Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Engagement with other parts of the United Nations system and regional mechanisms
In addition to their regular interaction with the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, Special Procedures mandate holders also regularly engage and/or undertake joint activities with other parts of the United Nations system and agencies, programmes and funds as well as with regional mechanisms on various topics related to their mandates.
Below are some examples of these activities and their outcomes both at the international and regional level. More examples can be found in the annual reports of special procedures.
| Intergovernmental forum | Outputs and outcome of engagement |
|
On 16 August 2019, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Between UNEP and OHCHR (MoU) (see joint press release). While UNEP and OHCHR have had a strong working relationship in the field of human rights and the environment over the past several years, the MoU formalizes and strengthens this collaboration in concrete areas. Specifically, building on past cooperation between Special Procedures and UNEP, the MoU identifies "[s]upport to and collaboration with relevant UN Special Procedures, in particular the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment", as one of several areas of enhanced cooperation. In addition, UNEP and OHCHR, including Special Procedures, will now cooperate more closely through monitoring, advocacy, and other activities to address the intensifying threats against individuals and communities defending their environmental and land rights in many areas of the world. The enhanced partnership will also encourage greater acceptance by leaders and governments of the human right to a healthy environment with a view toward its global recognition. It will furthermore seek to increase support to national governments to promote human rights-based policies, particularly in terms of sustainable management of natural resources, development planning, and action to combat climate change. |
|
|
On 22 December 2021, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues participated in a virtual Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on the situation of national minorities and the glorification of Nazism in the Baltic and Black Sea regions > watch the recording of the meeting On 15 March 2021, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances participated in the Security Council’s monthly briefing on the Syrian Arab Republic set against the backdrop of the tenth anniversary of the conflict > watch the briefing by Mr. Bernard Duhaime, Chair of the Working Group On 25 November 2020, the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights participated in a virtual Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on "End unilateral coercive measures now". On 4 September 2020, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus participated in a virtual Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on the deterioration of the human rights situation during and after the presidential election in Belarus > read her statement On 25 October 2019, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Maria Grazia Giammarinano, participated in an Arria Formula meeting entitled "Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation in (post-) conflict situations: integrating a comprehensive approach to trafficking in persons into the Women, Peace and Security agenda of the Security Council". For further information, please refer to the note on the event and her statement to the Security Council. In December 2018, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities participated in an Arria formula meeting of the Security Council on the situation of persons with disabilities in armed conflict > Read her statement In March 2018, the Chair of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures sent a letter to the Security Council sharing information about the work of special procedures mandate holders that is deemed pertinent to the work of the Security Council (S/2018/280). The letter illustrates how the work of special procedures, be it thematic or country related) could be of interest to the Security Council and expresses the interest of special procedures in improving their engagement with United Nations bodies, such as the Security Council, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights as a key element in the maintenance of international peace and security. On 21 November 2017, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings raised awareness, shared her experience and made concrete recommendations on addressing trafficking in persons in conflict situations in the context of maintaining international peace and security, during the United Nations Security Council Open Debate convened the by Italian Presidency. Her views were considered in the unanimously adopted Resolution 2388 (2017) through which the Security Council reiterates its condemnation of trafficking in persons. In March 2017, the Special Rapporteur on slavery gave a presentation at the Security Council ministerial open debate on trafficking in persons in conflict situations, forced labour, slavery and other similar practices. She called for greater coordination and leadership against slavery and related phenomena and for Council members to ratify and implement international standards, as well as discussing the need to strengthen humanitarian responses to conflict situations and to increase national and international accountability for slavery-related human rights abuses in conflict. Note on the Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security - Displaced Women and Girls: Leaders and Survivors with participation of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of Internally Displaced Persons, 28 October 2014 > Read his full statement Note on the Security Council meeting in Arria Formula on Protecting Journalists with the participation from the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, 13 December 2013 > Read his full speech |
|
| Regional forum | Outputs and outcome of engagement |
|
The Addis Ababa Roadmap 2012 – 2022 – A work in progress "Unity is fundamental in our fight for human rights" stress United Nations and African experts on key anniversary (11 October 2012, news release) United Nations and African Union special mechanisms on human rights adopt a roadmap for greater cooperation (8 January 2012, news release) |
|
|
Joint thematic dialogue on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex characteristics between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and United Nations human rights mechanisms |
Statement from the second trilateral dialogue between Inter-American, African and UN human rights experts Report of the second trilateral dialogue between Inter-American, African and UN human rights experts |
|
IACHR and UN Special Procedures adopt Roadmap to Enhance Collaboration (news release 17 December 2018) |