering imposing codes of conduct which would limit the independence of the investigators. It is also thinking about changing the way investigators are selected which would mean that objective experts are less likely to be chosen. Finally, some of the mandates could be abolished altogether. Usman Hamid, an Indonesian human rights activist who is seeking justice for the killing of human rights defender Munir recently told us: “In my view the U.N. Special Procedures are the most responsive and flexible channel for victims’ appeals…. These mechanisms can give hope immediately to victims by providing the attention and concern of the international community after they are ignored at the domestic level. … This mechanism can become an alarm and a way to prevent revenge attacks against our work, which we have experienced several times. I am truly concerned that this mechanism will be eliminated by the Human Rights Council." Related Material: Previous Human Rights First Alert about the “Special Procedures”: Reuters Article: Fate of investigators in balance at U.N. rights body |
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